BBVFC Responders Receive Valor Awards - 9th Annual Joshua M Freeman Valor Awards Luncheon

Friday, February 15, 2013

On Friday February 15 2013 the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the Joshua L Freeman Valor Awards at a luncheon held at DiFebo’s Bistro on the Green restaurant. Assistant Chief Tom Moore and Firefighter/EMT Bryan Smith and Firefighter/EMT Philip Brakin where honored from the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company for their efforts that resulted in the successful resuscitation of a cardiac arrest patient on November 16, 2012. At 1530 hours on November 16, 2012 the dispatch was received for a reported cardiac arrest at the 40100 Sea Dunes Road north of Fenwick Island. The BLS unit responded from headquarters with FF/EMT Smith and FF/EMT Brackin at the same time with Command Unit 70-8 staffed by Assistant Chief Tom Moore. Arriving first Chief Moore took over from citizens administering CPR to the victim. Assistant Chief Moore, in possession of an AED, also delivered a single shock to the victim. Fenwick Island Police Officer Corporal Brian Parsons and South Bethany Police Officer Mark Burton also assisted Chief Moore by providing rescue breaths using a bag valve mask when the BLS unit arrived. FF/EMT Brackin took over the rescue breathing for the victim and FF/EMT Smith applied the LUCAS CPR Device to the patient and mechanical CPR was initiated. This was the first use of the LUCAS device placed in service by the fire company just several weeks before the call. FF/EMT Brackin continued to assist the victims breathing with the bag valve mask as the patient was noted trying to breath on his own and regained a pulse. FF/EMT Smith and FF/EMT Brackin with assistance from other fire company personnel placed the victim onto a backboard and moved the victim into the ambulance. In the BLS unit advanced life support from the Sussex County Paramedics began. Sussex County Emergency Medical Services Paramedics initialed stabilizing treatment to the victim preventing the victim for going back into cardiac arrest. FF/EMT Smith and FF/EMT Brackin, along with Sussex County Paramedics continued life saving treatment and procedures while delivering the victim safely to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Delaware. This was truly a collaborative effort that saved the life of a victim in cardiac arrest. From the bystanders initiating CPR, the 911 dispatchers giving instructions and dispatching responders, Assistant Chief Moore arriving quickly, recognizing and treated appropriately a deadly heart rhythm, the local police agencies that assisted with patient care, the EMT’s that provided respiratory support and initiated mechanical CPR, the Sussex County Paramedics that stabilized a very seriously ill victim and the medical staff at Beebe Medical Center that delivered further care. This was the 9th year that the chamber has hosted these awards that honor our community’s first responders. The Bethany Beach VFC joins the chamber in recognizing these first responders outstanding efforts that resulted in a life being saved.