Niles Fire Department and village leaders gathered Tuesday at one of the fire stations to publicly honor the firefighter/paramedics who responded to a call last summer and helped to save the life of a man – they would learn was a retired firefighter, himself – in cardiac arrest.
On Sept. 19, Kevin O’Connor, 79, suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Niles. A neighbor called 911 and crews from fire department Station 3 responded immediately, rendering aid to O’Connor, a Vietnam War veteran and retired Chicago Fire Department fireman.
Officials explained that O’Connor was placed on life support for 11 hours once he was transported to the hospital. He credits the responding firefighter/paramedics with helping to save his life.
“Niles saved my life,” O’Connor said Tuesday at the awards presentation for the emergency personnel held at Station 3. “They kept me alive long enough to save me.”
Along with the awardees, Niles mayor George Alpogianis and fire Chief Patrick Maloney attended the recognition event.
Maloney credited his emergency responders with “working calmly, decisively and [as] one coordinated team” on that September call to apply their training, skill and experience “under intense pressure.”
According to the American Heart Association, more than 70% of cardiac arrest episodes happen at home. The organization’s website states that receiving CPR immediately after the onset can help to double – even triple – the chances of surviving.
Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating. Survival chances for adults outside of a hospital setting are generally about 9% – especially without immediate CPR, according to the American Heart Association.
O’Connor said the firefighter/paramedics “did their job” and he is grateful.
