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Two Gurnee firefighters honored for off-duty lifesaving actions

A pair of Gurnee firefighter/paramedics have been honored for performing lifesaving actions earlier this year while off duty and playing softball in another town.

Robert Davidson and Scott Rans were presented with lifesaving awards at Monday night's Gurnee village board meeting. Dr. Jack Whitney, emergency medical services director of NorthShore University HealthSystem, also gave certificates to Rans and Davidson, praising them for their off-duty work at a Waukegan Park District field.

Fire Chief Fred Friedl said Rans and Davidson were playing softball May 4 when they heard a commotion on another field. Gurnee Trustee Don Wilson was on the mound pitching when a man went down and other players rushed to help.

β€œIt wasn't happening when they were beating on the guy's chest,” Wilson said.

Rans and Davidson raced over to the man who had collapsed, Friedl said. Whitney said the man, believed to be about 45 years old, was not breathing and didn't have a pulse when Davidson and Rans arrived.

After assessing that the man was in cardiac arrest, the firefighter/paramedics started cardiopulmonary resuscitation and got someone to bring them an automated external defibrillator as part of the revival effort.

β€œI'd just like to thank the two members of the (EMS) team here who provided that type of (lifesaving) intervention during their off hours,” Whitney said as he presented the certificates to Rans and Davidson.

Friedl said the man is recovering. Davidson and Rans thanked the officials for the honor.

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