Orland Fire Protection District honors firefighters who saved resident’s life
Orland Park, IL — The Orland Fire Protection District honored several firefighter/paramedics who saved the life of cardiac victim Don Torgerson.
Torgerson and his wife and son attended the meeting of the Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 to express his gratitude for their lifesaving efforts.
The OFPD received a call on Nov. 30, 2023 for a person passed out at 14701 S. LaGrange Rd and Dispatcher Logan Maske immediately recognized that the patient was in cardiac arrest.
Orland Park Police Officer Sean Murphy arrived on the scene and provided CPR until the arrival of OFPD EMS, saving Torgerson’s life.
The William Bonnar Sr. Life Saving Award was presented by OFPD Fire Chief Michael Schofield and EMS Coordinator Lt. Joshua Girdick to the responding team including to:
- Ambulance 1 arrived with PC L. Ramirez and AD A. Hiller
- Utility 1 arrived with Engineer C. Murray and Firefighter J. McCleary
- Truck 1 arrived with Lieutenant B. Buenzow, Engineer S. McDonald, and Firefighter B. Steele
- Battalion Chief J. Hynes was in Command
CPR and advanced life support care were provided and the patient experienced a return of spontaneous circulation.
The patient was immediately assisted and taken by ambulance to Palos Community Hospital. All involved moved quickly and effectively to help successfully resuscitate the patient.
Torgerson, a former police officer whose father is a former firefighter, thanked the EMS response.
“I just want to thank everyone for coming today. I can’t express how much this means for me, a fellow police officer and my dad being a firefighter, I know what you guys go through every day,” Torgerson said.
“I just want to thank the Lord for putting you guys in that situation and saving my life. I get to spend so much more time with my family and most of all my son who is 7 years old. Thank you and God Bless you guys.”
Schofield introduced Orland Park Police Chief Eric Rossi and Deputy Police Chief Brian West who attended the Life Saving presentation at the board meeting praising the police saying “they are a part of the success” tat the fire district has in saving lives.
“A lot of our saves are because our police officers get their first and start CPR. And they also have AED’s and they are able to revive people,” Schofield said.
“Without this cooperation of the Orland Park Police, and you saw it today, this would not have happened.”
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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