From the left, Lt. Kevin Schuette, and firefighter/paramedics Aidan Gawura, Michael Best and Matthew Zsido were awarded with the EMS Life Saving Award for providing successful advanced cardiac life support to a high school basketball coach who collapsed during a game in November.
By: Mary Beth Almond | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published September 6, 2023
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Various members of the Bloomfield Township Fire Department staff were recognized for their service to the community during a recent Board of Trustees meeting.
Former Fire Chief Dave Piche created the Fire Department awards a few years ago and presented them during a Board of Trustees meeting for the public to see to show what the firefighters do for the community, according to current Fire Chief John LeRoy.
“One thing that is very evident is the amount of work that these people do without asking for anything in return,” LeRoy shared.
LeRoy carried on the tradition during a June 12 Board of Trustees meeting, presenting Lt. Kevin Bailey and firefighter/paramedics Matt Zsido, Aidan Gawura and Michael Best with a EMS Life Saving Award for their teamwork during a recent incident.
The crew, he said, responded to reports of a coach who had collapsed during a basketball game Nov. 17, 2022.
“Upon arrival, our crews found the coach on the gym floor in cardiac arrest. Bystanders had already begun CPR and attached an AED, delivering one shock. Our crews began their advanced cardiac life support procedures, shocking the patient two more times, giving advanced cardiac medicines, and establishing an airway for the patient. Shortly after the second shock, the patient began breathing, while also regaining pulses and consciousness,” LeRoy said. “While en route to the hospital, the patient was alert and oriented. This patient was released from the hospital with no deficits.”
Lt. Shaun Patterson, firefighter Jeff Bartlett, and firefighter/paramedics Adam Phillips and Aidan Gawura also received an EMS Life Saving Award after responding to an incident on Oct. 12, 2022.
Personnel responded to a residence on the report of an unresponsive person and found bystanders performing CPR on the individual.
“The patient was quickly attached to a cardiac monitor, and the patient’s heart rhythm was found to be in a shockable rhythm. The patient was shocked, administered advanced cardiac medicines and given advanced cardiac life support measures. After 16 minutes, the patient regained pulses and began breathing on their own,” LeRoy said. “This patient was discharged from the hospital with no deficits after being treated for a 100% occlusion of the right coronary artery.”
Firefighter Travis Smith received the Mike Cummings Ironman trophy, an award for going on the most calls for the year.
“Mike Cummings is a retired battalion chief in Bloomfield Township, and, as a joke, they would always yell ‘Ironman’ when they were on his shift,” LeRoy explained.
The first year this trophy was given, in 2013, the winner responded to 500 incidents. This year, the winner responded to 715 incidents over the course of the year.
Firefighter Chris Hull received the Mike Morin I Care Award, which LeRoy said was designed with Township Supervisor Leo Savoie and retired Fire Chief Mike Morin in mind, for the firefighter that “goes above and beyond normal duties.”
Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Hull, an army veteran, responded to an incident at an elderly veteran’s home and struck up a conversation with the resident regarding his service.
“While leaving the resident’s home, firefighter Hull noticed the individual’s American flag was in rough shape. He then went to the store and purchased a new flag for the homeowner and returned to the home and hung the new flag,” LeRoy said. “On a side note, during their conversation, the resident mentioned a German beer that he loved and had a hard time finding. Firefighter Hull found that beer and purchased the beer for the resident, but prior to being able to deliver it, the resident had passed.”
LeRoy said he knows there are many, many more award-worthy events that occur over the course of a year in the Fire Department.
“We are really bad at passing up the line what they’ve done, so the job that they do on a daily basis isn’t represented in the number of awards that are given. The awards are just the ones I find out about,” he said. “I wish more could be recognized, but it kind of says a lot about their character that they go about it thinking that is just part of the job, and it truly isn’t.”
Township Supervisor Dani Walsh said she thinks the township should think about giving out more Fire Department awards in the future.
“They do a lot. I know that they don’t enjoy the accolades, but they deserve the accolades,” she said.
“What they do is just always above and beyond, so we just want them to know we appreciate them,” added Trustee Valerie Murray.
For more information, call the Bloomfield Township Fire Department at (248) 433-7745.