Firefighters are trained in emergency life-saving techniques. Stationed throughout the county, they are likely to be the first on the scene of a medical emergency before an ambulance arrives.
Parker County Emergency Services District No. 1 began intensified training last year with the Parker County Hospital District, resulting in eight lives being saved in 2024 in the ESD1 area. The responders, in teams of three, were honored with Life Saving Company Citations at the annual Parker County ESD1 awards ceremony Feb. 28.
On Jan. 19, Dusty Hallman, Chris Willmer, and Adam Gouge of Truck 35 Willow Park revived a victim at the Hospital District Station 3 on Atwood Court.
On April 11, Will Meyers, Chris Willmer, and Keith Obert of Truck 35 Willow Park revived an individual at a home on Ranch House Road.
June 22, Hunter Sereika, Roland Noe, and Logan Bushong of Engine 34 Aledo revived a victim at a home on White Settlement Road.
July 7, Jordan Sereika, Dustin Rowe, and Seth Wells of Engine 48 Springtown revived a victim near Morrow Road.
Sept. 11, Tyler Ramsey, Dustin Rowe, and Seth Wells of Engine 48 Springtown revived a victim at a residence on Ben Drive.
On Oct. 2, Richard Noe, Steven Ward, and Caleb Wainscott of Engine 51 La Junta revived an individual at home on FM 730.
Nov. 11, Tyler Ramsey, Dustin Rowe, and Seth Wells of Engine 48 Springtown revived a victim on E. Highway 199.
Dec. 24, Jordan Sereika, Justin Hanley, and Tommy Bond of Engine 48 Springtown revived a victim on N. Springfield Court.
Chris Briggs, with more than 20 years of emergency service experience, is deputy director for the Parker County Hospital District’s EMS division and helps coordinate the fire department staff’s quarterly training.
“They respond with us on almost every call. They make a huge difference,” Briggs said of the fire department responders. “We train together with what we call high performance CPR, and it has completely changed outcomes across the county. I’ve been a paramedic for 20 years and it’s insane to see this many survivors. You used to go a whole career without having a save. This is a well-oiled machine, that is why you are seeing this many survivors.”
Every emergency is a unique situation but with a solitary goal to bring a person from death to life. Firefighter engineer Dustin Rowe of Engine 48 Springtown was on three of the teams that saved lives last year. The Sept. 11 call with Lt. Tyler Ramsey and firefighter Seth Wells came in as a male was experiencing dizziness at his residence. When the team arrived, the man was in full cardiac arrest.
After reviving the victim twice, firefighters were asked if they could leave their engine and accompany the ambulance, which is not uncommon in extreme emergency situations. Lt. Ramsey gave the go-ahead and the team accompanied the transport to the hospital.
“We lost him once and then he flatlined again on the way to the ambulance. We got another rhythm back and headed toward Weatherford,” Road said. “I actually drove the ambulance while they worked on the victim in the back,”
Happy endings often led to emotional reunions at the Parker County Hospital District office, where survivors sign a special poster with others saved by CPR, and survivors and family can meet the firefighters and medical staff responsible for saving their life.
“It was surreal, I’m not going to lie,” Rowe recalled of the reunion. “It is a touching feeling that not only was I part of — my crew with the Hospital District was a part of saving that guy. Somebody is gone, and two or three weeks later they walk out of the hospital. You don’t think about it when it is all happening, but to meet the man after his recovery was very emotional.”
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