By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Last week Orion Township firefighters were invited down to Oakland County headquarters to be awarded for outstanding service after they saved the life a Clarkston resident.
On Monday night, Supervisor Chris Barnett took the opportunity to recognize those same firefighters at the Township Board Meeting for a job well done.
On November, 9 2015, Fire Station 1 was dispatched to a 54 year-old male experiencing severe chest pain at Basketball America on Clarkston Road. Full-time firefighter Brian Reynolds was on shift and was first on scene where the patient was in extreme distress. Upon assessment and while vitals were being taken with now more firefighter on scene, the man became unresponsive and went into cardiac arrest.
The firefighters immediately began performing CPR and shocked the patient with an automatic external defibrillator (AED). They were able to reestablish a heartbeat but after he was placed on a backboard and loaded into the ambulance, the AED advised to shock the patient again. After the second shock, the the man began breathing on his own and the pulse returned.
The patient was transported to the hospital where he stayed for a short time and then was able to return home.
EMS Coordinator Chris LaGerould, who reviews every medical emergency the department responds to, saw the positive outcome of the call and decided it fit the criteria to be awarded by the county. He submitted Captain Kurt Fechter and Firefighters Joe Calahan, Steve Martin, Todd Jacobs, Brian Reynolds, Derek Welch, and Brian Phillips for the life saving award.
‘I thought these guys were worthy of getting recognition because of them being proactive and’recognizing the signs of possible cardiac arrest,? LaGerould said. ‘With early AED on the’patient and being fast acting, saved this patient’s life and the great team work these guys showed is why Orion Township Fire is great.?
This is not the first time Orion firefighters have been recognized by the County for such an award but Fire Chief Robert Smith said it never gets old. Smith, who’s been with the department since 1986, has seen his fair share of horrible calls but he’s always extremely thankful when an emergency ends on a good note and the first responders are recognized.
‘When I see them receive an award for saving someone’s life that also means there is a citizen that is alive because of their skills, passion and devotion to their community,? the chief said. ‘This is a true testament to all of their hard working not only paying off but paying dividends because there is a life involved.?
According to LaGerould, immediately performing CPR and the use of an AED was vital in the positive outcome. He says that immediately performing CPR and getting an AED in route has a drastic impact on anyone in cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, effective bystander CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.
He went on to say that learning CPR is a skill that can benefit anyone for the rest of their lives but it truly pays off when you’re able to help somebody in an emergency.
‘I would hope many people would love to be certified so they know how to help someone in need if it may be a family member or a friend or just the next person in line shopping,? LaGerould said. ‘The best advise I can give to anyone is to stay calm in any situation, it will be easier to handle it and know what to do
LaGerould encourages anyone interested in learning CPR to reach out to the fire department as they host monthly CPR classes for a cost of $40. A fee that simply covers the cost of materials and the class is limited to 15 people per class.
Those interested or whom want more information can call 248-391-0304 ext 111 or email EMS Coordinator LaGerould at clagerould@oriontownship.org