Firefighters and Medics with South Sioux City Fire and Rescue honored with Code Save Award

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KTIV) – According to the American Heart Association, only 9.1% of patients who suffer cardiac arrest and are treated by EMS survive to leave the hospital. Monday night local first responders were honored for their efforts in saving the lives of two people who each had a cardiac arrest.

Monday, during the South Sioux City’s city council meeting, six first responders were awarded the Code Save Award. This award is given to individuals who assist in saving someone who is in cardiac arrest.

This past Summer, the South Sioux City Fire and Rescue Department responded and saved the lives of two people in cardiac arrest. One of the patients had to be resuscitated 11 times. After the patient got to the hospital, he had to be defibrillated 37 times. 48 hours later, the patient walked out of the hospital, alive and well.

“It is completely a team effort. If you talk to any of these guys, I’m sure they don’t want to be recognized at all. But, this is one of those times it is extremely important because it shows the value the fire department has within this community,” said Doug Koopman, South Sioux City Fire Chief.

The two survivors were also at the city council meeting. This gave them the chance to thank the first responders who saved their lives.

“It’s awesome because when people go into cardiac arrest normally the statistics are against them. So, having somebody come out of that and be able to walk up and say, ‘thank you’ means a lot,” said Eric Kloster, a firefighter and medic.

Those honored along with Kloster were Sergeant Clint Nelson, Officer Dave Gerkin, Captain Zach Daniels, Captain Qwinn Wright, Firefighter Blake Bruns, and Firefighter Bryan Reyes.

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