For the Reporter
Several local residents and police officers will be recognized at the Kent Fire Department RFA Governance Board meeting Wednesday for their contributions to the public’s welfare.
Jim Berrios will be presented with the Outstanding Citizen Community Service Award for performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and helping save the life of a man who had gone into cardiac arrest at the Golden Steer Restaurant on Jan. 1.
A second CPR “save” in the community also involved a resident, as well as Kent Police officers. On Feb. 5, Officers Trevor Wolcott and Will Davis were the first emergency responders to arrive at the scene of a cardiac arrest patient. When they got to the patient they found that a civilian had already initiated CPR. Utilizing their automatic external defibrillator (AED), the officers were able to apply an electrical shock to the patient’s heart. Firefighters and paramedics arrived at that time and transported the patient to a local hospital.
Wolcott and Davis will be recognized for their efforts and their part in completing the “chain of survival.” Also, their names will be added to existing matching plaques that hang in both police and fire headquarters that recognize CPR calls in which police officers utilize their department issued AEDs.
A Kent Police officer was instrumental in saving another resident on Feb. 16. Officer Brieann Johnson was the first to arrive at the location of a cardiac arrest patient and administered an electrical shock to the patient’s heart using her department AED.
According to Battalion Chief Kevin Garling, “Officer Johnson’s actions were significant in the outcome of the patient and set the foundation for a successful resuscitation.”
Johnson will be recognized at the board meeting and her name will be added to the same plaques as those of Wolcott and Davis.
Two 14-year-olds also will be recognized for an incident which took place on Jan. 25. Trever Bond and Blake Fathers will receive the Outstanding Citizen Community Service Award for helping to keep a small child safe after the 2-year-old wandered away from his house.
Trever and Blake found the child walking along a neighborhood street and recognized that the child should not have been out alone. They kept the child safe from traffic and took him to a Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority fire station.
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