SWISSVALE — Two police officers and seven firefighters will be honored for saving the lives of three Swissvale residents, who were suffering from cardiac arrest incidents, over a four-week period.
Swissvale Mayor Deneen Swartzwelder will be presenting Life Saving Awards recognizing the emergency responders during an event at the Swissvale fire station at 2 p.m. Thursday. Those being recognized are officers Gus Bondi and David Zacchia of the Swissvale police and fire shift commander Jared Amos, fire shift commander Benjamin Rudd, fire marshal D.J. Glancy and firefighters Robert Brannagan, Josh Carlini, Robert Fry and Brad Sablocik from the Swissvale Fire Department, according to a press release.
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Swissvale Fire Chief Clyde Wilhelm and Police Chief C. Ellis Watson wanted to recognize the quick responses and lifesaving measures, the release said. It is expected that at least one of the survivors will be present at the award presentation.
“Chief Watson and Chief Wilhelm are very proud of their officers and firefighters and the professionalism they bring to our community. Public Safety is our business and the preservation of life is our highest priority,” the release said.
The incidents included one on Aug. 10, when emergency responders were called to help a collapsed man inside a store. Police provided CPR and fire personnel then began Advanced Life Support before EMS arrived to take the man to the hospital.
On Aug. 13, fire personnel were dispatched for a diabetic emergency that led to cardiac arrest. Firefighters were able to save the woman, and EMS took her to the hospital.
In the third incident, police officers were dispatched Sept. 4 to a home where a man had collapsed. Police and fire personnel were able to perform CPR and Advanced Life Support and the man was taken to the hospital.
According the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur each year out of the hospital. About 90% of people who experience an out- of-hospital cardiac arrest die. Data also shows that nearly 45% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survived when bystander CPR was administered, the release said.
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