There’s more than one way to save a life… [HN PHOTOS]

Top HN photo: Patrolwoman Natalie Fachada leans closer to console a homeless woman suffering the bitter cold, beseeching her to stay bundled up until rescue arrives…

HYANNIS – [HN NOTES] – There’s more than one way to save a life. And sometimes it’s just being persistent, in a caring, gentle way…

Barnstable Police Officers Natalie Fachada and Jonathan Moore initiated contact with a homeless couple trying to keep warm on the Village Green bandstand around midnight last evening. Throughout the overnight, the temperature would drop as low as 6 °F, with an occasional wind chill of -2°, (as of 8:30am it was hovering above 0, at 1°F), according to an online weather app… (also WCVB Weather…)

Both officers tried and tried to have the couple accept help, but the couple had their personal reasons for not wanting to go to the local shelter. In recent evenings, this particular couple had been adamant about going it on their own. A couple nights ago, they told HN they were all set, but did eventually accept some basic emergency supplies after being pestered a bit.

But last evening’s extreme cold was a different story. Officers noticed the female suffering from obvious signs of hypothermia. She complained about her feet being cold and wet. Her lips were reportedly turning blue. From where I was standing, she appeared to be shivering and sounded confused and disoriented. Despite not initially being open to help, officers hung in there, eventually gaining the couple’s trust.

The female agreed to be transported to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment for hypothermia. The male eventually allowed Hyannis Fire Department to transport him to a warming shelter.

In the case of the female, she was clearly in grave danger from being wet during the plummeting temperatures, and very well may not have made it through the night if it weren’t for the tactful persistence of Officers Fachada and Moore, which involved empathy, simply listening, and a lot of patience.

Well done!

HN SIDE NOTE: Officer Fachada was sworn in as a Barnstable cop on January 21, 2021 – just over a year ago. She’s technically no longer a “rookie.” But in Hyannis, officers like Fachada experience a lot more during their first year than they would at most local departments. Most of these young officers begin solving problems like seasoned veterans after only a few months. In my opinion, if an officer does well on the streets of Hyannis, they can fit in anywhere.

P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Bill Evans… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT!]