Three Kewanee men are alive today because of the quick action — and medical training — of bystanders and co-workers.
Those people who rushed to help in a medical emergency were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Along with police officers who also have CPR training, they worked on the victims until fire department paramedics arrived.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Fire Chief Stephen Welgat presented the department’s Life Saver Awards to those people who acted so quickly to provide emergency medical care.
The cases were:
Dean Olson
Last Aug. 25, at approximately 8 p.m., Olson was on duty at the Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center. His co-workers noticed Olson having a sudden, seizure-like episode and then collapsing to the floor.
His co-workers and an off-duty nurse immediately began CPR. They were able to attach a defibrillator, help him breathe, obtain a blood sample and shock his heart four times, all while continuing CPR.
Kewanee firefighters arrived and took over patient care. They completed advanced medication administration as well as three more shocks to the heart, the last of which got Olson’s pulse to return
The firefighters transferred Olson to OSF St. Luke Medical Center’s emergency room where the staff took over. They were able to stabilize him and prepare him to be moved to Peoria.
Olson’s co-workers, Zarek Jenkins, Austin Majeske, Nolen Johnson and Kole Stach, as well as off-duty nurse Christine Wexell, received the fire department’s Life Saver Award
Firefighters working the ambulance that evening were Lt. Rob Horn and engineers Greg Rusk and Alex Brunson.
Kim Cernovich
Only five days later, Cernovich was riding his four-wheeler when he suffered a sudden cardiac event, causing him to crash. A passing motorist, Lisa Stisser, called 911 and reported the accident.
Kewanee police officers were the first on scene and one of them immediately started CPR. He was soon relieved by another officer who continued CPR until the ambulance arrived.
The ambulance crew continued CPR and multiple other interventions until transporting Cernovich to St. Luke, from where he eventually took a helicopter to another hospital.
“The immediate and sustained CPR efforts of the police officers and the ambulance crew ultimately led to Kim’s overall recovery and return to Kewanee,” Welgat said.
Receiving the Life Saver Award were police officers Matt DeClerq and Jacob Lang.
Firefighters who responded were Lt. Rob Horn, Engineers Jeffrey Roof and Andrew Welgat and firefighter Kyle McCready.
Terry Eby
While outside shoveling his driveway, Eby suffered a sudden cardiac event. He was fortunate to have two bystanders notice him on the ground and check to see if he was OK.
They recognized the emergency and called 911 and began doing CPR. They continued their efforts until the ambulance arrived and paramedics relieved them.
The paramedics continued CPR and multiple drug interventions as well as shocking the patient. These efforts continued all the way to St. Luke where care was turned over to the emergency department.
The combination of these three groups led to Eby walking out of the hospital and returning to his family.
Receiving the Life Saver Award were the bystanders who tended to Eby, Kylee Conlin and Tara Hewitt.
Firefighters who responded were Capt. Bennett Riber, Engineer Greg Rusk and firefighters Shawn Frank, Brendan Stevens and Miller Janzen.
Welgat said the fire department is setting up regular CPR classes that will be offered to anybody who wants to learn.
“The presentations tonight could happen much more often if everyone learned the basics of CPR,” he said. “The life you save could be a friend or a loved one. Even if it isn’t you’ll probably make a new friend in the person you help save.”
Updates on the CPR classes will be posted on the fire department’s Facebook page.
