Welcome to the digital sfd awards ceremony program
order of events
welcome – chief pennington
prayer – Rescue Specialist Yates
honor guard
Pledge of allegiance – abigail matney
memorials
retirees
Friends of SPringfield Fire
Servpro, dave bryngelson – title sponsor
Emcee – Craig schmucker
distinguished unit
Outstanding unit
meritorious service
life save section sponsored by coxhealth
medical life save/stork award
Special operations life save
fire life save/distinguished unit
civilian life save
Fire chief’s award of excellence
fire instructor of the year
firefighter of the year
fire officer of the year
closing
2024 sponsors
award information
January 29, 2024 – Engine 13B – Medical Life Save
Captain Mike Kuss, Equipment Operator Mike Hosteny, Firefighter John Nickelson
On 1/29/24, Engine 13 was dispatched to an apartment for an EMS call and was directed to stage for a male subject possibly trying to hang himself. The original call came to 911 from an operator at the Veteran’s Crisis Line, reporting a male at the given address stated he was going to hang himself and then stopped talking. The Veteran’s Crisis Line operator told Greene Co. 911 that he was still on the line with the caller and could hear the male gasping and gagging in the background, actively hanging himself.
Based on the comments in the CAD notes, the crew of Engine 13 decided to enter the scene and immediately began trying to locate the given apartment. Once located, the patient was seen through the blinds actively hanging from a rope attached to a doorknob. Without delay, or regard for his personal safety, Firefighter Nickelson kicked open the apartment door. Nickelson and Hosteny entered the apartment ahead of SPD and cut the rope, freeing the subject. The patient immediately began breathing and was conscious but not alert. For a moment, the patient became combative but the crew of Engine 13 B, all of whom were military veterans themselves, were able to console the patient. After speaking with the patient for some time, they were able to convince him to accept the help that was being offered. The subject was able to put on his own shoes and walked willingly to the cot. He was transported by EMS to seek further care.
Because of their selfless actions, they were able to intervene and save this patient’s life. Because of their shared backgrounds, empathy, and compassion, they were able to convince this patient to accept the medical and mental care he so desperately needed.
April 11, 2024 – Engine 1C – Medical Life Save
Lieutenant Ryan Pearman, Equipment Operator David Eckman, Firefighter Ollis Caudill
On April 11, 2024, Engine 1 was dispatched for a call at a local college. While enroute comments said that CPR was started. They arrived and entered a classroom where a bystander was providing respirations at the head of the patient while SPD was doing compressions on an unresponsive patient. The AED had already been placed on the patient by bystanders. Engine 1 checked for a pulse and did not find one, so they took over resuscitation efforts. The patient regained a pulse, so CPR was discontinued while respirations continued with the BVM. The patient lost his pulse so Engine 1 immediately resumed CPR. Engine 1 delivered a shock from the AED and continued CPR until the patient raised his leg and started to push Eckman’s hands away from doing compressions. Compressions were discontinued and the patient was switched over to a non-rebreather. EMS arrived and Engine 1 helped load the patient onto the cot and into the ambulance. The patient was alert and talking inside the ambulance before they left the scene.
June 5, 2024 – Ladder 3A – Medical Life Save
Captain Josh Johnson, Equipment Operator Jeremy Davis, Firefighter Brenna Ruyle
Ladder 3 responded to a medical emergency in a local industrial park. Ladder 3 arrived with SPD already on scene. Employees led Ladder 3 to the break room where an SPD officer was performing CPR with AED attached. Firefighter Ruyle began working on getting an airway placed on the patient. EO Davis began working on getting the BVM prepared for the patient. Once the airway was placed, Firefighter Ruyle performed ventilations for the patient. EMS arrived for further ALS interventions. SPD Officer performed 2-3 rounds of CPR on the patient and Captain Johnson, performed 2 rounds of CPR on the patient. As Captain Johnson was preparing to switch out, the patient regained a pulse. Ladder 3 prepared the cot and used a sheet to transfer the patient from the floor to the cot. The patient was loaded into the ambulance and was transported to a local hospital. Firefighter Ruyle rode into the hospital to assist with any EMS needs. Patient maintained pulse the entire trip to the hospital.
