Dracut, MA — November 21, 2025 — On Tuesday evening, dispatchers from the Northern Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center (NMRECC) were formally recognized for their life-saving actions during the Dracut Fire Department’s Annual Awards Ceremony.
Dispatcher Katherine O’Connell and Supervisor John Jouvelis received Certificates of Commendation for their critical roles in saving the life of a man who suffered cardiac arrest in a parking lot earlier this year.
During the incident, Katherine O’Connell took and handled the 911 call, quickly assessing the situation while providing Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) instructions, including CPR guidance, to ensure life-saving care began immediately. At the same time, Supervisor John Jouvelis coordinated the response, ensuring the proper units were dispatched and resources were moved efficiently to the patient. Their actions initiated the early CPR, defibrillation, and rapid medical care that ultimately led to the patient’s full recovery.
NMRECC dispatchers are trained and certified in EMD, allowing them to deliver structured, step-by-step medical instructions over the phone during critical events such as cardiac arrest. These protocols help stabilize patients and significantly improve outcomes before first responders arrive.
The Dracut Fire Department recognized a broad team effort, stating: ("Capt. Al Stamp, Lt. Ken McMeniman, Lt. Sean Russell, Firefighters Dylan McCarthy, William Tibbetts, and Michael Stewart, Northern Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center Dispatchers Katherine O’Connell and John Joulvelis, Lowell General Paramedics Douglas Roberge and Benjamin Hillman, and Pridestar Trinity EMTs Kevin Gustafson and Vasilios “Billy” Krokoris were all recognized for saving the life of a man experiencing cardiac arrest. Dispatchers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics worked together to ensure early CPR, defibrillation, and other lifesaving care, enabling the patient to make a full recovery.”*
“Dispatchers are the first link in the chain of survival,” said NMRECC Supervisor Joey Aberle. “Katherine’s calm, confident handling of the 911 call and John’s quick coordination of the response demonstrate exactly what we train for. Their actions directly contributed to this man going home to his family.”
The patient ultimately made a full recovery, underscoring the lifesaving impact of fast, coordinated efforts between NMRECC dispatchers, Dracut firefighters, Lowell General paramedics, and Pridestar Trinity EMTs.