| May 19, 2003 INDIVIDUALS HONORED BY THE STATE FOR HEROIC ACTS SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health today honored 35 individuals for acts of courage as part of the state's 16th Annual Emergency Medical Services Awards. Honorees will receive certificates, signed by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state health director, as part of the Department's observance of Emergency Medical Services Week, May 18-24. "Each of these individuals risked their own safety to help someone in need," said Gov. Blagojevich. "Some of these heroes are police officers, firefighters or paramedics who went above and beyond the call of duty. Others are civilians who acted courageously to help persons in a crisis situation." Nominations for the awards are solicited by the Department from police, firefighters, paramedics and others from throughout the state. "We owe these individuals our gratitude for their selfless acts of courage," said Dr. Whitaker. "They should serve as an inspiration to us all." See a list of honorees and brief descriptions of their deeds below. Bond County
Trooper Robert O'Brien was on the Poplar Street Bridge on Aug. 21, 2002, when he observed a man attempting to jump off the bridge. The man was hanging by one arm when O'Brien risked his life by grabbing the man's left wrist and refusing to let go. Upon observing the man suspended over the river, Dale E. Sloan stopped to assist. Sloan climbed onto the bridge rail and reached down to grab the man's right arm. Officer Ricky Perry arrived and climbed onto the bridge rail, leaned over it and grabbed the man's leg. The three men were then able to pull the man to safety. The man was transported to the hospital for evaluation. Cook County
On Jan. 18, 2003, several Chicago police officers assisted the Chicago Fire Department in evacuating tenants from a burning apartment building. Several children were trapped and could be seen waving from a third floor window. Through searing heat and toxic fumes, police officers John Adams and Gerald DiPasquale Jr. climbed the rear stairs and were able to get three children to safety. The police officers and children were all transported to area hospitals and treated for smoke inhalation. Other police officers were able to remove tenants and place them in their patrol cars to protect them from the frigid weather.
The off-duty paramedic was on her way to the store on Jan. 10, 2003, when she saw heavy smoke coming from a building. Karen Egleston began assisting people out of the building to a safe area. She also provided ambulance crews with histories of the victims and information on the whereabouts of other victims, and helped to locate separated family members.
On Dec. 13, 2002, Officer Lee Holland observed a vehicle, traveling at a high rate of speed, run a red light, jump a curb and crash into a service station. The car stuck a gas pump, which burst into flames. Using his arm to shield his face from flames, Holland tried to open the driver's side door, but it was jammed. He ran to the other side and was able to pull the driver from the vehicle. The driver was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.
When Kadasia Hutchinson was unable to wake up her mother on Nov. 30, 2002, she called 911. The 4-year-old gave the dispatcher the necessary information and explained that her mother was a diabetic. When paramedics arrived, Kadasia let them in and led them to her mother. She then showed them the refrigerator where her mother kept her medicine. After the mother was treated by paramedics, she was transported to an area hospital. Emergency personnel said the girl's quick response helped avert more serious medical problems.
On Nov. 23, 2002, a 17-year-old male was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 near the Mazon River Bridge in Livingston County. The vehicle hit the guardrail near the bridge and then slid along it until it flipped over into a ditch and came to rest on its top. The guardrail punctured the fuel tank and the vehicle burst into flames. The driver was only slightly injured, but was trapped in the car. All three nominees worked together to force a door open to allow the boy to escape from the car. Although the responding officer was only a few miles away when notified, the car was fully engulfed in flames upon his arrival.
On Nov. 23, 2002, a car burst into flames after crashing into a tree. George Pantazis rushed to the scene, where he pulled an elderly woman out of the driver's side window. The woman's clothes were on fire so Mr. Pantazis rolled her on the grass to extinguish the flames. He then carried her to safety. The woman was later transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for head and hip injuries sustained in the crash.
