Telling First Responder Stories
Life on the front lines of emergency response is demanding, but
often it can be rewarding. You meet the victim of an accident you helped with and learn about the person’s recovery. Your team coordinates a successful rescue or assists another agency in a joint operation. A community member or group recognizes you or a teammate for saving their life or property.
These are stories that are meant to be shared.
First responders are unsung heroes. Frequently, their stories are known only by those at the scene of an incident, but IDHS wants to share them throughout the year with the first responder community and the public. Hoosiers yearn for feel-good stories, and your tales of going beyond the call of duty help build respect for the public safety field and could inspire people to seek a career in first response. Good stories may even remind fellow responders why they do what they do, and to keep going.
Share a specific story or two about an individual or group in your agency by filling out the Share the Good story submission form below. IDHS is building a collection of stories about 911 telecommunicators, emergency managers, EMS workers, firefighters and law enforcement to highlight their great work all year round.
Stories and photos may be shared in IDHS communication channels.
Past Stories
Below are just a few examples of the types of stories you can share.
Girl Saved from Lawnmower Injury
Owen County EMS was dispatched for a 5-year-old girl cut by a lawnmower. On the way to the scene, dispatch informed EMS that the patient’s intestines were exposed, so EMS requested an air transport due to the severity of injuries. Multiple air transports declined due to weather. Franklin Township Fire Department arrived first and applied pressure to the wound. Owen County EMS arrived and carried the girl to a stretcher. Her intestines were exposed and contained environmental debris, but the hemorrhaging was controlled with the firefighters' bandage. The girl was quickly loaded and transported to the nearest trauma facility. Vital signs were continuously monitored and treatments administered throughout transport. She was not expected to survive as she was transferred between facilities, but she made it and then spent weeks in intensive care. She is now recovering well. Read more at the Riley Hospital for Children website.
Thanks to Fire Department for Saving a Life
In summer 2021, Honey Creek Fire Department was dispatched with Trans Care Ambulance on a possible cardiac arrest. When the crew arrived on scene, they found the patient's wife performing CPR. Crew members quickly took over and began BLS interventions. They placed the patient on the floor and continued manual CPR, as some members of the crew readied the LUCAS Compression Device. The device was placed on the patient and began to do compressions on him. Crews worked together as a team, working with Trans Care Ambulance for 30 minutes. The patient regained a pulse and was transported to a local hospital. A month after his cardiac event, the patient came to the firehouse with his wife and thanked everyone that helped him, with a dinner.
911 Rescue
Dispatcher Cameron Bopp received 911 texts stating "help," "rape" and "forced into black Chevy car." He used Rapid SOS to find the phone's location and informed his supervisor, who then relayed the information to law enforcement officers in the area. Bopp continued updating on the location of the phone, and officers were able to find the vehicle and rescue the woman who had texted 911.
Partner Success: EMA Receives Boat Donations
In 2021, Porter County EMA received a donation of two boats from a local energy transportation company. EMA personnel worked throughout the summer to make enhancements to the first of the two boats, including new wiring, repainting and fitting the boat with rescue-related equipment. Porter County EMA Marine 2 was commissioned in early October and will be used for search and rescue efforts on the small lakes within Porter County and areas of the Kankakee River. EMA personnel have been working throughout the winter to get the second boat, which is equipped with a jet engine, ready for action. EMA Director Lance Bella said he is very thankful for the donor company and looks forward to their continued partnership going forward.
Joint Response to Child Cardiac Arrest
A team of firefighters and police officers who are paramedics responded to a 4-year-old girl experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest in spring 2021. Once on scene, the crew found the family doing CPR on the child. In a short five minutes, the crew members were able to shock the girl twice and perform other interventions to ultimately have the girl regain a pulse. They delivered her to the ER shortly after, and she made a full recovery. The girl was diagnosed with a rare cardiac abnormality. After this run, the lead paramedic taught CPR and AED usage to the girl’s family and neighbors in case she has another cardiac event. There are also plans to teach CPR and AED usage to her school teachers and staff. Watch this Carmel Fire Department video to hear the girl's family tell her story and see a Carmel firefighter give a demonstration of hands-only CPR, or you can read more at the Current website.
911 Baby Delivery
Telecommunicator Nalaina Whitesel took a 911 call from a family whose daughter was giving birth at home. Whitesel advised that traveling to the hospital would be too dangerous for them to travel to the hospital, and she kept the callers calm and gave them instructions on how to deliver the baby at home. She stayed on the phone for 8 minutes until EMS and law enforcement personnel arrived.
