Department of Public Safety

The St. Louis Fire Department and the St. Louis Fire Department Lifesaving Foundation held the 2012 "Lifesaving" Awards Ceremony on May 23, 2012. City officials and dignitaries gathered with the families and friends of St. Louis firefighters, paramedics and EMTs being recognized for their quick actions and heroic efforts.  

 

Those honored at the ceremony included FF Frank Abohamde, EMT Loretta Anderson, Paramedic Tiffany Barr, Paramedic Jessica Bowers, EMT Christopher Bradley, FF Barry Brown, FF Wayman Brown, FF Brian Burrow, FF Marcus Cannon, FF Frank Carter, Captain Mark Chrun, Captain Timothy Dangos, FF Eric Deeken, FF Mark Dildine, Captain Earl Epstein, Captain Todd Gooch, EMT Margie Griffin, FF Richard Harris, FF Steven Hayes, FF George Horneker, FF Jessica Jackson, FF Glen Koppang, FF Timothy Mahnken, FF Roger Meyer, Captain Christopher Molitor, FF Garon Mosby, FF Steve Nienhaus, Captain William Pollihan, FF Jamie Randall, Paramedic Derek Reiger, FF David Reinecke, FF Joseph Ross, FF Luke Schutzenhofer, Paramedic Keith Simms, FF Will Smith, FF Galen Taylor, Captain Bruce Tucker, FF Chad Vancil, Paramedic Michelle Vaught, FF Mike Weber, FF Dale Wells, EMT Aaron Wiemann, FF Steven Womack, and the members of the St. Louis Fire Department Honor Guard.

The awards were presented as follows:

Mid-day on March 21, 2011 a call for help came in for a child at a grade school who was unconscious and possibly not breathing effectively. This urgent assignment was given to Pumper 8C and Medic 5. When Pumper 8 arrived on the scene, they found the child lying lifeless on the floor. Resuscitation was begun immediately. When Medic 5 arrived, they discovered that the patient's heart was in pulseless electrical activity, a lethal arrhythmia. Quickly the teams worked together to transport her to the nearest hospital and bring her back from a premature death. Thankfully, the patient responded favorably and upon arrival at the hospital, they were able to detect faint pulses. Follow this link for video of the presentation of this award to Medic 5's Paramedic Jessica Bowers and EMT Aaron Wiemann and Pumper 8C Captain Tim Dangos, FF Luke Schutzenhofer, FF Doyle Washington and FF Paramedic Brian Burrow.

On April 6, 2011 Truck27C responded to a boat in distress call for Columbia Bottoms. The crew launched Marine Unit 3 and removed the stranded civilians to safety.

On April 28, 2011 Medic 33A was dispatched urgent for a "choking toddler who was not alert." The parents had tried in vain to clear the hot dog from their baby's airway. Paramedic Simms began resuscitation and the toddler improved. In all likelihood this child would not have survived the choking event had it not been for the quick and organized system of treatment he received.

On May 22, 2011 Trucks 27C and 33 were dispatched to a first alarm fire with a report of persons trapped. T33 attacked the fire and Captain Duane Daniels and FF Dale Wells entered the building, searching through intense smoke and heat until they found the unconscious victim on the bedroom floor. Together they removed the victim to safety and administered oxygen until the medic unit arrived.

On July 17, 2011 while off duty, FF Steve Nienhaus witnessed a vehicle crash into River des Peres. Without regard to his safety, FF Nienhaus entered the water and rescued the victim from his submerged vhielce and was able to safely get the victim to the shoreline until the rescue companies arrived.

During the early morning hours of Sunday, July 17, 2011 Truck 30C and Medic 13 were called to assist a patient suffering with breathing and speech problems. On arrival it was quickly determined that the patient was in cardiac arrest. Working as a team the crew began ACLS as the suppression company simultaneously packaged and extricated the patient. Without question, the outstanding work of these crews saved this woman's life.

On July 30, 2011 Pumper 2A was dispatched to the Mississippi River for a person in the water. Upon arrival, the crew was pointed by bystanders to a person in the water up against a barge, clinging for life. FF Eric Deeken quickly grabbed the rescue rope off the pumper and began running towards the victim. Once on the barge, FF Deeken secured the rope and lowered it to the victim, while instructing him to put it over his head and arms. Once the rope was secured around the victim the rescue crew successfully pulled him to safety.

