Hamilton County EMS, Chattanooga firefighters reunite with patient

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – It’s not every day you get another chance at life. On Tuesday, Amy Young thanked first responders for saving her life. 

In February, Amy Young suffered a heart attack as she was riding her bike on the Riverwalk.  

There, Hamilton County EMS and the Chattanooga Fire Department rendered aid and performed CPR. 

Kasey Allen with CFD describes why this emergency call was very different. 

“So often out here, you know, our alarm goes off, we get in the truck to go to a call. But to just be out in a different situation, off shift and to be the one to say call 911, that was completely different, and I’ve never done that in my life,” said Allen. 

Amy Young reunites with first responders who saved her life.

According to Young, she was in the hospital for 15 days and there she received open heart surgery. 

Young says she is grateful to celebrate her birthday alive and well. 

“It is my Jackie Robinson year and I’ll be 42. I am excited about it. This is going to mean a lot more than every other birthday,” said Young. 

Although some emergency calls are different, Mike Garren with Hamilton County EMS believes that it took teamwork to save Amy’s life. 

“Each person played an integral role, from the from the initial CPR to the AED, to handing off care to the paramedics. We were able to form some more advanced procedures on the way to the hospital,” said Garren. “It is just things worked exactly how we want them to work that day.”