Ray B. Robinson and Oscar J. Rodriguez, track workers for Belt Railway, were working on Jan. 22, 2003, when they noticed a shack on fire. Robinson and Rodriguez left the railroad property to check on the fire. Robinson saw an arm sticking out of the structure and was able to pull this victim from the fire. He then realized a second person was trapped and entered the burning shack and pulled a second victim to safety. In the meantime, Rodriguez was able to call the railroad police. Both victims were transported to a local hospital. The first man rescued was released; the second man had serious burns. DuPage County
On April 6, 2002, Sgt. Brian McKinney and Geoffrey Melick were at the scene of a traffic crash, which involved a vehicle with extensive front-end damage and the hood on fire. The driver of the vehicle was unconscious. The doors of the vehicle would not open due to the damage from the crash. McKinney pulled the driver's upper torso through the driver's side window, but the driver's legs were stuck between the wheel and the seat. Melick responded quickly to McKinney's request for assistance in freeing the man's legs. When the fire department and paramedics arrived, the car was completely engulfed in flames. Franklin County
On June 2, 2002, an 8-year-old girl was playing at Rend Lake when she suddenly went under water. A call was made to the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. Two members of the Sesser Rescue Squad – Darrell Pool and Renee Robinson – happened to be at the beach. After the girl was pulled from the water, Pool and Robinson performed CPR on her. She started to breathe and a pulse was detected. Pool and Robinson started to lose her again, so they continued CPR until EMTs arrived. The child was transported to the hospital, where she was admitted in critical condition. She has since recovered. Kane County
Lake County
On April 6, 2002, Geoffrey Melick and Sgt. Brian McKinney were at the scene of a traffic crash, which involved a vehicle with extensive front-end damage and the hood on fire. The driver of the vehicle was unconscious. The doors of the vehicle would not open due to the damage from the crash. McKinney pulled the driver's upper torso through the driver's side window, but the driver's legs were stuck between the wheel and the seat. Melick responded quickly to McKinney's request for assistance in freeing the man's legs. When the fire department and paramedics arrived, the car was completely engulfed in flames. Livingston County
On Nov. 23, 2002, a 17-year-old male was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 near the Mazon River Bridge in Livingston County. The vehicle hit the guardrail near the bridge and then slid along it until it flipped over into a ditch and came to rest on its top. The guardrail punctured the fuel tank and the vehicle burst into flames. The driver was only slightly injured, but was trapped in the car. All three nominees worked together to force a door open to allow the boy to escape from the car. Although the responding officer was only a few miles away when notified, the car was fully engulfed in flames upon his arrival. Madison County
On Feb. 23, 2002, Trooper David Filkins observed a male leaning over the Kaskaskia River Bridge, apparently preparing to jump. As Filkins approached the man, he cried, "No," and attempted to jump over the rail into the river. Filkins grabbed the man and pulled him back onto the bridge deck. The trooper received minor injuries while struggling to secure the man, who was later transported to a hospital.
Trooper Robert O'Brien was on the Poplar Street Bridge on Aug. 21, 2002, when he observed a man attempting to jump off the bridge. The man was hanging by one arm when Trooper O'Brien risked his life by grabbing the man's left wrist and refusing to let go. Upon observing the man suspended over the river, Dale E. Sloan stopped to assist. Sloan climbed onto the bridge rail and reached down to grab the man's right arm. Officer Ricky Perry arrived and climbed onto the bridge rail, leaned over it and grabbed the man's leg. The three men were then able to pull the man to safety. The man was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
On June 25, 2002, a car traveling on Interstate 270 crossed over the median into the other lane of traffic, causing the driver of an oil tanker to lose control. The oil tanker rolled over and burst into flames. The driver, who was unable to get out of the burning truck, could be heard yelling for help before he lost consciousness. Ron Hancock pulled the driver out of the tanker and away from flames. Morgan County
On Jan. 8, 2003, two students were on their way to Triopia High School, when the driver lost control of her car. The car went into a 5-foot ditch, overturned, skidded on its top, rolled back over onto its wheels and came to rest on the bank of a creek. Half of the car was submerged in water. The driver managed to escape from the vehicle, but the passenger was trapped. Amber Blackley, 15, waded into the creek and managed to help the passenger out. Amber and the driver were able to get the passenger under a bridge, where it was warmer. The driver climbed up to the road and summoned help from a passing motorist. The driver and passenger were transported to the hospital, where they were admitted in fair condition. Amber changed her clothes and went to school. Perry County
