They saved a life. Two Oskaloosa Police officers, a 911 operator, two paramedics and an emergency room doctor worked together on a 911 call on September 17 that saved an elderly man’s life. Monday night (10/1), the six received American Heart Association HeartSaver Hero Awards at the Oskaloosa City Council meeting. Oskaloosa Police Lieutenant Jacob Vanderpol describes what happened that day.
“Me and Officer (Gideon) Kluge were the first on scene and immediately noticed there was a male on the floor, not conscious. His wife was attempting to perform CPR, so I stepped in and started CPR and got an AD (automated defibrillator) connected to him. He was in a right rhythm to deliver a shock. It delivered one shock. And we continued until emergency medical professionals could get there.”
Paramedics Rob Hanlon and Jake Halferty from Mahaska Health Partnership, as well as ER Director Andre Haddon took over. The subject was taken to Mahaska Health Partnership and later airlifted to another hospital for further treatment. Mahaska County E911 Telecommunicator Janel Legvold was at the start of the chain of events….as she instructed the original 911 caller on how to give CPR until Police arrived.