Des Plaines recognizes lifesavers

Des Plaines city officials this week recognized a police officer and several firefighters for saving residents' lives.

Among those receiving the Life Saving Award was Officer Chris Harrison, who resuscitated 33-year-old resident Brian Hruby on Dec. 10.

Harrison was the first officer to respond when a call came in for help from Hruby's residence. Hruby was not breathing and had no pulse.

Harrison administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation until an ambulance arrived.

Also recognized were fire Capt. Scott Peirson, engineer Mike Donovan, and firefighter/paramedic Lukasz Szerlag of Paramedic Engine 63, who placed Hruby on a cardiac monitor and used a defibrillator to shock his heart back into rhythm.

Firefighter/paramedics Dave Bedrich and Kevin Jones with Ambulance 71 intubated Hruby's airway, hooked him up to a 12-lead EKG and administered intravenous medications to stabilize his heart rhythm and breathing.

“This was certainly a significant event in the life of this young family and personnel on the scene clearly made a difference and saved the patient's life by their aggressive actions and professionalism,” Des Plaines Fire Chief Alan Wax said.

A Life Saving Award was given to firefighter/paramedic Edward Rogers, who was off-duty and standing in line at Woodfield Mall at 3:55 a.m. Nov. 25 when a woman started screaming that her husband had collapsed about 30 feet away.

Rogers immediately responded and, with the help of bystanders, administered CPR to revive Tim Stratton. A mall security officer later brought an automated external defibrillator to shock Stratton's heart.

Officials said it was the second time Rogers had saved a life while off-duty within a span of a few months.

Also recognized were members of Des Plaines police department's tactical team, Sgt. Mike Holdman, and officers Ben Ruzicka, Brian Hart and Tom Boniak, who received a departmental commendation for outstanding police work that contributed to enhancing the image of the department.