Firefighter Shovels Snow for Woman Who Called 911 After Having Heart Episode: ‘I Was Just Doing My Job’

(Illustration - Shutterstock)

While clearing away snow after a storm, a woman with a heart condition called for emergency medical assistance. Firefighters who responded not only treated her but also went above and beyond their duty by shoveling the sidewalk to her home.

Heather Driscoll, from Arvada in Colorado, told CBS4 that she had always lived with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a condition that causes one’s heart to speed up, sometimes for no reason. Driscoll explained her condition usually is under control and doesn’t cause her many issues. However, while shoveling in front of her house after a snowstorm one Tuesday in November 2019, she felt something severe happening.

Illustration - Shutterstock | Matej Kastelic

The woman said she felt her heart beating rapidly with no sign of going back to a regular rate. “My heart was about 230 beats per minute. I came inside and realized my heart was not going to slow down,” she recalled. Knowing she needed medical attention urgently, she dialed 911.

Paramedics from the Arvada Fire Department responded to her call. They gave her the medical assistance she needed to return her heartbeat to normal. “As soon as I felt my heart go back to a normal rhythm, I just said, good job guys, that was great,” the woman said.

Photo courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

It was then that firefighter Ryan Weir noticed what Driscoll had been up to before making the emergency call. He took it upon himself to finish the job and clear the snow away from the sidewalk. “You could tell that she had started shoveling, and didn’t finish, so put two and two together,” Weir said. “I was just doing my job and hoping for the best possible outcome.”

For Driscoll, however, the firefighter’s gesture meant a lot more than someone merely doing their duty. “The bottom line is, integrity is what you do when people aren’t looking, and that’s something that means a lot,” she explained. The woman also wanted to reiterate how grateful she was for the assistance they gave in her time of need. “Should you need somebody to come help you, these guys are really rock stars,” she added.

However, Weir doesn’t consider himself any more of a hero than any of his other colleagues from Arvada Fire. “I’m sure during that snow storm, there were firefighters all over the metro doing great things, and I just happened to be the one that got taken a picture of,” he modestly explained.

According to WebMD, SVT is a heart condition that often appears in the early 20s without any apparent causes. As the heart pulsates faster than average, symptoms can include shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. Treatment usually involves medication and a healthy diet.

Photo courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

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