North Fort Myers Fire District personnel receive life saving award
During the regular Commissioner Meeting of the North Fort Myers Fire District, engineer Keith Nix, firefighter Arthur McCurry, and firefighter Dennis Gossett were recognized for their acts of service and knowledge used to extend the life of a North Fort Myers resident that suffered cardiac arrest last May.
During a Commissioner meeting a few months prior to this meeting Fire Commissioner Danny Ballard asked the district staff if they would look into such an award to recognize district employees.
The district implemented the Life Saving Award the following month. The criteria for the award was simple. Provide life saving measures including CPR, and the Semi Automated External Defibrillator (SAED) to a victim of Cardiac Arrest. If the patient is able to leave the hospital and return home to a normal lifestyle the criteria is met.
Fire Chief Terry Pye stated that this is the district’s goal for every patient treated by the fire department, but we are all quite aware that once a person goes into cardiac arrest the odds are against them for any type of normal recovery due to the many complications that can occur.
Pye also stated that these favorable outcomes are a result of knowledge and skills of both our first responders, Lee County Emergency Medical Services Emt’s and paramedics who provide Advanced Life Support and the receiving hospitals personnel. Pye said it is a team effort from the moment a 911 call is answered by the dispatcher until the patient is discharged from the hospital.
SOURCE: North Fort Myers Fire Department