Efforts honored with award
JACKSON TWP — Jackson Township and Evans City police officers and Harmony fire and ambulance crews were honored Jan. 20 with a Life Saving Award for their roles in helping to save a woman’s life with the use of automated external defibrillator.
Jackson officer Hunter Ryan, officer Trina Loesch of the Evans City Police Department, Ryan Mann, James Dlutowski, Brian Greenwalt and Garret Miller of Harmony EMS and the Harmony Volunteer Fire Company were honored for their efforts in saving the life of a 53-year-old woman on Dec. 26.
Jackson supervisors Chairman Ron Lutz lauded the efforts of all those involved.
“It’s a once in a lifetime scenario. It’s something that they’ll probably never forget,” he said.
Sgt. Tim Amrhein, Jackson’s current officer-in-charge, said incidents of cardiac arrest happen more than most people think during accidents, and most of the time, a life is lost.
In this case, everything came together and it resulted in a positive outcome.
“It’s rare that you have a positive outcome out of it,” said Amrhein who worked in the EMS field before starting his current career in law enforcement. “She’s now out of the hospital and doing well.”
On the morning of Dec. 26, police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Routes 528 and 68. A car hit the guardrail and the driver was unconscious with the vehicle doors locked.
Officer Ryan checked the woman’s vital signs upon gaining entry to the vehicle and found a weak pulse. Officer Loesch tried to get the woman to respond, but was unsuccessful.
An unidentified doctor had stopped to assist and advised officer Ryan that the woman no longer had a pulse and CPR needed to be done.
The group removed the woman, placed her on the ground and began to perform CPR.
Officer Loesch retrieved the AED from her police cruiser.
The doctor began chest compressions while officer Ryan stabilized the women’s head and jaw to open her airway.
The AED was used with one shock administered. CPR continued until Harmony EMS arrived on the scene to take over medical procedures.
Moments later, the woman regained her pulse and attempts were made to stabilize her until the arrival of the medical helicopter.
The helicopter transporter her to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.
