logo
Group of Chicago firefighters, EMTs honored for saving child's life

Group of Chicago firefighters, EMTs honored for saving child's life

Yahoo28-05-2025

CHICAGO — A group of firefighters and paramedics were honored Wednesday for their role in saving the life of a 13-month-old child.
The group being honored included two Chicago Fire Department paramedics and four EMTs who saved a life after receiving a call about a child in cardiac arrest earlier this year.
Thanks to their life-saving measures, the child was brought back to life and on Wednesday, they received Project ADAM's Community Hero Awards for their heroic work.
Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines
When the fire department arrived on the scene that day, the child's parents were already performing CPR on 13-month-old baby Arbora.
Crews quickly jumped into action and were able to get the child's heart beating again. She was later taken to the hospital but is now back at home in good spirits.
Wednesday's honorees included Chicago Fire Department Ambulance 74's Patrick Papiez, Shlomo Starck as well as Truck 6 EMTs Casey Postilion, Zeko Durovic, Sergio Luna and Andrew Lewandowski.
Arbora parents said they are forever grateful for the life-saving work.
LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland
'Incredible job, but the entire team, you know, from the first responders to the nurses to, you know, to the people in the emergency room, to the ICU, the doctors. It was, for us, it was a shock as parents, but they see this kind of thing every day,' Arbora' father said.
Project ADAM, is a national non-profit organization committed to saving lives through advocacy, education, preparedness and collaboration to prevent sudden cardiac death.
Project ADAM, was created in 1999 after a 17-year-old Wisconsin student, Adam Lemel, collapsed and died while playing basketball.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘We need an AED!': Porter County goes throught the paces of a cardiac emergency drill
‘We need an AED!': Porter County goes throught the paces of a cardiac emergency drill

Chicago Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Chicago Tribune

‘We need an AED!': Porter County goes throught the paces of a cardiac emergency drill

With a cardiac emergency drill performed at the Porter County Administration Building Wednesday morning, the Porter County Health Department became the first Heart Safe health department in Indiana. A little after 10 a.m. the mock emergency began on a dummy lying just inside the double doors to the commissioners chambers. 'Someone grab an AED! We need an AED!' shouted Zac Mago Foundation founder Teresa Mago, as she asked for an automated external defibrillator. 'Nobody touch the patient!' commanded Porter County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator John Pisowicz. 'Did someone call 911?' asked County Councilman Greg Simms, D-3rd. Mago began chest compressions while Pisowicz applied defibrillator patches from the AED kit to the dummy's chest. A health department staffer in pink scrubs stood by the door and asked, 'Does someone want to go out and wait on the ambulance?' Public health nurse Amy Krupa counted for Mago as she performed chest compressions. '28, 29, 30. Good job!' 'Ambulance is here!' someone else called from the rotunda while an automated voice from the AED gave instruction, 'Do not touch the patient. Shock advised. All clear.' Three probationary firefighters from the Valparaiso Fire Department then arrived with a gurney. 'What's going on here?' asked Robert Gutierrez, a probationary firefighter and paramedic. Simms filled them in and the drill soon ended for a debriefing session. 'Great job to everyone involved,' said Tonya Aerts of Legacy Medical Academy, who serves as Project ADAM Indiana program coordinator. Project ADAM is a national effort to raise awareness of cardiac arrest preparedness. The Porter County Health Department said the key to surviving a cardiac event is timely CPR and the use of an AED within three minutes. Calling 911, crowd control and having a cardiac emergency response plan, or CERP, are integral to increasing survival rates. A Project ADAM checklist helps sites prepare by ensuring such steps as clear signage for AED placement, a schedule for AED maintenance, and stocking of a first responder kit. It also offers guidance for developing the CERP, education and drills. Aerts praised the efforts of staff to stand outside and direct first responders when they arrived. 'That's the most critical thing,' she said. 'They might not be familiar with where to go.' To improve the chances for a successful intervention the county has also moved its AEDs to the wall beside the elevator on every floor. There are also 15 people in the building on the county's Cardiac Emergency Response Team, including Simms and Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center. The team was formed in December through Project ADAM and every member is certified in Basic Life Support. 'I think everyone would agree that bystander intervention is critical in a cardiac event,' Aerts said. The drill serves not only as a practice for county government staff within the Administration Building but also as part of a larger societal effort to demystify AEDs and get the public comfortable with the idea of using them. Pisowicz said Porter County has AEDs in 90% of its buildings. 'The machine completely guides you,' he said. 'And not only a professional can use it,' added Porter County nursing supervisor Crystal Coffey. 'We have a tight collaboration with our schools,' she added. 'I think we have eight that are Project ADAM-certified,' she said of Portage Township Schools and Duneland School Corporation. Others eager to be certified are encouraged to call her office. 'We're trying to make that AED as standard as fire extinguishers,' explained Aerts, who said they cost less than a new cell phone.

Project ADAM: How you can use an AED, CPR to save someone's life
Project ADAM: How you can use an AED, CPR to save someone's life

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Yahoo

Project ADAM: How you can use an AED, CPR to save someone's life

MILWAUKEE - Sudden cardiac arrest is always unexpected – especially in children. But training can make all the difference. FOX6 is proud to partner with Project ADAM to enhance heart safety and awareness. Kathleen Nemitz joins FOX6 WakeUp with how you can use an AED and CPR to save someone's life. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What you can do We invite you to be part of this important initiative. Stay tuned to FOX6 for informational and touching reports on the positive impact Project ADAM is making, as well as updates on upcoming events, training opportunities, and ways you can contribute to making your school and community heart-safe. Together, we can create a safer environment for our children and ensure that every heartbeat counts. Learn more information on Project ADAM and how you can get involved

Chicago Fire Department issues reminders on summer water safety
Chicago Fire Department issues reminders on summer water safety

CBS News

time30-05-2025

  • CBS News

Chicago Fire Department issues reminders on summer water safety

Beach season has arrived in Chicago, and city leaders want to remind residents how to stay safe in the water. The Chicago Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other local agencies teamed up Thursday to give a live demonstration of a water rescue at Navy Pier. The goal was to show swimmers what to do if things go wrong. Officials say it is most important to avoid putting oneself in dangerous situations in the first place. "We're going to keep it real simple—respect the water, respect everybody around you, know what your swimming capabilities are," said Chicago Fire Department Dive Chief Jason Lach. A few other safety tips include wearing a life jacket on a boat, never swimming alone or at night, and only swimming if a lifeguard is present.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store