On Aug. 8, 2011 Truck 30C and Medic 13C received a call for a "person down." Upon arrival, firefighter EMTs found the patient in full arrest. They started CPR. Upon Medic 13's arrival, Paramedic Michelle Vaught began advanced cardiac support care with her partner EMT Aaron Wiemann. Thanks to both crews efforts, the patient had return of spontaneous circulation and was admitted to the hospital.

On Sept. 11, 2011 the Fire Department received a call for a potential jumper from the Eads Bridge. While a St. Louis Police Lieutenant negotiated with the distraught individual, FFs Jamie Randall and Wayman Brown donned their rappelling and safety gear and positioned themselves strategically behind the would-be jumper. When the Police Lieutenant gave his cue, FFs Randall and Brown quickly apprehended the individual, pulling him to safety.

On Oct. 5, 2011 Medic 5B and Truck 20C were dispatched urgent to a patient having a severe asthma attack. Upon arrival, the truck crew quickly established a patient airway and performed rescue breathing with a bag-valve-mask. When Medic 5 arrived, Paramedic Tiffany Barr administered intra-muscular Epinephrine for the patient's life threatening asthma attack. The patient's breathing improved thanks to the great team work of all six lifesavers. 

On Oct. 9, 2011, Pumper 8 responded to a fire in a building. Upon their arrival they made entry to the second floor of an apartment building to find the kitchen filled with smoke and fire, and a patient lying on the floor in a confused state due to smoke inhalation. They extricated her and provided first aid for smoke inhalation while awaiting the arrival of the medic unit. Thanks to their teamwork, the fire was contained and more serious injury or worse was averted for the occupant.

On Nov. 11, 2011 the Marine Task Force was dispatched to a boat in distress in the Mississippi River. Upon arrival, the Task Force observed a bass boat with four men in it. The boat was stuck on rocks in a wing dike, taking on water quickly. All four men were loaded into the Zodiac and taken to safety.

The next presentation was made to Emergency Medical Dispatcher Loretta Anderson for her qick thinking and lifesaving actions on Nov. 20, 2011. The St. Louis Police notified EMS for a patient who reportedly was complaining of shortness of breath, but hung up before completing the 911 report. Dispatcher Anderson took it upon herself to call the Operator to 'tap' the caller's line to determine if there was any conversation on the line. The Operator reported hearing heavy breathing on the open line. Dispatcher Anderson reported that the Pumper crew, which then made a forcible entry, found the patient in severe distress and transported urgently to the hospital. Without Ms. Anderson's persistence and devotion to duty, this call could have had a much different, probably fatal, outcome.

Ms. Anderson received a second award for her persistence with a caller who did not speak English as a first language. After several futile attempts to locate the patient, Medic 32 coded the assignment "unfounded." Ms. Anderson was uncomfortable with that outcome. She suggested that Barnes be called as they have an interpreter on call. EMS performed a three-way converation with the caller and the Barnes interpreter which then allowed the interpreter to obtain an accurate address. The patient was later transported in stable condition due to the dedication and excellent work ethic of Ms. Anderson.

On Dec. 3, Truck 34B was dispatched to a fire in a building on S. Broadway. Upon arrival the crew was met by a woman who informed them that her boyfriend had gone back inside to find their puppy. An attack line was taken into the apartment and the search began. The victim was found prone on the floor between the living room and bedroom. A secondary search found the puppy safe and under a bed. Both man and puppy were fine. 

The final two awards were given for outstanding community service. The first went to Captain Mark Chrun for the positive impact he has made to our community, and the second went to the St. Louis Fire Department Honor Guard. The members donate their time and volunteer to serve at the various events throughout the City throughout the year.

In closing, Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson thanked everyone involved with the Lifesaving Foundation for their support and efforts to help the Department. 

The St. Louis Fire Department Lifesaving Foundation is a private 501(c)(3), nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that supports the St. Louis Fire Department and the people whom it serves. The foundation is a way that individuals, corporations and organizations can contribute to helping the life-savers help the community. For more information, email the Foundation at info@lifesavingfoundation.org.  

Many thanks to Rebecca Davis and everyone at the Lifesaving Foundation for making this event possible and congratulations to all the award recipients. Good work and job well done!

 

Department of Public Safety

City of St. Louis