Addison firefighters honored by hospital
When Alan Bolek slumped over in his chair while watching television last September, his wife immediately tried to dial 911.
At first, she got the number wrong.
It was the only misstep in a chain of events that resulted in a group of firefighter/paramedics saving the life of the 56-year-old Addison man after his heart stopped. Bolek has since made a full recovery.
The outcome was so positive that Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in Glendale Heights has given the Addison Fire Protection District its inaugural "Run of the Year" award.
"When I was discharged from hospital, I tried to thank my cardiologist," Bolek said Wednesday. "He interrupted me almost immediately and said, 'The only reason you are walking out of here is because of the work of the first responders.'"
The Addison fire personnel who responded to the call at Bolek's house are: Capt. Jim Burke, Troy Vogelmann, Dan Cromp, Lt. Scott Heinrich, Christopher Mansfield and Erick Fritsch.
Burke said he and his co-workers simply did what they were trained to do when they discovered Bolek on the floor of his family room.
"He wasn't breathing and had no pulse when we found him," Burke said.
After performing a defibrillation and treating Bolek with medication, the firefighter/paramedics were able to get his heart beating again.
Bolek then was rushed to GlenOaks, where he was diagnosed with having an enlarged heart. Doctors treated him by implanting a defibrillator and a pacemaker, officials said.
Now Bolek says he feels healthy - and very gratful.
"Those firefighters saved my life," he said. "I just wish there were words other than 'thank you' that I could say to them."
Dr. Joseph Shanahan, medical director of emergency services at GlenOaks, praised the Addison firefighter/paramedics for their actions.
Addison Fire Chief Leigh A. Fabbri said everyone in the department works to train at the highest level and apply that training to the job they do.
"Although this call stood out because of it's outcome, they do things that are just as important every day," Fabbri said.
In addition to giving a plaque to the fire protection district, GlenOaks made a $500 donation to the district. The money will be used to buy new medical equipment.
The hospital also recognized several departments having a "Run of the Month" in 2008, including Bloomingdale Fire Department, Glenside Fire Department and Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Department.
"I just scratch my head why people worship actors and athletes," Shanahan said. "The true heroes of our society are paramedics, teachers and firefighters, as far as I'm concerned."