FEATURED IN NEWS
- Images, Video: Commuter Trains Collide in Connecticut; 60 People Injured
- California EMT Burned in Race Kart Fire; Community Responds
- Woman in Towed Car Likely Died at North Carolina Crash Scene, Autopsy Finds
- Washington, D.C. Faces a Critical Paramedic Shortage
- School Bus Carrying Special-Needs Kids Rolls Over in Indianapolis
- Crime Not Ruled out in Texas Blast
- Medical Helicopter Crash Flight Crew to be Honored at Future Memorial Site in Illinois
SOUTH WHITTIER - Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's recruits used their passed experience in emergency service to help one of their own Friday morning.
Former EMTs Jennifer Garcia, 24, and Clayton Duran, 22, saved the life of a fellow recruit during their early morning three-mile run.
While heading westbound on Telegraph Road from the Sheriff's Training Academy and Regional Services (STARS) Center, and then north on Mills Avenue, Deputy Jesse Cabadas, following behind in a squad car, noticed one of the recruits in distress.
"The recruit was falling behind, separating from the bulk of the class," Cabadas explained. "At that point I instructed him to get into the vehicle."
The 50-year-old male recruit's name was not released, due to a privacy issues.
"He was breathing heavily, which considering the run, was not unusual," said Cabadas.
About three to five minutes later, he observed that the recruit was struggling to breathe.
"I called over the PA system asking for assistance," Cabadas said.
Garcia and Duran immediately ran over to the car.
They checked for a pulse in their fallen brother, with no luck.
The partners, who have a combined 13 years of EMT experience under their belts, knew just what to do.
"We just worked on instinct," Garcia said. "No emotions involved, just working to save our brother."
The three worked on the down recruit for about two to three minutes until Los Angeles County Fire personnel arrived. They used a defibrillator on the recruit, who, after one shock, began breathing on his own. The patient was transported to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, with lead staff Instructor Alex Kim coordinating radio traffic between Norwalk and Pico Rivera sheriff's departments and Whittier Police Department to clear traffic for the ambulance ride.
"What happened was an anomaly," said Capt. Robert Esson, commander of the sheriff's training bureau. "But what these two recruits did was heroic."
Both Garcia and Duran, who downplayed their life-saving measures, said that being first-responders is a calling.
"It's in my blood," Garcia said.
"Ever since I was little, I played cops and robbers," admitted Duran. "Today, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
Although Garcia and Duran were calm and cool in the moment, they both admitted to succumbing to the gravity of the situation.
"There was definitely more emotions than when I was an EMT working on strangers," Garcia said. "I had an attachment this time around, where with strangers, I had compassion, but not that emotional tie."
"I had been on calls like that in my career, but I never cried," Duran said.
This time, they both did.
The recruit, along with his family and doctors, will have to decide if he wants to continue his training, Esson said.
As of Friday evening, he was in stable condition.
Copyright © 2013 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
.gif)
