Story and photos courtesy LAFD
On Aug. 6 of last year, Mar Vista resident Anthony Taranto went into cardiac arrest.
On March 1 of this year, Anthony stopped by Fire Station 62 to thank the Firefighters and Paramedics who saved his life.
Last year, LAFD received a 9-1-1 call to a location on Venice Boulevard. the 12500 block of Venice Boulevard. Firefighter/Dispatcher Armando Diaz responded to the call. He dispatched Engine 62 and Paramedic Rescue Ambulance 62 to the emergency.
Rescuers encountered a 52-year-old man sitting in his parked car inside an underground apartment garage complaining of symptoms. Rescuers evaluated the man’s conditions, which indicated heart trouble. As Paramedics set up treatment and transport, the situation deteriorated as the man went into cardiac arrest. Firefighters immediately initiated CPR and defibrillation, which returned the victim to spontaneous circulation; his heart started beating again on its own.
While being taken to the hospital, Anthony’s heart rhythm began to deteriorate again but was restored at the hospital, where he recovered.
He wanted to thank the LAFD Firefighters and Paramedics who saved his life, in person. That’s what he did in early March of this year.
The LAFD crew received certificates of commendation from Chief Kristin Crowley.
