Some Genoa Township lifesavers have been recognized by township officials.

At the opening of a recent Genoa Township trustees’ meeting, township Police Chief Stephen Gammill and Fire Chief Gary Honeycutt recognized several police officers and firefighters whose actions resulted in saved lives.

“On Feb. 15 officers Ryan Parsons and Jim Denman were dispatched to an unresponsive 17-year-old male on Danbridge Way,” said Gammill. “When officer Parsons arrived on scene, he was told that Zach Stentz just fell over, and Zach was unresponsive, not breathing, and was lifeless.”

Gammill said Parsons immediately started CPR and continued CPR by himself until relieved by paramedics, who transported Zach to St. Anne’s Hospital in critical condition.

“When Officer Denman arrived on scene, he was given Zach’s home address,” Gammill said. “Officer Denman notified Zach’s parents, and was told by Zach’s father that Zach suffered from a rare medical condition. Officer Denman drove Mr. Stentz to St. Ann’s with Zach’s medication.

“Paramedics and St. Ann’s medical staff said if it were not for the quick action of Parsons to begin CPR and officer Denman to get Mr. Stentz to the hospital with the patient’s rare medication, Zach would not have survived,” Gammill said.

On Oct. 1, officers Emily Breece and Denman, along with township fire and Delaware County EMS units, were dispatched to care for an unresponsive person on Spyglass Court. Breece and Denman arrived on scene about two minutes before medic units and initiated CPR.

Honeycutt said when Genoa Medic 441 and EMS Medic 7 arrived at the scene CPR was taken over by paramedics and ventilations were administered. The patient was placed on a cardiac monitor and determined to be in cardiac arrest. A Lucas device was put in place to take over manual compressions and his airway was secured.

“An IV was established and the patient was administered a round of cardiac drugs,” Honeycutt said. “Shortly thereafter, CPR was paused to check for a pulse, (and) none was found. The patient was then placed into Medic 441 for transport to St. Ann’s.

“While in route, the patient was administered a second round of cardiac drugs and advanced life support was continued,” Honeycutt continued. “The medic crew noticed the patient was beginning to attempt to breathe on his own, had a pulse and a blood pressure. CPR was paused, but the crew continued to assist his ventilations.”

Honeycutt said the patient’s color had dramatically improved on arrival at St. Ann’s, he had a pulse, and some movement in his jaw and fingers. Before the medics’ departure from St. Ann’s, the patient was sitting up and able to communicate with emergency room staff.

“This is a great example of everyone working together for our community,” Honeycutt said. “Telecommunicators did an excellent job of talking with the patient’s wife, dispatching and relaying all pertinent information in a timely manner. The police officers were able to initiate CPR approximately two minutes prior to the medics’ arrival. Both medic crews worked hand in hand with minimal guidance needed, due to everyone just doing what needed to be done for the patient.”

Honeycutt said in this incident, a breakdown in any one of the officers’ and paramedics’ responsibilities would have negatively impacted the final outcome.

On Oct. 19, township police officers were dispatched to Saybrook Drive to assist medics with an unresponsive male.

Denman was first to arrive and immediately started chest compressions on the patient. After about two minutes of compressions, Denman had started the patient’s heart functioning on its own.

“The subject began trying to breathe and regained his color and the medic in charge took a moment to tell Lieutenant Ciballi that Officer Denman did a phenomenal job of getting the patient’s heart started again,” said Gammill. “No medications or advanced life-support treatment had been administered at this point. The actions of Officer Denman undoubtedly made a difference in giving the patient a fighting chance of surviving this incident.”

Also receiving commendations for their roles in these incidents were township firefighters Adam Honeycutt, Brian Daugherty and Jeff Kibler.

Also recognized during last week’s trustee meeting was Officer Mike Sigman, who started with township police in the summer of 2013 as a part-time officer. In January 2014, he was promoted to full time.

“Since Officer Sigman started with our agency, he has dedicated himself to tracking down and arresting impaired drivers,” Gammill said. “In 2014 he had over 30 OVI arrests. As of October 20 of this year, he has arrested 33 impaired drivers.”

Gammill said that in addition to OVI arrests, Sigman has made numerous other arrests for heroin possession.

“Officer Sigman has gone above and beyond to show his dedication to protecting our residents from impaired drivers and those who could do harm to our residents,” Gammill said.

Zach Stentz, left, had an opportunity during a recent Genoa Township trustees’ meeting to thank the two Genoa Township police officers on the scene when he suffered a medical emergency. Paramedics and St. Ann’s Hospital medical staff said Zach might not have survived without the officers’ quick actions. From left are Zach, Officer Ryan Parsons, who administered CPR until paramedics arrived on scene, Officer Jim Denman, who rushed Zach’s father to St. Ann’s with rare medicine Zach needed, and Genoa Township Trustee Leo Wilhelm.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/11/web1_Genoa-11515-057.a.jpgZach Stentz, left, had an opportunity during a recent Genoa Township trustees’ meeting to thank the two Genoa Township police officers on the scene when he suffered a medical emergency. Paramedics and St. Ann’s Hospital medical staff said Zach might not have survived without the officers’ quick actions. From left are Zach, Officer Ryan Parsons, who administered CPR until paramedics arrived on scene, Officer Jim Denman, who rushed Zach’s father to St. Ann’s with rare medicine Zach needed, and Genoa Township Trustee Leo Wilhelm.