11/01/2025
We love happy endings!! Please read ⬇️
A very good wholesome read:
What happens when communities and people work together for the betterment of the community? Positive outcomes and positive news. On October 2nd 2025 shortly after 5:00 p.m. Greater Pittston Regional Ambulance was dispatched to McAlpine Street in Avoca for an unresponsive male not breathing. Members of the Avoca Fire Department including Collin Halagarda, Gary Halagarda, Colin Gildea, Jordan Marsh, and Matt Starzec, along with Avoca Police Officer Jon Alaimo were notified of the call and responded to the scene. Shortly after arrival, the patient was found unresponsive and not breathing on the couch. The patient was moved to the floor and CPR was initiated along with mechanical ventilation by initial arriving personnel. Shortly after dispatch, Rescue 112 arrived on scene with additional equipment and manpower to assist. The AED from Rescue 112 along with the suction unit were brought in and CPR was continued on the patient until Paramedics arrived and took over patient care. The members from the Avoca Fire Department, Avoca Police Department, and the Greater Pittston Regional Ambulance worked hard and were able to obtain return of spontaneous circulation for the patient.
Return of spontaneous circulation, or ROSC, is a critical milestone in the resuscitation process, indicating that the heart has resumed beating on its own with a palpable pulse and measurable blood pressure after cardiac arrest. This restoration of circulation is essential for delivering oxygen to vital organs and is a key goal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts.
The dedication from all of the men and women on scene that day helped with the best outcome that you can hope for in a cardiac arrest situation. On Halloween night some of the people who were at the scene that day got to meet the patient, Anthony Recupero, and his family, only a few weeks after this incident. The smiles and the heartfelt thank you's were unbelievable. It was amazing to spend time with Anthony and hear his story about what had happened leading up to the cardiac arrest.
This story just goes to show you that when departments and people work together, amazing things can happen. Without the quick action of the members of the Avoca Fire Department, the Avoca Police Department, and Greater Pittston Regional Ambulance, we don't know what may have happened, but thankfully we don't even have to think about that. Anthony is all smiles and overjoyed with the outcome, but being able to have more time to spend with your family and seeing the smiles on their faces was also one of the most amazing parts of this journey. We want to thank Anthony Recupero and his family for stopping at the fire department to meet everybody who was involved and all of the other members who were around for the Halloween event. Again, we cannot say how great it was to see you smiling, laughing, and talking with all of our members.
Pictured below from top row left are:
Firefighter Colin Gildea, Firefighter Jordan Marsh, Anthony Recupero, Assistant Chief Chris Collins, Avoca Police Officer Jon Alaimo, Fire Police Captain/EMT Gary Halagarda
Bottom Row: Captain Collin Halagarda, and Firefighter Matt Starzec
Unfortunately the amazing paramedics and EMTs from the Greater Pittston Ambulance that were on scene that day could not attend due to their work schedules, but the Recupero family would like to send their heartfelt thank you to one of the most amazing EMS associations in our area.
