Phoenix Rising: Humboldt Bay Fire Saved a Baby Whose Heart Stopped Last Christmas Eve
Humboldt Bay Fire with Baby Phoenix. [Photo from Humboldt Bay Fire]
On Christmas Eve night, while many of us were resting with holiday anticipation, the crew of Engine 8113 got the worst call a firefighter can get – report of unconscious infant, not breathing.
The call came in one minute past 11:00p.m. on December 24, 2020, and the crew arrived at scene within 3 minutes of the initial dispatch. Engineer Brett Egbert, responsible for driving Engine 8113 to the incident, recalls having just studied that particular section of city maps that same day in a strange coincidence that felt “meant to be.”
Once inside, the crew found seven-month-old baby boy, Phoenix, lying on the ground pale, not breathing, and without a pulse. The crew immediately began performing CPR, administering oxygen, and preparing the cardiac monitor, an advanced life support tool, for defibrillation. Moments thereafter, the monitor delivered its first shock to baby Phoenix’ heart. With no improvement in conditions after the first shock was administered, Fire Captain and Paramedic John Goodman began Advanced Life Support measures including the administration of life-saving medications on scene. All the while, Firefighter Logan Bongio and Engineer Egbert continued CPR, sustaining baby Phoenix’ heartbeat and breathing while he was unable to do so for himself.
Soon, City Ambulance of Eureka arrived and assisted with Advanced Life Support care before transporting baby Phoenix to the ambulance. Fire Captain / Paramedic Goodman and Firefighter Bongio stayed with Baby Phoenix, continuing to provide care while en route to the hospital. In total, baby Phoenix was defibrillated three times, and received four rounds of Advanced Life Support medications.
After arriving at the hospital, Fire Captain / Paramedic Goodman continued CPR with Emergency Department staff for approximately 5 minutes before, miraculously, baby Pheonix’ heart rate stabilized and he once again had a pulse. In a huge sigh of relief, baby Phoenix was handed over to hospital staff, who took over his care. Once the hospital confirmed baby Phoenix was stable, the crew of Engine 8113 left the hospital, and returned to their station- forever changed by the events of a Christmas Eve they would never forget.
*This story is shared with the permission and enthusiasm of baby Phoenix’ family.
We are happy to report that, after receiving specialized care for some time in San Francisco, baby Phoenix has returned home to his family in Eureka.
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Proud of you Logan ❤️
He’s named Phoenix for GOOD reason!!! With a bit of an assist from HBF!!!! Job WELL Done guys!!!
Much respect to all the fire department personnel involved. So often they fight without a clear win. But this one was golden.
Bless you guys. ?
Having a little one of our own, that brought a few tears. Thank you to all involved!!! True Heroes!!!???
So very impressive!! Excellent work, Humboldt Bay Fire! Just one of the reasons we need to support these s/heroes year after year.
So very impressive!! Excellent work, Humboldt Bay Fire! Just one of the reasons we need to fund our stations and support the crews year after year.
Heartwarming. Good job humboldt bay fire.
Great Job HBF! Also great job by the ambulance crew who probably had a large role in this save, however will never get the recognition they deserve. Our ambulance crews here in Humboldt county are often overworked and underpaid. When you see a fire engine roll by code 3, an ambulance is most likely also going to that call and will have the primary responsibility for the patient. Ambulances also have many calls without the fire department and they are awake all hours of the day and night, often providing services that many people would never call 911 for. They do not work 12 hour shifts like many are led to believe, they are at the station for days. They make little more than minimum wage, and the community/family will always blame them when a patient has a bad outcome. We need to treat them/compensate them like the professional lifesavers we expect them to be.