RHFD

Richmond Heights firefighters honored for helping save 2 lives

By: DOUG MINER | 20 HOURS AGO

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Members of the Richmond Heights Fire Department were honored Thursday at St. Mary’s Health Center for their part in saving the lives of two Richmond Heights residents when they suffered sudden cardiac arrest.

Austin Bates and Cessare Chiaradonna had heart attacks in March, and both walked out of the hospital less than a week later.

Mary Fischer, who works with heart attack cases at the hospital, said the success was the result of the firefighters and hospital staff working together. Hospital staff was also recognized.

Bates said he experienced no warning before the “lights went out”, on March 5. Bystanders began CPR and called 911. Richmond Heights Fire Department arrived within three minutes of being dispatched, according to records. CPR was continued, he was shocked twice to bring back a pulse, and was taken to St. Mary’s Health Center.

Bates was not at the ceremony; he was on the West Coast for a family graduation.

On March 25, Richmond Heights Fire Department was dispatched for a 55-year-old man, Cessare Chiaradonna, who was unresponsive, lying on the floor. His wife, Jan, had called 911.

Fischer told Chiaradonna’s wife, Jan, that she did a wonderful job on the phone with the East Central Dispatch. “The reports states you started rescue breaths until Richmond Heights got there,” she said.

“911 was wonderful. They really kept me calm,” Chiaradonna said.

The fire department was able to bring back his pulse. Their scene time was 10 minutes and transport time to St. Mary’s was two minutes.

“What you accomplished in such a short time is simply amazing,” Fischer told the department.

Fire Chief Kerry Hogan said his firefighters say it’s just part of the job.

“But things like this, it makes you feel good,” he said. “I think I have some of the best-trained paramedics in the St. Louis area. Very proud of them. They do an excellent job every day.”

Hogan also said he will go back and tell the dispatchers they did a good job in the emergencies too.

Richmond Heights firefighters recognized were: Greg Steffen, Stephen Kimker, Eric Young, Michael Fox, Luke Van Cleave, Steve Niemeier, Stuart Stevens, Joe Nazzoli, Daniel Miner, Jonathan Smith, Suzanne Stahlman, Kelly Kennon and Scott Lilly.

Doug Moody

 

It is with Great sadness that I report that our Retiree Brother Doug Moody
passed this evening at 6:15 pm.
Brother Moody was retired from Creve Coeur for approximately 18 + years and was a very active member of his shop , including volunteering countless hours for MDA and the Honor Guard!
As I get funeral details I will contact each of you again and I will have a 
special request from our Retirees, once details are in place !
God Speed Brother Moody, you done your duty and now its time to rest.
Mr. Kim R. Besserman, Local 2665 Retiree Chairman
kbesser835@aol.com 
(314)-503-3473

Ok

UCFD

Infighting persists in U. City
BY VALERIE SCHREMP HAHN vhahn@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8246 AND STEVE GIEGERICH sgiegerich@post-dispatch.com 314-725-6758
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
May 13, 2014

UNIVERSITY CITY • While a candidate elected by a narrow margin has been delayed by a court action from taking his seat, infighting is splitting the rest of the University City City Council.

Two council members are seeking legal help on whether the city manager violated ethics codes when they say he endorsed the reelection of two members in a city newsletter before the election. City officials disagree on whether at least five firefighters should have been suspended last month for endorsing a political candidate. And one City Council member hopeful who won an election by six votes still hasn’t been sworn in because of a temporary restraining order blocking him from taking office. That slot was held by outgoing member Byron Price, who was lauded by some members at Monday’s meeting for his past work on the council.

“Thanks for the support,” Price said. “This is my last meeting. Trust me, I won’t be hanging around.”

Council members Paulette Carr and Terry Crow are seeking independent legal help on whether City Manager Lehman Walker violated ethics codes when they said he endorsed the re-election of two members in a city newsletter before the April municipal election. Carr said she finds it particularly troubling given that Walker has called out a group of at least five University City firefighters for publicly supporting another candidate on the April ballot.

“I think it’s hypocritical if we give him a pass when he is penalizing the firefighters,” she said in an interview before the meeting. “It’s a powerful endorsement. Most people don’t pay attention to elections. But they might if the city manager speaks out.”

