Niles Fire Department and village leaders gathered Tuesday at one of the fire stations to publicly honor the firefighter/paramedics who responded to a call last summer and helped to save the life of a man – they would learn was a retired firefighter, himself – in cardiac arrest.
On Sept. 19, Kevin O’Connor, 79, suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Niles. It was two days after his birthday, and O’Connor woke up struggling to breath.
“I felt like I was drowning,” O’Connor told Pioneer Press about what he remembers of that day last summer.
He couldn’t make it to the phone, instead calling out to his neighbor to alert 911. The neighbor made the call and crews from fire department Station 3 responded immediately, rendering aid to O’Connor, a Vietnam War veteran and retired Chicago Fire Department fireman.
When five firefighter/paramedics arrived, Niles fire Chief Patrick Maloney said O’Connor was unconscious and unresponsive inside of his home. The emergency responders immediately started CPR and advanced life support.
“Niles saved my life,” O’Connor said at the Tuesday awards presentation. “They kept me alive long enough to save me.”
Maloney said the emergency responders “valiantly” used their skills, training and teamwork to help save O’Connor’s life.
O’Connor was transported to Resurrection Hospital on the Northwest Side of Chicago where he was placed on life support for 11 hours, and the fluid around his heart and lungs was drained, O’Connor said. The next day, he said, he felt a lot better.
“The nice, young paramedic told me, ‘You stopped breathing; you gave up because you knew there was help here for you,’” O’Connor said.
That help saved his life, he said.
He said he knew he was in good hands because he’s a retired Chicago firefighter/paramedic himself, as well as a disabled Vietnam War Veteran. He served 33 years with the Chicago Fire Department after working all around the city, from the Hegewisch neighborhood to Rogers Park. His final house was Engine 76, Truck 35, where he retired as a lieutenant in 2003 and moved to Niles.
The five were presented with awards marking their life-saving work: Lieutenant Bill White, a firefighter/paramedic who joined the department in 1991; Kevin Zender, engineer/paramedic and driver of the fire apparatus who has been with the department 22 years; Michael Ries, firefighter/paramedic who has been with the department 19 years; Karl Boubouleix, firefighter/paramedic who has been with the department eight years and
Darrion Roszkowiak, firefighter/paramedic who has been with the department for six years.
“I thanked them all from the heart,” O’Connor said. “If it wasn’t for these five men, I wouldn’t be here today. They’re professional, knowledgeable, skilled and caregiving. They care about people, which is the goal of every fireman. They want to serve.”
Along with the awardees and fire chief, Niles mayor George Alpogianis attended the recognition event.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 70% of cardiac arrest episodes happen at home. The organization’s website states that receiving CPR immediately after the onset can help to double – even triple – the chances of surviving.
Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating. Survival chances for adults outside of a hospital setting are generally about 9% – especially without immediate CPR, according to the American Heart Association.
Maloney, also a retired Chicago Fire Department chief who worked for that department 39 years before being appointed Niles fire chief in December, worked with O’Connor at one point on the West Side of Chicago. He visited O’Connor and the two men decided it was important to share what happened.
“We needed to tell this story — especially after his decades of service with the Chicago Fire Department — of firefighters saving a firefighter,” Maloney said. “Firefighter/paramedics don’t always get to meet the people they save, and Kevin wanted to meet them personally, and he was so grateful for them.”
Maloney embraced the opportunity to recognize his crew.
“They’re very proud of the job they do everyday, especially if it’s a save,” Maloney said. “The award, it’s more than a piece of paper for them. They’re proud to serve each day they go out, they rely on their training and experience, and they serve with compassion and I’m proud of all of them.”
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.
