LOCAL RESPONDERS RECEIVE CLINICAL SAVE AWARD
Several First Responders gathered tonight at the Westphalia Fire Protection District Headquarters to be recognized and presented with a “Celebrating Excellence” – Clinical Save Award. In addition to receiving the awards, responders were able to meet the patient and family from that evening.
On Monday September 14, 2020, just after 8:00PM, 47-year-old Janie Holzschuh suffered a sudden cardiac arrest event at her home near Westphalia, Missouri. Janie’s husband, a Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal, was home along with their two daughters. Trooper Holzschuh and his oldest daughter began performing CPR while the younger daughter made the call to 911.
The 911 call was answered by the Osage County 911 / Emergency Management Agency where emergency telecommunicators Brady Dobson and Savana Atkinson were on duty. Fire, EMS and law units were quickly dispatched, and pre-arrival instructions given.
Volunteers from the Westphalia Fire Protection District arrived and took over CPR efforts in addition to placing an automated external defibrillator (AED) and providing several shocks. Responders from WFPD included Chief Jim Roark, firefighters Alvin Bexten, Chase Huber, Ryan Schwartz, Brian Eisterhold, Randy Nilges, Jared Weber, Dylan Berhorst, Cody Eisterhold, Ben Eisterhold, Brent Wolken, Bradley Lackman and Abby Berhorst.
Maries Osage Ambulance District personnel arrived with Paramedic Megan Weiss and EMT Richie Hinz who immediately began initiating advanced cardiac life support procedures.
Law Enforcement responders from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office began arriving to include Sheriff Mike Bonham, Deputy Dennis Sutton, and Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Dustin Crafton.
Osage Ambulance District arrived on scene to assist with patient care shortly after the team of rescuers had gotten a pulse restored. Responders from Osage EMS included Paramedics Jonathon Thomas, Paul Davidson and EMT Thomas Murphy.
With Janie stabilized and her heat beating on its own, EMS crews transferred care to the ARCH 6 helicopter crew for a 15-minute flight to University Hospital in Columbia!
Three days after the initial cardiac arrest event, Janie had removed her breathing tube and was sitting up in the hospital bed talking with the nurses and doctors.
We would like to share these important reminders:
1. Female patients present differently than male patients when experiencing cardiac events. Not everyone will present with typical chest pain.
2. Learn CPR. There is no doubt that Janie is here today because of the immediate CPR provided by her husband and daughter.
3. Early Access to 911 and AED. Activate the 911 system quickly so help is on the way. Apply an AED as quickly as possible. 7 shocks were delivered before a heartbeat was restored in this case.
4. The family credits not only all of the responders, doctors, nurses, and others directly involved with Janie’s care, God was with everyone involved that night, with Janie in the Hospital, through recovery and still today.
