ANSONIA – Jordan Jeffries from Miami Valley Hospital came to Ansonia Monday evening to present the Lifesaver Award to seven personnel from the Ansonia Volunteer Fire Department and the Ansonia Area Emergency Service.
This stemmed from an incident that occurred May 3 in Ansonia.
Honored were Fire Capt. Kevin McKenna, Capt. Kyle Armstrong, Lt. Cory Meadows and firefighter Devin McKenna, as well as EMS officials, Chief/Paramedic Crystal Horne, Captain/EMT Bryer Gilland and EMT Malachi Holt.
The event took place in the Ansonia First Church of God Shelter House.
Also in attendance were the person they saved, Gabriel Pretsman, as well as family members and friends of all involved in this special event.
On May 3, Pretsman suffered a complete cardiac arrest and was left pulse-less, but the work from all of those who came to his rescue that night subsequently brought him back to life.
It was noted by the Miami Valley Hospital official that 7 percent of cardiac arrests are survivable and only 2 percent usually return with complete neurological functions.
Meadows said he is not sure how long the patient was deceased but noted he was alive while en route to Wayne HealthCare.
“We transported him via squad to Wayne and then, once he was stable enough, they flew him to Miami Valley,” said Meadows, who said the Miami Valley Lifesaver Award has been presented five times in the last two years.
Here in Ansonia, it definitely took teamwork to make this a positive “save.”
“It was a very chaotic call but we had the best firefighters and paramedics there,” said Meadows. “Everybody did a great job. I am proud of the crew which was set up for the task and got things done like they did for a positive outcome.”
Those seven, in addition to the Lifesaver Award, received a challenge coin and certificates with names and the day of the event, while Horne presented them with Lifesaver pins.
Horne received an additional “award” from her son, Dalton, who one day wants to work in a coroner’s office. He penned the following:
“We all know that being a first responder can be one of the most physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing jobs out there. You have to work ungodly hours every week, be up at any time of day or night, and sometimes on the busiest of days, eating whatever you can before that tone drops again. But when the tone does drop… you’ve got no more time to worry about yourself, because now someone else’s time could be on the line.”
“In moments like this, you can have some of the most rewarding days of your life. Being an EMS or firefighter isn’t about the long hours, it’s about saving people. You don’t choose to become a first responder for the pay. You choose because you want to make a difference.”
“The other day, my mom was one of those people, helping ensure someone was able to see tomorrow. To ensure that someone’s family wouldn’t have to mourn. It’s what makes me so proud of her. And I’m glad she and everyone who was a part of that group was recognized for the part they played yesterday.”
“Mom, you were given the Lifesaver Award for a reason, because you are incredible. You helped save someone whose time was ticking down from mere minutes, now has the chance to see the days, months, and years to come.”
