Life Savers are Celebrated at Porter Regional Hospital

National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week runs from May 17 to May 23. Those who save lives on a daily basis really should get more than a week of recognition, seeing as how they are on the job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in all environments, and in the weird weather that Northwest Indiana has to offer. Not every situation that these people are involved in turn out well. The training, the effort, and the timing aren’t always enough and an EMS worker’s day just becomes that much harder. But most times, things work out and a mother, father, child, or friend can take another breath and live another day thanks to the actions of the EMS and brave bystanders who step up to help.

Once in a while, things go so well that text book examples look shaky in comparison. The links were strong in what the American Heart Association calls the Chain of Survival, a five-step process for treatment for those who become victims of cardiac arrest, for Chris Moore. On February 13, 2015, Moore went into cardiac arrest while at work. Co-workers quickly jumped into action, calling 911 and administering CPR. The Washington Township Fire Department as well as the Porter Coutny Sheriff's Department were on the scene, rotating people to continue CPR so no one would tire while trying to help Moore. The two EMS responders were David Ferris, a paramedic, and Adam Jaskowiak, an EMT. They were grateful and impressed by the work that everyone was doing to help Moore.

“We do this all the time but this sort of situation doesn’t happen often,” Ferris said. “I’ve been doing this for 22 years and I’ve seen situations like this less than 10 times. It was gratifying to see everyone working together and it was nice to get to know Chris and how this affected his family.”

Moore was transported to the hospital and during transport he actually woke and began to speak to the EMS personnel who were in the ambulance with him. He was shocked a total of four times with an automated external defibrillator (AED) to get his heart going before this in conjunction with the CPR and other procedures that were conducted that day.

“The only thing I remember is waking up and being told that I needed to lay back down because I was in cardiac arrest,” Moore said. “This whole thing was mind blowing. I was there but I couldn’t comprehend what was going on.”

Moore is now doing well and he was so grateful to those who helped him that he tried to thank them all in person, but he didn’t know who saved him because he was unconscious for most of the time during that situation in February. He instead wrote a letter to Gary Atherton, Director of EMS for Porter Regional Hospital, expressing his heartfelt thanks for having such wonderful people come to his aid.

“He commended our people,” Atherton said. “We don’t get a lot of ‘thank yous’ and we thought it would be good to have Chris here to meet everyone who was there that day at a Celebration Breakfast. We celebrate EMS Week every year but this year is special. We wanted to make sure that all involved got recognized.”

The Celebration Breakfast took place at Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso in mid-May. Porter’s EMS, firefighters, police officers, Moore’s co-workers and family were there, celebrating a life saved and the life savers.

“What can you say to so many people who saved your life? Thank you is not enough,” Moore exclaimed. “This breakfast is the first time that I have even met some of the people who were there that day. I am so grateful to them and I’m glad that I can call February 13 my ‘Re-Birthday’!”

Those involved with helping Moore in February were: David Ferris, Adam Jaskowiak, Washington Township Fire Department’s Mike Garus and Eric Zak, Porter County Sheriff's Department's Officer Michael Piazza, Sargeant Rich Spicer, Corporal Brian Gill, and Officer Graf, and Moore’s co-workers Sue Beckham, Brad Lundgren, and Mark Smith. Let’s not forget the medical staff who stepped up to get Moore back on his feet.

“It’s pretty cool that the thing we do every day is getting recognized,” Jaskowiak said. “We work hard and it feels good to be able to help people.”

While everyone ate a hearty breakfast, awards were given to those who helped Moore and annual EMS awards were given. Lots of people were recognized for various feats and accomplishments, and the three biggest awards that the Porter EMS gives out, including recipients, are as follows:

Rookie of the Year: Adam Jaskowiak
Part-Time Associate of the Year: Elias Zikkos
EMS Associate of the Year: Rob Furst

“All public safety is in the same boat,” Dave Cummins, EMS Medical Director for Porter Regional Hospital said. “What you guys do is tough. We ask you to do more with less, and you don’t always get thanked. But you all provide a service that is second to none and I’m proud to be your medical director. This may never happen again to you, but you will never forget it, and you will always strive for it.”