On Feb. 5, 2002, Daren V. Caraker and Charles A. Rice observed a vehicle on fire in the parking lot of a restaurant. The passenger compartment was filled with smoke, and it was unknown if anyone was inside. Caraker and Rice opened door as the interior of the vehicle caught fire and they pulled the driver from the vehicle. The driver was taken to a hospital and admitted for his injuries. The fire department believed the driver passed out in the vehicle with the engine running and his foot pressed down on the accelerator, causing the engine to catch fire. Randolph County
On May 24, 2002, a roof fell at the Old Ben Coal Company's Zeigler Number 11 mine, trapping two miners. Although the miners were not seriously injured, they could not get out from under machinery. Several loose rocks prevented them from moving. The rest of the crew working with the trapped miners responded promptly. Approximately 30 feet into the fall, an 18-inch opening was discovered. Tom Jeter was able to crawl to the area where the miners were trapped, free them and assist them through the opening. After evaluation at a local hospital, the miners were released. Rock Island County
On Nov. 23, 2002, a 17-year-old male was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 near the Mazon River Bridge in Livingston County. The vehicle hit the guardrail near the bridge and then slid along it until it flipped over into a ditch and came to rest on its top. The guardrail punctured the fuel tank and the vehicle burst into flames. The driver was only slightly injured, but was trapped in the car. All three nominees worked together to force a door open to allow the boy to escape from the car. Although the responding officer was only a few miles away when notified, the car was fully engulfed in flames upon his arrival. Sangamon County
At approximately 12:20 a.m. on Nov. 10, 2002, Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Derek Guernsey was flagged down by a group of people who told him a vehicle was in Spring Creek. Deputy Craig Law and the Springfield Fire Department arrived to assist with the submerged vehicle. The deputies and firefighters Captain Gary Fleck, Mark Ballinger, Ryan Sabo and Trevor Howard entered the water. A voice could be heard calling for help. A man was removed from the passenger side and transported to a local hospital. The driver was already dead when he was removed from the car.
Officer Brian Graves was on routine parole the morning of Jan. 25, 2003, when he noticed a dark cloud of smoke. Two adults emerged from the burning residence and reported that two adults and a child were trapped in the basement. Graves could hear banging on one of the basement windows. He removed a piece of wood covering a glass block window, broke the window with his flashlight and then removed another piece of wood. Smoke began pouring from the window. One of the adults handed a small child to Graves. He then helped the adults from the basement. Graves and the family he helped save were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. St. Clair County
Trooper Robert O'Brien was on the Poplar Street Bridge on Aug. 21, 2002, when he observed a man attempting to jump off the bridge. The man was hanging by one arm when Trooper O'Brien risked his life by grabbing the man's left wrist and refusing to let go. Upon observing the man suspended over the river, Dale E. Sloan stopped to assist. Sloan climbed onto the bridge rail and reached down to grab the man's right arm. Officer Ricky Perry arrived and climbed onto the bridge rail, leaned over it and grabbed the man's leg. The three men were then able to pull the man to safety. The man was transported to the hospital for evaluation. Stark County
Aaron Drawyer was working April 22, 2002, at the McDonald's restaurant in Kewanee when a customer began choking. Drawyer performed the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the food. The customer recovered within a few minutes. Tazewell County
On Feb. 5, 2002, Charles A. Rice and Darren V. Caraker observed a vehicle on fire in the parking lot of a restaurant. The passenger compartment was filled with smoke and it was unknown if anyone was inside. Rice and Caraker opened the door as the interior of the vehicle caught fire and they pulled the driver from the vehicle. The driver was taken a hospital and admitted for his injuries. The fire department believed the driver passed out in the vehicle with the engine running and his foot pressed down on the accelerator, causing the engine to catch fire.
When Tristan Puckett's grandmother began having respiratory problems on Feb. 21, 2003, the 5-year-old called 911. The dispatcher, who later stated that Tristan remained calm throughout the call, guided him step by step on how to help his grandmother. When firefighters and ambulance personnel arrived, they found the grandmother struggling to breathe. Because of the grandmother's health problems, Tristan's family had trained him how to respond to an emergency. |
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