In the newsletter, issued before the election, Carr points out that an article by Walker praised the council for approving surplus budgets, mentioning Michael Glickert, Stephen Kraft and Mayor Shelley Welsch, who were running for re-election. There was no mention of members Carr and Terry Crow. “He used a public newsletter to do it,” Carr said. “That’s public funds. And it’s never been done before.”

Meanwhile, Rod Jennings, who was elected to sit on the council by six votes over Bwayne Smotherson, wonders why he hasn’t been sworn in to take office. He faces a restraining order filed by Smotherson and is awaiting a recount. “I am being irreparably harmed by the shorting of my term by these delays,” he said.

It was unclear when Jennings was to be sworn in, though members said he would be sitting on the council at the next meeting.

Some members are angry because they said they were not properly notified of a May 8 special meeting to approve the election results before the recount was started. Kraft said that by law a certified candidate may take office while a recount is being conducted. He said it’s up to the court to decide whether a recount is needed, and by Monday the city hadn’t received notice it was needed.

Meanwhile, Walker has been feuding with the city’s union firefighters, some of whom posed for council candidates’ campaign photos. All four union-backed candidates lost. State law prohibits first responders from engaging in campaigns while on duty or in uniform. The sides disagree on the definition of “uniform” and whether the workers were on duty.

Meanwhile, members proposed resolutions to disapprove the city manager’s action against the firefighters, investigate his actions in the city newsletter, and solidify qualifications for first responders. Members either voted to postpone action on those indefinitely or until the next meeting in two weeks.

One resolution proposed that the council supports a nonhostile work environment, and that people could not be retaliated against for being a whistleblower.

Price wondered why anyone would postpone action on it. “Either you believe in these values, or you don’t,” Price said.

But some members had issues with the wording. This is already the law, pointed out Kraft. Being a whistleblower isn’t constitutionally protected, said Glickert and Kraft.

The council delayed action.

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MFD

Maplewood firefighters specialize in rescues. If someone is down a hole or in a confined space Maplewood has the equipment and knowledge to get the victim out.

Firefighter, Matt Wilcox has taken that to the next level. He’s been accepted to the Missouri Task Force 1 team as a rescue specialist. He is currently in training for the team.

Maplewood firefighter, Matt Wilcox has been accepted to the Missouri Task Force 1 team.

Missouri Task Force 1 is a FEMA funded regional response urban search and rescue team of 186 firefighters, other rescue specialists, and medical providers from fire departments throughout Missouri. There are 28 teams nationally.

Wilcox, 30, said the primary job is to to help people, even if it’s just going door to door making sure people are OK. That’s what task force team members did at the recent flooding in Colorado.

“Obviously you’d like to be doing the breaking, the breaching, whatever, but if that’s what you’re called to do, that’s what you’re called to do,” Wilcox said.

Wilcox is married and has a 15-month-old daughter. His family is understanding and supportive according to Maplewood Fire Department Fire Chief Terry Merrell. “The time needed for training and the willingness to respond to a major incident with virtually no notice requires a total family commitment and sacrifice,” Merrell said.

Only the most qualified and dedicated are selected for Task Force 1, according to Merrell. He is the first Maplewood firefighter to be accepted.

Wilcox got an interview two years ago, but there were no openings at the time. He was told to keep applying and keep taking classes. He took swift water rescues, confined space rescues, boat operator and hazmat tech in the meantime. He was finally accepted.

“He constantly challenges himself to be better,” Merrell said. “Combine those attributes with a very high level of physical fitness and technical knowledge and you have the essential ingredients that define what is demanded by the task force.”

The team can be assigned to go anywhere there’s a disaster. Teams went to New York for 9-11. They were sent to Washington state for the mud slide in March. If Wilcox’s team is called he has four hours to get to the team meeting place near Columbia. They travel with two semi trucks full of everything they need for 14 days.

Wilcox grew up in Glendale across from the fire station. “We bugged the firemen, chased the firetruck,” he said. “Around 22 is when I started all the paramedic classes and the fire academy. I get to play all day, in my mind. It’s the best job in the world.”

He said being on the the task force team is no different than being on call in Maplewood. It’s a matter of being there to help, even if it’s not exciting.

“Would you want to be putting out fires all the time? Sure,” he said. “But if somebody calls you because their smoke detector’s not working, or they fell and need help getting off the floor, that’s what you’re here to do. You’re just there to help somebody.”