News

Actions

3 Ionia Public Safety Officers recognized for life saving efforts

Posted at 8:00 PM, May 08, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-08 20:00:33-04

IONIA – A trio of officers with the Ionia Department of Public Safety are being recognized this week for quick actions taken in mid-April that helped save a life.

It was just before 9:00 p.m. on April 15th when officers were dispatched to North Street on a report of a person who wasn’t breathing.

Officer Joshua McCarthy was first to arrive on scene, finding the individual without a pulse.  At that time, Officer McCarthy immediately began administering CPR.

Captain John Odette and Sergeant Kevin Heinlein arrived shortly after, assisting with CPR and rescue breathing while hooking up an automated external defibrillator (AED).

The AED was used to deliver one shock to the patient as CPR continued until Life EMS arrived on the scene.

Shortly after the AED was used, a heartbeat was detected in the patient, who was transported to Sparrow-Ionia Hospital and later transferred to Sparrow-Lansing Hospital.

The patient was discharged from Sparrow-Lansing Hospital on April 29th, 14 days after the life saving efforts were administered.

The Ionia Department of Public Safety says the patient continues to improve following the incident.