This week’s Monday night drill was an “EMS Symposium Cardiac Arrest Night” for our members.

The evening featured four educational stations — History of CPR, Ultrasound in Cardiac Arrest, Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest, and Advanced Airway Management — each designed to enhance our members’ knowledge and readiness for real-world cardiac emergencies. Members explored how CPR techniques have evolved, how ultrasound can identify reversible causes of arrest, and how to manage hypothermic patients — all vital skills for providing coordinated, evidence-based pre-hospital care.

Hands-on airway management training rounded out the night, giving our EMTs and firefighters the opportunity to refine one of the most critical components of resuscitation. Together, these stations reinforced Vista Fire Department’s commitment to continuous learning and maintaining the highest level of preparedness for life-saving interventions.

The drill was led by former Vista Firefighter/EMT Dr. Duncan Grossman, who served our department for 10 years before attending medical school in Maine and now practices at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Grossman was joined by emergency physicians and paramedics Paul Morer, Dr. Vanya Zvonar, Dr. Charlie Hartley, Dr. Amina Avril, Dr. Julian Sackey, Dr. Erin Solis, Dr. Geoff Jara Almonte, Dr. Srikar Adibhatla, and Dr. Szymon Kutyla, who generously shared their expertise and real-world insights throughout the evening.

By training alongside these experienced physicians, Vista Fire Department personnel strengthened their ability to deliver rapid, evidence-based care to patients in cardiac arrest — improving outcomes and reinforcing Vista’s commitment to the highest standard of pre-hospital emergency care.

For more info on how you can become a member call: (914)-533-2727, email us at Info@VistaFD.org, visit https://www.vistafd.org/content/become/ or apply online here: https://www.vistafd.org/apply