July 2, 2024 – Engine 5A – Medical Life Save
Captain Daron Evans, Equipment Operator Corbin Burris, Firefighter Sean Martin, Battalion Chief Chris Roush
Patient was found in driver’s seat of his car at a stop light. Driver was moving slightly but unresponsive. As the situation progressed, it became apparent that the patient was needing immediate intervention. Engine 5 with BC Roush acted quickly and purposefully to break out the passenger window to gain access to the patient. Equipment Operator Burris put the car in park while Captain Evans grabbed the patient to remove him from the vehicle. He was found to be pulseless and breathless. Pit-crew CPR was immediately started by everyone on scene and 4 shocks were delivered with the AED before EMS arrived. Once EMS arrived Engine 5 continued with CPR while they performed ALS functions. Patient experienced return of spontaneous circulation before being loaded into the ambulance. Firefighter Martin rode into hospital at EMS request and assisted with respirations for the patient. Patient was conscious and speaking upon arrival at the hospital for further care.
This was also awarded a Life Save Award by Zoll Medical – submitted by the Clinical Educator of the responding EMS agency
August 2, 2024 – Engine 5B – Medical Life Save
Captain Jason Williams, Equipment Operator Matthew Cobban, Firefighter Ryan Turner
Engine 5 was shopping at a local grocery store when they were paged over the store intercom. Firefighter Turner advised Capt. Williams that the store was paging them to the front, while outside an employee was advising EO Cobban at the apparatus that there was an emergency inside the store. Once at the front of the store, Engine 5 found a pulseless patient, not breathing.
Engine 5 was told that the patient had collapsed by the check outs. Captain Williams called over the radio for EO Cobban to respond inside with the AED and medical boxes. Firefighter Turner began compressions while EO Cobban arrived and placed the AED. Captain Williams radioed for EMS to respond. Shortly after the bag valve mask was deployed, the patient began to regain respiratory drive. Engine 5 performed a pulse check and found patient to have a weak pulse and shallow respirations. Engine 5 continued interventions and provided patient update to incoming EMS. Eventually the patient regained consciousness and was able to communicate her name and age before being transported to a nearby hospital.
August 27, 2024 – Engine 8C – Medical Life Save
Lieutenant Andy Mariage, Firefighter Arturo Ibarra, Firefighter Garrett Maggard
Engine 8 arrived on scene to a vehicle that had been driven into the ditch on the west side of town. As they approached the vehicle they could see a patient on the ground outside of the driver side door with his feet still up in the vehicle. Upon investigation, it was found that bystanders had pulled him out of the vehicle. Firefighter Maggard immediately checked for pulses and did not find one, so they picked the patient up and moved him to the sidewalk where they could begin CPR. Engine 8 applied the AED pads and initiated analyzation. The AED advised shock. After shocking the patient Engine 8 resumed pit crew CPR and inserted an airway with supplemental oxygen via bag valve mask. In totality, the patient was shocked 3 times with high quality CPR consistent throughout the incident. Resuscitation efforts lasted nearly an hour on a day with temperatures near 95 degrees. The patient eventually began to breathe on his own and was quickly transported to a nearby area hospital for further care. The patient was discharged from the hospital soon after with no deficits.
September 1, 2024 – Engine 13B – Medical Life Save
Equipment Operator Mike Hosteny, Firefighter John Nickelson, Firefighter Collin Sigrest
Engine 13 arrived to a patient laying on the living room floor that was pale, unresponsive, and taking agonal breaths. A SPD Officer was on scene preforming compressions. Engine 13 checked for a pulse and did not find one. While the officer continued compressions Engine 13 deployed the AED and began assisting breathing with supplemental oxygen and a bag valve mask. The AED advised a shock during its first assessment and a shock was delivered. Engine 13 continued CPR as EMS arrived. They then continued pit crew CPR with SPD and EMS for six rounds before the patient had pulses return. The patient maintained pulses on arrival to the ER where he was taken to the Cath lab immediately for further intervention. Several days later, the patient walked out of the hospital with no deficits.
A couple of days later, the responding Paramedic drafted an email to express her gratitude:
“ Springfield Fire Department maintained some of the best, high-quality chest compressions I’ve seen. I have not ever had the opportunity to work with such a fantastic crew of people, especially from different departments. Fire told me the exact time they defibrillated, swapped compressors every rhythm check, and communicated excellently. There was no information that wasn’t prepared for my unit. We got ROSC on the patient and when I asked if we could get the stretcher ready and a sheet, those things were already done.
