Saugus police, fire receive special visit

SAUGUS – Public Safety officials were treated to something Wednesday they rarely receive, a face-to-face thank you from a man whose life they saved.Former Atlantic Street resident Michael Howard broke down when he told the firefighters and police officers involved in saving his life last December that he couldn’t find the words to thank them.”You just did,” said Police Officer Frank Morello, who was one of three officers arriving on the scene.Fire Chief James Blanchard said a call came in around 11:23 p.m. on Dec. 22 for a man who was unconscious and not breathing.Morello and patrolmen Arthur Connors were first on scene and started CPR. Patrolman Timothy Fawcett followed but he said he stayed mainly with the family. When firefighters Lt. James Hughes, Rob DiFlumeri and Scott Phelan arrived they took over, inserting an airway and starting him on an airbag. When the ambulance arrived with advanced life support, they took over inserting an intravenous line and medication.”That’s what’s called the chain of life,” Blanchard said. “It worked almost perfectly.”In a perfect world, Blanchard said CPR would have been started by someone before the police even arrived but Blanchard said the chain worked nonetheless.Hughes said only 10 percent of cardiac arrest victims survive, so Howard was genuinely lucky. He was also lucky in that police officers had just had their recertification for CPR that very day.Howard, who met with the public safety officers in a low key manner at the Essex Street station, said what he truly was, was eternally grateful.”I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I’m just so grateful to all of you,” he said with his voice breaking. “I had this all planned out, I knew what I was going to say but nothing in my life goes as planned.”The father and grandfather, however, said he was going to use his second chance as an opportunity for change, that the incident helped him put his life in perspective.Howard was quick to say that his life has been great prior to the accident but he also said he believes things happen and people come into one’s life for a reason.”I’m at a loss for words,” he said. “If any of you ever need anything I’ll be there in a heartbeat. You know how to find me.”Howard said he was back at work the following week and, other than being “sore like you wouldn’t believe” from the CPR compressions, he was fine.”Sorry,” Connors said sheepishly. “That’s our fault.”Blanchard said it was a thrill for the public safety men to meet Howard.”Believe it or not this doesn’t happen a lot,” he said. “We might get a letter, that’s more the norm . . . but this gentleman insisted he wanted to come in and meet the people who saved his life. That’s rare.”Blanchard called the visit a great morale booster.”It’s a real punch in the arm for the men instead of a kick in the pants,” he said.Police Chief Domenic DiMella said he was proud of all the men and how they put their training into action.Fawcett said he was honored by Howard’s humbleness.”It means a lot for you to come down here,” he said to Howard. “This is the first time in a long time that’s happened. I was honored when I got the call.”Morello said a face-to-face thank you has only happened to him three times in seven years. He too said it was special.”I just don’t know how to say thank you,” Howard said. “I thank you so much. God bless you all and thanks for getting together with me.”