Clackamas Fire Honors Individuals Involved In The Chain Of Survival (Photo) -04/26/18

Clackamas Fire District #1 held its sixth Chain of Survival Celebration and challenge coin presentation on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Providence Willamette Falls Community Center, 519 15th St., Oregon City, OR 97045.

The celebration honored those in the chain of survival who participated in saving the life of a cardiac arrest victim who was resuscitated and survived neurologically intact. Clackamas Fire honored eight cardiac arrest “saves” that included numerous individuals involved in the treatment of the survivors.

The chain of survival participants included bystanders who performed CPR prior to emergency crew arrival, Clackamas Fire, Clackamas County 911 dispatchers who encouraged and coached bystander CPR, American Medical Response, City of Happy Valley Code Enforcement, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Milwaukie Police Department, and Oregon City Police Department.

The cardiac arrest saves were made possible because “someone recognized there was a medical emergency, they took immediate action, called 911, someone started hands-only CPR, and our emergency dispatchers quickly dispatched our incredible first responders, and as a result – the chain was unbroken,” said Division Chief Bill Conway.

Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital setting in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, the national survival rate from these incidents is less than 10%.

CPR is crucial as this keeps the blood flow active – even partially – extending the opportunity for a successful resuscitation once trained medical staff arrive. When community members are willing and able to provide CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AED) are readily available, chances of a patient surviving a cardiac arrest event increases significantly.

Chief Fred Charlton said, “All too often our first responders and citizen heroes who help save a life aren’t able to reunite with the victim. The Chain of Survival Celebration brings rescuers and survivors together and demonstrates how important calling 911, learning hands-only CPR, accessing an AED, and providing advanced care is to ensure life goes on.”

Thanks to all those involved in the chain of survival, Clackamas Fire was able to reunite survivors and rescuers, giving them the opportunity to formally meet one another and to celebrate life.

Photos courtesy of Clackamas Fire, Training Technician Austin Thiele

Photo 1, left to right: Survivor Greg Boney, Austen Sawzek, Bryan Person, Kiersten Cormican, Firefighter Brandon Poppert, Apparatus Operator Jamen Lahodny, and Chief Fred Charlton

Photo 2, left to right: Survivor Richard Betschart, Division Chief Bill Conway, Jody Caprino, Josh Miller, Alex Miller, Lieutenant Zach Brown, Firefighter AJ Stuck, Lieutenant Mark Corless, Apparatus Operator, Brent Coffey, Milwaukie Police Department Officer Eric Charron, and Chief Fred Charlton

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