Lake Forest Hospital honors first-responders with 'A Cut Above' award
Lake Forest Hospital has recognized the exemplary efforts of local first-responders at its annual "A Cut Above" award ceremony, which was held at the hospital's health education center.
Hospital officials were joined by members of fire and police departments from Countryside, Grayslake, Greater Round Lake, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Great Lakes Naval Station, North Chicago, and Waukegan to honor first-responders for their quick response and efforts that saved lives.
"It is an honor for us to host this annual event to commend our firefighters and paramedics and recognize the team efforts that saved lives," said Thomas J. McAfee, president of Lake Forest Hospital. "The first-responders we honor today represent the very best of our community."
The first-responders honored include:
• Libertyville Fire Department: Firefighter/Paramedic Andrew Yarc; Firefighter/Paramedic Josh Roberts; Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Schultz. Yarc, Roberts and Schultz used their new training on Combat Application Tourniquets on May 19 when they arrived at a local industrial facility for a man who lacerated his arm on a mill.
The pulseless extremity with a 6-inch laceration continued to bleed despite a makeshift tourniquet applied by the patient's co-workers. Yarc, Roberts and Schultz rapidly applied a Combat Application Tourniquet that controlled the bleeding and the patient was transported to the hospital.
• Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District: Firefighter/Paramedic Erich Castillo; Firefighter/Paramedic Todd Lucassen; Firefighter/Paramedic Paul Willen; Firefighter/Paramedic Lonnie Langel; Firefighter/Paramedic Neal Fischer; Firefighter/EMT Eric Wang. Round Lake Crew One responded May 7 to a lift assist call where they found an overweight man lying on the floor, on the heat register, for more than eight hours.
The first crew quickly began cleaning the patient as a second crew arrived for additional assistance. Lucassen and Castillo showered the patient, while Willen, Langel, Fischer and Wang decontaminated the patient's living space and laundered the patient's clothing.
• Grayslake Fire Protection District: Lt. David Torkilsen; Lt. Jason Brooks; Firefighter/Paramedic James Howell; Firefighter/Paramedic Gerry O'Sullivan; Firefighter/Paramedic Jose Sanchez-Vega; Firefighter/Paramedic Eric Foerster. The Grayslake crew arrived on scene July 19 and found a 74-year-old unresponsive male, whose wife was performing CPR. The paramedics quickly defibrillated the patient.
After two shocks the patient had a return of spontaneous circulation and was then rapidly transported to the hospital. The patient later was discharged from the hospital with a good, long-term prognosis.
• North Chicago Fire Department: Cmdr. Joshua Rickabaugh; Firefighter/Paramedic Joseph Knesley; Firefighter/Paramedic Kyle Martinelli; Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Kluchka; Firefighter/Paramedic Sterling Ricketts. On May 17, the North Chicago Fire Department responded to a call for a 78-year-old female with uncontrollable bleeding due to a dog bite wound to the neck.
When they arrived to the scene, the unruly dog was being restrained by a bystander who informed the crew that he was losing his grip. The dog became loose and ran toward the North Chicago crew. Kluchka pinned the dog to the ground by grabbing the dog's neck and rear legs to prevent injury to others.
Ricketts performed a rapid trauma assessment on the patient. Rickabaugh, Knesley, and Martinelli then moved the patient into the ambulance to ensure safety, while Kuchka successfully secured the dog while he avoided being bitten.
Direct pressure to the patient's bite wound with multiple trauma dressings controlled the bleeding and the patient was safely transported to the hospital.
• Waukegan Fire Department: Capt. Tom Christensen. Christensen is honored for his commitment and loyalty to his profession, department and community. Throughout 27 years of service, Christensen has fulfilled many roles within the Waukegan community. He has served as an Airport Rescue Firefighter, a certified public diver for the Dive Rescue Operations, director of the Hazardous Devices Technician program, director of Personal Protective Gear program, co-director of Department Organized Community Emergency Response Team and fire investigator.
Among his accolades, he has been honored as the 2012 National Firefighter of the Year and is a recipient of the Medal of Valor in 2011.
• Countryside Fire Protection District: Firefighter/Paramedic Dan Lainio; Firefighter/Paramedic Mark Skala. On the morning of July 12, Skala and Lainio were training on the "pit crew" CPR method. They later responded to a call for a 92-year-old female with chest pain. The patient went into ventricular fibrillation, so the crew defibrillated the patient, helping her regain spontaneous circulation and consciousness.
• Naval Base Great Lakes Fire Department: Assistant Chief Gregory DeVries; Capt. Chad Miller; Firefighter Shane Ratcliff; Firefighter Mike Vetta; Firefighter Dave Chizek; Firefighter Mark Dodge; Firefighter Matthew Webb. On Feb. 23, the Great Lakes crew cared for an unresponsive 2-year-old. They found the child in ventricular fibrillation and administered advanced life support. Numerous medications were administered with changes in the patient's rhythm before they reached the hospital.
• Lake Bluff Fire Department: Firefighter/Paramedic Matt Kluchka; Firefighter/Paramedic Russell Kluchka; Lake Bluff Police Department: Police Officer Jim Reynolds; Lake Forest Fire Department: Firefighter/Paramedic Nick Savel; Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Stanonik. On Jan. 21, Savel, Stanonik, Kluchka, and Kluchka and Reynolds provided the appropriate lifesaving procedures to help regain the patient's pulse. Upon their arrival to the emergency department, the patient began to regain consciousness.
The annual "A Cut Above" awards are presented in memory of Schaumburg Fire Department Firefighter Anthony M. Gallo, Jr., who was fatally injured in the line of duty Dec. 16, 1977.