Everyone – SPD, Fire, and my partner all knew exactly what to do without direction and did it with the most efficiency. We managed a scene time under 20 minutes, and got the post-code patient to the hospital who was also having a STEMI. The patient was able to make it to Cath lab very promptly.
Without this crew of responders, this patient’s outcome may have not been the same. There was no hesitation from SPD with beginning chest compressions immediately and then Fire taking over and defibrillating right away. SPD and Fire gave this patient the best initial care anyone could ask for and then worked with us like we were a team that trained together for this.
I can’t express how great of an experience that was.
It proved that when it comes to a life, people who have never worked together before can become a team and calmly and efficiently do the job we were trained to do together. I want to be sure that SPD knows how great of an officer they have and that Springfield Fire Department gets the recognition they deserve as this patient is still alive as of today because of their no-hesitation actions.“
September 27, 2024 – Engine 5A – Medical Life Save
Equipment Operator Chad Bright, Equipment Operator Corbin Burris, Firefighter Sean Martin
Engine 5 was dispatched to a call for suspected cardiac event. On arrival Engine 5 found the patient unresponsive with no pulse or respirations. Engine 5 performed CPR while applying the AED. Even though the AED advised “no shock,” patient care did not change and CPR continued as EMS crews arrived. During transfer of care, a pulse check was performed and patient had regained pulses with respirations following after. Patient was transferred and discharged from the local hospital as prognosis improved.
November 29, 2024 – Engine 7A – Medical Life Save
Captain Scott Guccione, Firefighter Ryan Zinter, Firefighter Mychal Adamson
Engine 7 was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident and arrived to find a SUV in the median with one patient pulled out of the vehicle laying on his back while bystanders were preforming CPR. SPD was also on scene with giving rescue breaths with a bag valve mask. Engine 7 approached the patient who was gray in color and breathing was agonal. They checked for a pulse but found none. They restarted CPR and placed the AED to deliver the advised shock. More CPR followed after the shock and an airway was being prepped to be inserted as EMS arrived. A pulse check was performed as he was moved to cot and a pulse was found. The patient’s breathing started to improve. Engine 7 assisted EMS to the ambulance. The patient required another shock in the ambulance but regained consciousness and was speaking to the EMS crew during transport.
December 8, 2024 – Engine 2A – Medical Life Save
Lieutenant Jeff Martin, Firefighter Garrett Sebert, Firefighter Chris Hoerning
Engine 2 arrived to the scene of a medical emergency as EMS crews were arriving as well. Engine 2 found the patient sitting in a wheelchair ona sidewalk as EMS was checking for a pulse. EMS stated that he had no pulse and was not breathing. Engine 2 moved the patient to the ground and Firefighter Sebert began compressions. Firefighter Hoerning placed an airway and began ventilations with a bag valve mask, ensuring good chest rise and fall. Engine 2 continued CPR while EMS performed ALS interventions. All the while, the patient received several shocks from the AED. After nearly 30 minutes of continuous CPR with defibrillation, a pulse was found. The patient was transported to a local hospital and ended up leaving the hospital neuro intact.
December 24, 2024 – Engine 4B – Medical Life Save
Equipment Operator Tad Harvill, Firefighter Matthew Snodgrass, Firefighter Draven Stapp
Engine 4 was dispatched to a possible stroke, with comments of unresponsive but awake. Upon their arrival the patient was on the couch in a sitting position, unresponsive, pulseless, and not breathing. They quickly moved the patient to the floor and immediately began CPR. EO Harvill started compressions, Firefighter Snodgrass started placing the AED, and Firefighter Stapp assembled the BVM and placed the airway. Once the AED was attached we paused compressions and shock was advised, we delivered the shock and continued CPR. In total, patient was shocked 4 times with no interruption of high quality CPR except to deliver defibrillation. Patient regained a strong pulse and was transferred to a local hospital where he was eventually discharged, neuro intact.
August 12, 2024 – Ladder 9C – Stork Award
Captain Brian Thompson, Equipment Operator Garett Olson, Firefighter Nicholas Lopez
The crew of Ladder 9 delivered a healthy baby girl in the passenger seat of her mom’s vehicle. This was also featured in the Springfield News-Leader:
December 11, 2024 – Engine 10A – Stork Award
Captain Josh Bravestone, Firefighter Keith Kenyeri, Firefighter Falen Juliano
Despite some less than ideal working conditions for the crew of Engine 10, they successfully delivered a healthy baby boy with no complications.
Friends of Springfield Fire 