Latest news with #ChicagoFireDepartment
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- 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.
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Multi-vehicle crash snags outbound Stevenson Expressway at Halsted Street
A multi-vehicle accident snagged the outbound Stevenson Expressway southwest of downtown Chicago Thursday afternoon. Only one lane was open at 5 p.m. on the outbound Stevenson (I-55) at Halsted Street, just past the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) merge. Ramps from both directors of the Dan Ryan feed and merge onto the outbound Stevenson, making for traffic jams in multiple directions. Information about the crash was not immediately confirmed. But at least six vehicles were involved, and first responders from the Chicago Fire Department were on the scene. Illinois State Police were also on the scene, as were Chicago police — who were looking in the green space on the roadway for something someone may have thrown over.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CFD demonstrates water rescue at Navy Pier, urges water safety as summer gets underway in Chicago
CHICAGO — The start of summer is upon us, which brings an influx of people to the city's beaches, along the lakefront, swimming and boating in Lake Michigan, and enjoying the city's pools and other bodies of water. IDOT: Drivers taking Kennedy Expressway from downtown to O'Hare can use express lanes again starting Saturday That means it's also the time of year to emphasize water safety. The Chicago Fire Department and other city and state agencies are urging people to be safe in, on and around the water this summer by making the right decisions and being prepared for emergencies. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines CFD demonstrated how they rescue victims from the water — using rescue crews on land, in boats and in helicopters — on Thursday at Navy Pier. Here are some key tips and reminders for water safety this summer: The law on the roads is don't drink and drive. It's the same on the water: Don't drink and operate a boat. If you're operating a boat, you are responsible for everyone on board. All passengers must have a life jacket. If someone is 13 or under, they must wear the life jacket at all times. Speeding is not allowed. Again, it's the same as on the roads. Chicago has 22 beaches. Chicago Park District lifeguards are on duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all designated swimming beaches through Labor Day. Never swim alone or at night. … 'Remember: Swimming is only allowed when lifeguards are present and on duty,' Sam Jorden, the city's manager of beaches and pools, says. 'When in or near the water, always keep the lifeguard in your line of sight in case of an emergency and follow the beach rules for your own safety.' The beaches all have flags, and they're very important to pay attention to: RED means it's not safe to swim; YELLOW means take precautions; GREEN means it's safe to swim. If you don't know how to swim, it's strongly urged to learn how. Learning CPR is a great way to be prepared for water emergencies. If you are lost out in the water, pay attention to things like green signs, and try to be able to describe whatever is surrounding you in order to help rescue personnel find you quicker. Do not try to test your swimming abilities on your own. … 'Respect everybody around you,' CFD's Jason Lach says. 'Know what your swimming capabilities are. Always know the Chicago Fire Department is here to support any operations.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Group of Chicago firefighters, EMTs honored for saving child's life
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.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Lurie Children's Hospital awards CFD paramedics, EMTs Community Hero Award
A group at Lurie Children's Hospital presented Chicago Fire Department paramedics and EMTs with a Community Hero Award Wednesday morning for saving a baby from cardiac arrest. Earlier this year, CFD ambulance No. 74 and truck No. 6 responded to a 13-month-old baby suffering from cardiac arrest. The child's parents started CPR, and the CFD teams took over when they arrived at the home. The Chicago emergency response team was able to revive the child, before rushing them to Lurie Children's Hospital for further treatment. On Wednesday, the Project ADAM team at the hospital will present the Community Hero Award to CFD paramedics Patrick Papiez and Shlomo Starck from Ambulance 74, and EMTs Casey Postilion, Zeko Durovic, Sergio Luna, and Andrew Lewandowski from Truck 6. Project ADAM, Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory, is a national program focused on educating and equipping schools to respond to a sudden cardiac event. "The Chicago Fire Department's quick and life-saving actions provided this child with a second chance," Lurie Children's Hospital said in a written statement.
