The Tillamook Fire District is pleased to announce the presentation of the Fire District’smCommunity Hero Award and the American Heart Association’s Heartsaver Award. On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, Tillamook Fire Chief Jeff McBrayer presented the Tillamook Fire District Community Hero Award to five Tillamook residents (co-workers of the patient and 911 Operator), and the American Heart Association Heartsaver Award to eight Fire Fighters and two Ambulance Medics.
It was a momentous occasion as these heroic individuals got to reunite with one another and the patient for the first time since the incident back in September, the room was filled with tears of joy and laughter as family and friends conversed and shared their stories. As Chief McBrayer explained during the presentation, “This is a unique situation and a real gift to be able to celebrate the survival of Jared (the patient), in my 34 years in the fire service I’ve only been able to do this about 2 to 3 times.”
The Awardees are as follows:
Co-workers: Stephanie Hurliman, Tiara Logsdon, Sydney Burrell, and Elly Blaser
911 Operator: Christina Maahs
Ambulance Medics: EMT Tammy Martin, and Paramedic Destiny Hatfield
Firefighters: Capt. Kris Davis, Capt. Darryl Hamilton, Capt. Kyle Adams, Lt. Ryan Upton, Miguel Diaz, Bradley Hamburger, Ethan Gilbert, and Koa Lyu.
Here’s the reivew of the life-saving incident:
On Friday, Sept. 15th, 2023, the day started out like any other, it was a cool dry autumn morning on the Oregon coast. At 09:16 am Tillamook 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a local office building in downtown Tillamook requesting emergency medical assistance. The caller stated their coworker has just collapsed in the building and he is not responding and not breathing. The 911 dispatcher immediately provided crucial instructions to the caller to administer lifesaving CPR while dispatching Fire and Ambulance crews. Have recently gone through a CPR/AED refresher class, the caller along with 3 other co-workers began CPR on their unresponsive co-worker lying motionless in the lobby of their storefront office.
While one of the workers began compressions the other attached the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) pads on to their once co-worker now patient’s chest. As soon as the AED was attached it began analyzing, after a moment of analyzing the patient, the AED advised that a shock was needed. Given the nature of such a tense situation hesitation was inevitable but with direct instructions from the 911 dispatcher, still on the phone, the office workers pressed the button and administered a shock.
Meanwhile, a few blocks away at Tillamook Fire Station 71 the morning was in full swing, and crews were getting ready for the day. One of the shift workers, staffed on the summer wildland grant; and an off-duty Fire Captain, spending his morning at the station, were having a cup of coffee and discussing current events. Just as the station “sleeper”, a firefighter that lives in the fire station’s quarters, was coming down to get his morning Dutch bros before starting his shift at 11 am the tones rang through the station’s speakers to page out for immediate response medical assistance. Without hesitation the off-duty captain jumped up and headed out into the truck bay to get on the truck followed by the two(2) firefighters, they were met at the truck by the shift captain who was already in the bay finishing morning truck checks. With few words they all grabbed their gear, got in the fire truck, and proceeded enroute to the scene.
Upon arriving on scene, the fire truck stopped directly in front of the office, where one of the office workers was standing with the door propped open waving to signal the firefighters and direct them to the patient. Exiting the fire truck, like a choreographed dance, already with medical gloves on, two firefighters went to the side compartments of the fire truck to grab medical equipment and the other two firefighters advanced directly inside to the patient taking over CPR and beginning advanced life support measures.
The ambulance arrived on scene within 5 minutes and joined in the efforts to revive the patient. After approximately 40-45 mins of CPR and numerous shocks from the AED the crews successfully revived the patient. They transported the patient to Tillamook Hospital where he was further stabilized and life flighted to Portland to seek further care.
It is the immediate response, quick thinking, and heroic actions of these individuals that saved the patient’s life on the morning of September 15th, 2023. The Tillamook Fire District recognizes and honors these residents of Tillamook for their selfless actions to help a fellow community member, co-worker, and friend in his time of need and allowing him more time with his family.