NEW YORK CITY — Officers in the Bronx help a woman from losing her arm in a car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway last month. A woman from Connecticut was driving on the Parkway when she was involved in an accident that caused her car to roll over and land on its roof. She was thrown to the back seat, and her arm had been completely severed.
Police Officers Marks, Chianfanga, Reyes and Perez of the 45 precinct arrived on the scene almost immediately, where a good Samaritan was already administering a zip tie tourniquet to the woman’s arm. Officer Marks assisted in securing the tourniquet and the bleeding from her arm was completely stopped.
Though the officers weren’t sure if Julianna’s arm could be saved, they realized that time was of the essence, and went to search for it, finding it intact between two metal barriers on the highway. Knowing they needed to keep the severed limb cold, the officers used a cooler given to them by an FDNY firefighter. The officers were able to alert EMS in a nearby ambulance who rushed to the hospital.
The woman and the severed arm both made it to the hospital, with the officers following closely behind. The medical staff was grateful for the officers quick thinking and were confident they could reattached the woman’s arm.
Last week, Officer Reyes, Chianfagna, and Marks had the opportunity to visit the woman as she recovers in the hospital where doctors were able to reattach her arm.
