The Public Safety Citizen Lifesaving Award RecognitionCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Presentation(s) # 01.
Copyrighted
March 4, 2024
ITEM TITLE: The Public Safety Citizen Lifesaving Award Recognition
SUMMARY: The following individuals will be recognized for receiving The Public
Safety Citizen Lifesaving Award:
For efforts in providing immediate care to a fallen community member
using CPR and the use of a Hempstead High School AED: Student
Drew Lewis, Hempstead coaches Damon Rogers and Tyler Schaul, and
Dubuque County Basketball Association Coach Haris Takes.
For the support of an AED program throughout the schools: Dubuque
Community School District (Superintendent Amy Hawkins and her team)
A special thank you to the city responders who teamed up to assist these
students and coaches which ultimately resulted in a positive outcome for
one of our residents: Dispatchers Michelle Gensrick and Jason Coxs.
Responding members from the fire department include Larry Ewert,
Adam Feyen, Chris Grue, Bryan McDonald, Doug Merkes, Brian Pape,
and Austin Schmit.
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Public Safety Citizen Lifesaving Award Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Safety Citizen Lifesaving Award
DATE: February 13, 2024
Dubuque
All -America City
IN
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Fire Chief Amy Scheller, Emergency Communications Director Jessica George-
Rethwisch, and Police Chief Jeremy Jensen would like to present the award "The Public
Safety Citizen Life Saving Award" that saved the life of a Dubuque resident to the
following individuals:
For efforts in providing immediate care to a fallen community member using CPR and
the use of a Hempstead High School AED: Student Drew Lewis, Hempstead coaches
Damon Rogers and Tyler Schaul, and Dubuque County Basketball Association Coach
Haris Takes.
For the support of an AED program throughout the schools: Dubuque Community
School District (Superintendent Amy Hawkins and her team)
A special thank you to our responders who teamed up to assist these students and
coaches which ultimately resulted in a positive outcome for one of our residents.
Dispatchers Michelle Gensrick and Jason Coxs.
Responding members from the fire department include Larry Ewert, Adam Feyen, Chris
Grue, Bryan McDonald, Doug Merkes, Brian Pape, and Austin Schmit.
Micliael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Jessica George-Rethwisch, Emergency Communications Director
Jeremy Jensen, Police Chief
THE CITY OF
DUiB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Jessica George, 911 Dispatch Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Police Chief
SUBJECT: Public Safety Citizen Lifesaving Award
DATE: January 17t", 2024
INTRODUCTION:
Dubuque
All -America City
I�
2007•2012.2013
2017*2019
This memo respectfully requests the opportunity to acknowledge several individuals at
an upcoming city council meeting in recognition of a life saved through the efforts of
multiple community partners and initiatives.
DISCUSSION:
The fire chief, police chief, and public safety answering point (PSAP) manager would
like to partner to recognize members of the community who go above and beyond, and
through appropriate actions ultimately save the life of a citizen. The award will be titled
"The Public Safety Citizen Life Saving Award".
We have an opportunity to present our first Public Safety Citizen Lifesaving Award and
request consideration for presentation time at an upcoming city council meeting.
On November 15t", 2023, at 7:19PM the public safety answering point (PSAP) received
a 911 emergency call from Hempstead High School. The caller, a student, initiated the
911 call and was able to provide initial information for the dispatcher handling the call to
determine, within seconds, a critical emergency medical event had occurred. The
dispatcher moved out of a systematic protocol system and triggered the immediate
notification to first responders that the medical event was occurring. This action
reduced the response time drastically. The notification alerted an advanced life support
engine company, which was on another non -critical incident of the events at the high
school. The call taker in dispatch teamed up with a second dispatcher and as one
member was gathering critical location information and providing medical care
instructions to the students and coaches, the other was relaying this critical information
to responding companies.
Engine 502 with Lieutenant Adam Feyen, Fire Equipment Operator Doug Merkes, and
Firefighter Chris Grue, all paramedics, responded and arrived within three and a half
minutes of notification by dispatch. The shift commander vehicle and Medic 554 also
responded to assist, 7 personnel total. When crews arrived, they encountered an
unconscious and pulseless individual who was in the care of a student and coaching
staff performing excellent CPR and utilizing a school provided AED. Ultimately this
chain of events and heroic actions of bystanders led to the successful resuscitation of
the pulseless individual. Properly trained and equipped people were placed in a
frightening and challenging position and ultimately stepped up to save a life. Without
their actions and the support of the school district in providing and maintaining
community AEDs within their building, the story could have resulted in a different
outcome.
This incident showcases the potential within our community of truly making a difference
in the life of others. This event also demonstrates the importance of proper training and
celebrates the forward -thinking approach of a school district that chose to invest in
something that may never have occurred but did.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Public Safety managers recommend awarding the Public Safety Citizen Lifesaving
Award to the following individuals:
For efforts in providing immediate care to a fallen community member using CPR and
the use of a Hempstead High School AED: Student Drew Lewis, Hempstead coaches
Damon Rogers and Tyler Schaul, and Dubuque County Basketball Association Coach
Haris Takes.
For the support of an AED program throughout the schools: Dubuque Community
School District (Superintendent Amy Hawkins and her team)
A special thank you to our responders who teamed up to assist these students and
coaches which ultimately resulted in a positive outcome for one of our residents.
Dispatchers Michelle Gensrick and Jason Coxs.
Responding members from the fire department include Larry Ewert, Adam Feyen, Chris
Grue, Bryan McDonald, Doug Merkes, Brian Pape, and Austin Schmit.
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