April 20, 2004
Albany, N.Y. -
Stony Brook athletic trainer Lisa Cantara was one of two Stony Brook University employees that State University of New York Board of Trustees Chair Thomas F. Egan and Chancellor Robert L. King today honored today for saving the life of a man whose implanted pacemaker had stopped working.
"Officer Susan Fantel and Lisa Cantara acted in the highest tradition of public service and epitomize the finest traits of the State University of New York," said Egan. "On behalf of the entire State University of New York community, I would like to express our appreciation to them for their life-saving efforts."
"The swift action, bravery and composure exhibited by Officer Fantel and Lisa Cantara deserve special recognition by the University and I am very proud to honor them today," said King.
On March 26, 2004, Stony Brook Police Officer Susan Fantel arrived on the scene of an accident in which a car driven by Mr. James Patsalos had jumped the sidewalk and crashed into a railing at the entrance to Stony Brook University's Indoor Sports Complex.
Officer Fantel quickly determined that Mr. Patsalos had no pulse and was not breathing. With the assistance of passers-by, she removed the driver from his severely-damaged vehicle. Officer Fantel, who was now joined by Stony Brook Assistant Athletic Trainer Lisa Cantara, immediately began to perform CPR on Mr. Patsalos. They then connected him to the police department-issued automatic external defibrillator, which was in Officer Fantel's patrol vehicle.
Once the AED produced a shock that restored the victim's heartbeat, Officer Fantel and Ms. Cantara continued rescue breathing until the ambulance arrived. Doctors later discovered that Mr. Patsalos had an implanted defibrillator and pacemaker which stopped functioning, causing his heart to stop.
Mr. Patsalos is recovering at Stony Brook University Hospital thanks, in large part, to the professionalism and quick thinking of Officer Fantel and Ms. Cantara. Cantara and Officer Fantel were presented with a certificate by Chairman Egan and Chancellor King today.
from the Office of Public Relations, State University of New York.
