DMFD Honors Lifesaving Efforts and Incredible Stories at Annual Awards Ceremony

The Department honored 27 dispatchers, three police officers, and 124 DMFD firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs for their contributions to cardiac arrest responses that resulted in the survival of a patient with neurological functions intact.

"It's important to realize that to our firefighters and paramedics, saving a life is part of the job and their daily duties," Des Moines Fire Department Chief John TeKippe said."Our annual awards ceremony is an opportunity for us to gather as a department, take a step back and celebrate both our accomplishments and the lives that are impacted by our day-to-day work."

In 2024, DMFD reported an increase in non-traumatic cardiac arrest responses but also an increase in patients who were discharged from the hospital neurologically intact.

"Each one of those numbers and statistics is a person who got to walk out of the hospital to their family and loved ones," Des Moines Fire Department Assistant Chief Percy Coleman said."This is why our firefighters and medics get out of bed and why they work demanding 24-hour shifts. It's all for the opportunity to be there and to make a difference in someone else's life."

The awards ceremony honored all those who participated in the chain of survival for patients who suffer a cardiac arrest. Each link in that chain is crucial to improving patients' survival odds, as each minute that passes without CPR decreases survival rates by 10%.

The chain of survival includes:

• Bystanders performing CPR
• Dispatchers coaching bystander CPR and coordinating first responders
• Police Officers arriving on scene and providing CPR and defibrillation, if necessary
• Fire/EMS personnel stabilizing and transporting patients to the hospital
• Cardiac unit and emergency room providing treatment

"Bystander CPR makes an incredible difference in the outcomes we see with our patients when our medics arrive on the scene," Des Moines Fire Department Captian Tony Sposeto said."Early chest compressions are crucial, and our 911 dispatchers are trained to coach bystanders through the process because any compressions are going to improve a patient's rate of survival once our medics arrive on the scene."

2024 DMFD Cardiac Arrest Fast Facts:

• 229 non-traumatic cardiac arrest responses in 2024
• 28 (12%) of these patients survived and were discharged from the hospital neurologically intact to spend more time with their families and loved ones
• That number is a 9% increase in survivability from the department's 2023 data
• That is also 67% above the national average of 8% for patients who survived these events with favorable neurological outcomes

2024 DMFD Awards Recipients:

Unit Citation Awards

• Tyler Mark, Tanner Owen, Matt Waechter, and Taylor Young were recognized for their swift rescue of a victim in a house fire on April 7, 2024
• Luis Arias, Ted Bolten, and Jeramie Eginoire were recognized for skilled and decisive actions in a multi-victim vehicle accident requiring extrication on August 28, 2024
• Alex Garton and Larry Peters were recognized for their skill and compassion demonstrated on June 5, 2024, when they successfully rescued a distraught person from a bridge

Meritorious Conduct Award

• Trace Ball and Jordan Clymer were recognized for their skilled and decisive actions in rescuing a victim from the water on May 8, 2024

Organizational Achievement Awards

• Aaron Bauch, Chris Bolten, Dan Gilliatt, Dennis Jenderson, Steve Kiburz, Dave Malo, Brandon Smith, and Stacia Swanson were recognized for their teamwork, professionalism, mentorship, and innovation during the 101st DMFD Training Academy
• John Jensen and Hali Van Helzen were recognized for their enthusiasm, commitment, and compassion while making a difference in the lives of citizens of Des Moines through the development and sustainment of the DMFD Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program

Fire Person of the Year Award

• Jason Courtney was recognized as the 2024 Fire Person of the Year for his work ethic, intelligence, aptitude, and physical strength, making him a model of consistency

Medical Director's Award

• Senior Fire Medic Danyl Guiter was recognized for her strong clinical knowledge, precise assessments, and proficient hands-on treatment. Additionally, the manner with which she serves displays compassion, patience, respect, and humility

Saving Lives Beyond the Call Award

• 37 the Iowa Donor Network recognized DMFD firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs for their efforts in providing exceptional patient care resulting in an outcome that allowed the patient to provide donation of organs, saving the life of another

Craig Kern Award

• DMFD firefighter Austin De Young was recognized for his work ethic, silent leadership, and dependability during the 101st DMFD Training Academy

Cardiac Resuscitation Awards

• 27 dispatchers, 3 law enforcement officers, and 124 DMFD firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs were recognized for their contributions to cardiac arrest responses that resulted in sthe urvival of a patient with neurological functions intact

Stork Awards

• 21 DMFD firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs were recognized for responses that resulted in the birth of 4 babies in 2024

Exceptional Citizen's Awards

• Pedro Cruz-Antonio, Pam Hatfield, and Roger White were recognized for their quick, coordinated efforts on January 12, 2024, to remove their neighbor from a dangerous house fir,e preventing further harm
• Chad Garton was recognized for his expertise and assistance on June 13, 2024, in a body recovery with the DMFD WET Team at Easter Lake
• NAPA employees Dakoda Bakkie, Katelyn Grove, and Cody Tchida were recognized for their quick, coordinated efforts on August 6, 2024, providing the crucial first steps in the chain of survival when a co-worker went into cardiac arrest. Because of their actions, Bruce Mikesell survived the event and was there to present the awards
• Corey Deery was recognized for his quick and decisive actions on September 9, 2024, when he witnessed a severe motor vehicle crash on I-235. Corey was able to provide lifesaving trauma care to a victim before first responders arriving

Law Enforcement Award of Excellence

• Samuel Berry was recognized for his skill and compassion demonstrated on June 5, 2024, when he and members of DMFD successfully rescued a distraught person from a bridge
• Sean Emmons and Jerad Hoyt were recognized for their quick, coordinated efforts on August 6, 2024, where they took over care from 3 NAPA employee bystanders performing CPR on a co-worker until DMFD units arrived on scene

Contact
Devin Perry
Communications Specialist III, City Manager's Office
(515) 210-3966
djperry@dmgov.org

About the City of Des Moines

The City of Des Moines is Iowa's capital city, and our 17 departments serve more than 214,000 residents and 47 neighborhoods, over 4,000 acres of parkland, and 81 miles of trails. The City of Des Moines stands to be a financially strong city with exceptional city services, fostering an involved community in a customer-friendly atmosphere.

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