Long Grove paramedics, dispatcher honored for life-saving efforts at cardiac arrest call

Six Long Grove Fire District personnel and a dispatcher were honored for their life-saving measures performed on Nov. 11, 2025.

At 4:29 p.m., the RED Center fire dispatch office received a call from a woman experiencing difficulty breathing and barely able to speak to the dispatcher.

Terri Basler of Crystal Lake had just left her office at the Kemper Lakes office complex and had walked to her car. Once she entered the car, she felt like she could not breathe and called 9-1-1.

Alarm operator Rebecca Oakes was able to determine her location and dispatched an ambulance and paramedic engine from the Long Grove Fire District. She instructed Basler to start the car, unlock the doors and turn the hazard lights on. She was barely able to give a description of her vehicle. While attempting to provide Basler with pre-arrival medical instructions, she was no longer able to communicate.

Oakes was able to determine from the sounds she was able to hear that this was a likely cardiac arrest and upgraded the incident and notified responders of the current condition.

Long Grove Fire District personnel arrived within six minutes and found Basler in cardiac arrest. Immediate life-saving measures began and advanced life support was provided. These actions continued on the scene for 13 minutes and for another 8 minutes during transport.

Upon arrival at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Basler had a pulse and was breathing on her own. After several days in the hospital, she was able to recover and returned to her home.

On Jan. 19, 2026, the Long Grove Fire District recognized the personnel who were able to save Basler’s life.

Lt. Billy Eisner and firefighter/paramedics Jake Gross, Nick McDowell, Brad Roberts, Tom Gattuso and Cayden Hilgers were presented with the Unit Life Saving Award. The district also presented alarm operator Rebecca Oakes with the Special Recognition Life Saving Award.

Fire Chief Paul Segalla said, “It is very rare that our personnel know the outcome of the patients that they deliver to the hospital. This incident gave our responders great relief that Ms. Basler responded to their life-saving measures. As an immense bonus, they were able to reunite with her at the board of trustees meeting and have her participate in the awards ceremony.”