A short statement on EMS response to recent emergency in Tafuna

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Twelve days after the incident at the Tafuna DWYA Gym on May 26, where a long-time employee of the Department of Health (DoH) died under very sad circumstances, an LBJ statement on the EMS response to the emergency was finally issued on June 6.

The DoH health educator, Leota Kirikiti Makeati Silafau will be taken to Samoa this Friday for burial at his home in Papa Puleia, Savaii.

EMS Chief, Ifopo Galumalemana Fuapopo Avegalio told Samoa News one day after the incident that EMS would provide a statement in response to the emergency.

The first official letter was from Dr Akenese Nikolao, who’s in charge of LBJ public relations, to KVZK-TV News Director Emmanuel Tosi Tupua. A copy of the letter was obtained by Samoa News.

Dr. Nikolao states that “on 25 May 2022, at approximately 5:14pm, the Tafuna Emergency Medical Services (EMS) unit responded to an unconventional call by members from the community who ran to the Tafuna station from DYWA (Department of Youth and Woman Affairs).

“The EMS unit was already committed to another call.

“Two EMS responders (a certified U.S. Paramedic and Certified EMS Responder) immediately deployed to DYWA without prior knowledge of the circumstances.

“Upon arrival, EMS was escorted by DPS (Department of Public Safety) to the male victim who was receiving CPR from a civilian inside DYWA.

“The paramedic assessed the victim, continued CPR, and evaluated that the DYWA scene was not conducive to life-saving measures.

“Due to interference from bystanders and EMS protocols, the paramedic made the decision to transfer the victim and continue his care in the safety of the ambulance.

“Emergency care for the victim was immediately rendered in the ambulance with CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) as they continued enroute to LBJTMC in Faga’alu.

“The ambulance arrived at the hospital and transferred the victim to the on-duty ER physician and medical team at 5:35pm,”  the statement concluded.

Witnesses who were at the scene during the incident told Samoa News that when they questioned police officers who first arrived at the scene for help, their response was, “We were never trained to do CPR when it comes to an emergency.”

On the following day after the incident, members of the public who were at the scene during the incident reached out to Samoa News to voice their frustration at the way DPS and EMS responded during the emergency and the fact that DPS officers, who arrived first on the scene, did not know how to perform CPR to save Leota’s life.

One witness told Samoa News that if the first responders had gotten there, sooner, “they could have saved Leota’s life.”

Samoa News spoke to the EMS Chief on the telephone one day after the incident regarding the matter and he assured that he would respond to any questions sent through his email address.

Questions were sent to Galumalemana Fuapopo Avegalio on May 26.

As of press time on that same day, May 26, Samoa News had received no response, however, during the telephone conversation, Galumalemana pointed out that people must understand that first responders follow protocol when it comes to an emergency and before anyone points a finger to the way first responders executed their service [at this incident], people must understand that there are facts about what happened they must consider first.

DPS RESPONDS TO THE CPR CRITICISM

DPS deputy commissioner, Jerry Letuli told Samoa News that he was shocked and at the same time incredulous about the officers’ response to the request to perform CPR for the man when they appeared at the scene.

“All police officers including myself has to go through CPR training during the Police Academy before they take the oath,” Letuli said.

Letuli explained that CPR training is one of the many trainings police are required to pass during their training as police officers. He doesn’t understand why the police officers who first responded to the call were unable to perform CPR.

“This is a wake-up call for all first respondents that they need to undergo training every six months to refresh their mind and to make sure they are certified to carry out these important services,” Letuli said.

After this incident, there was a call for additional on-the-job training for all police officers on how to perform CPR in times of an emergency.

BACKGROUND

Leota, also known as Mac collapsed while taking a break in between pickle ball matches at the DWYA gym in Tafuna on May 25

Eyewitnesses, who were present were highly critical of the response of police and EMS personnel, with substations next door and across the road from the gym.

Full details were published in the May 31, 2022 issue of Samoa News.