Brandon Twp.- Fred Flaim is alive today thanks to the Brandon Fire Department and new technology.
Three days before Christmas, Flaim had some snow in front of his garage that needed to be shoveled.
‘I was pushing it, nothing I haven’t done in the past seven years,? he recalls. ‘I got inside and I was really sweating. I called my girlfriend and told her I thought I was having a heart attack.?
Flaim, 70, had been having physical therapy for his shoulder and considered that the pain might also be from that. He told his girlfriend he could breathe fine and she told him to call 9-1-1. He was going to take a shower and got disoriented before following her instructions.
Flaim, a smoker since he was a teenager, was indeed having a heart attack. BFD paramedics arrived within five minutes, and took action to save Flaim’s life, using a tool that made it possible.
Firefighter/Paramedic Billy Starr hooked Flaim up to a 12-lead EKG machine, a $25,000 piece of equipment that is typically used in emergency rooms to determine what is happening with a patient’s heart. Starr read the results and recognized the severity of the situation immediately, said Brandon Fire Chief Bob McArthur.
Flaim had a coronary artery blockage.
Starr transmitted the results of the EKG just five minutes after paramedics arrived to Genesys Regional Medical Center via cell phone transfer, new to the department in just the past year. When he did, the emergency room doctor at Genesys viewed the results and prepped the heart team and readied the cath lab. Starr, along with Firefighters/paramedics Jeremy Hendly (?) and Jonathon Schecter, transported Flaim to Genesys just 15 minutes after they had arrived on scene and rather than having to wait for an EKG upon arrival at the hospital, Flaim was taken to the cath lab seven minutes after arriving at Genesys.
‘When we got there, we transferred him from our cot to their bed and got word they were ready and rode up as we continued to give our report,? Starr said. ‘We probably saved 15 minutes, which could have saved his life. If he had to wait another 15 minutes before getting to the cath lab, things could have been a lot different.?
Flaim, it was found, had a right coronary artery that was 100 percent blocked. It was treated with angioplasty and a stent. Two other arteries were 60 percent and 90 percent blocked, respectively. They were stented a few days later.
‘The doctors say there is no way he would have lived if we hadn’t done that process,? said McArthur. ‘The EKG was confirmed with the cardiologist (beforehand) and it gave them time to prepare and they knew what the problem was and what had to be done to fix it… For $25,000, the man’s still walking and will be able to shovel snow in a couple weeks.?
Flaim may be able to shovel snow, but he has no plans to do that ever again.
‘There could be 145 inches of snow and if it’s out there, it’s gonna stay,? he said. ‘The Lord can take it away or someone else can push it out, but I don’t plan on moving it.?
He is grateful to the cardiologists at Genesys and the Brandon Fire Department for saving his life and was willing to do a fundraising campaign for the machines before he found out the department owns them.
‘The doctor said if I’d waited 20 minutes longer I wouldn’t be having a conversation with him and because the paramedics had that equipment and knew how to use it, they saved my life,? Flaim said. I’m very grateful for the fact they had this machine or I wouldn’t be here. They are spending money wisely, it’s not just a toy. I want people in the township to know, that whatever the Brandon Fire Department asks for is necessary and not just a whim. It could save their life and not all fire departments have this equipment.?
Flaim was released from the hospital on Christmas Day and the father of three and grandfather of six was able to celebrate with his family. Doctors have told him the stents are good for 15 years if he doesn’t smoke.
‘It’s strange how when you find out something like that is gonna kill ya, you don’t want it anymore,? he said. ‘If I get 15 years, that’s good enough for me.?

Brandon Fire Chief Bob McArthur says time is of the essence when a cardiac event is occuring. Call 9-1-1 if you are experiencing any of the following: shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, pain radiating from the chest to the arm to the back.
‘It’s tricky,? he said. ‘It sneaks up. Blockages take years to happen.?
When shoveling snow, McArthur cautions residents to be conscious of their condition, don’t overdress, go slower, and take frequent breaks.
‘You can’t do it all at once, it’s very strenuous,? he said. ‘Be smart and take it easy.?