3 firefighters receive Lifesaver Awards
RUSSELLVILLE — More than two months after city firefighters responded to a cardiac arrest call that left Steven Bledsoe without a pulse for 27 minutes, the city recognized three firefighters involved in the rescue.
The fire department honored Deputy Chief Randy Seal and firefighters Aaron Lynch and Shawn Hines Jr. with Lifesaver Awards connected to the Feb. 18 emergency response.
Lynch said successful outcomes in cardiac arrest calls are uncommon.
“I’ve never had one make it back,” he said. “This is the first one in two years that actually survived.”
Chief Joe Mansell said firefighters received the call at 9:50 p.m. for a 52-year-old man who was unresponsive and not breathing while crews awaited ambulance response.
“Upon arrival, they began a lifesaving mission,” Mansell said.
Bledsoe said doctors later told him he had suffered a “widowmaker” heart attack.
“They said I was out for 27 minutes,” Bledsoe said.
He said he still remembers the incident clearly.
“I wasn’t supposed to remember anything,” Bledsoe said. “I remember everything.”
His wife, Jennifer Bledsoe, said she and her husband had been watching television before he collapsed.
“It looked like he was having a seizure, but he was out,” she said.
Bledsoe said firefighters continued lifesaving efforts until crews transported her husband to the hospital.
“They were amazing,” she said. “They put in the work.”
Seal said firefighters rarely get the opportunity to reconnect with people after emergency calls.
“It’s a blessing to be able to see that something you’ve done at work on a call resulted in somebody’s life being saved,” Seal said.
Mansell said successful outcomes carry special meaning because firefighters often deal with difficult calls that end differently. He said firefighters frequently replay emergency calls afterward and question whether they could have done something differently.
“There’s never a call that you don’t look back at to determine if you could have done something different,” he said.
Seal and Hines encouraged community members to learn CPR.
“Doing CPR and getting it started increases their chances of survival right off the bat,” Seal said.
Hines said CPR training can help people respond during emergencies before first
responders arrive.
“Take a CPR class,” Hines said. “It’s very helpful, because you never know when you might be somewhere you need to do it.”
Russellville Fire Department will host a free noncertified community CPR class May 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Fire Station 1, 1100 S. Jackson Ave. Those interested in reserving a spot can call 256-3241672.
