Head's up! Just in from LACo Section Chief, Dave Story (Ret.)., with respect to the lifeguards to be recognized and presented with the Medal of Valor, Distinguished Service Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Medal of Valor:
Cassady Roberts/Dylan
Jones
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| OLS Cassady Roberts |
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| OLS Dylan Jones |
On Buccaneer weekend, October 1, 2011,
at 2245 hours, a call came in from the Isthmus Harbor Department reporting that
a man had fallen off the crowded floating dock, and had not surfaced. OLS
Roberts responded from the hyperbaric chamber by boat, having just completed
the helicopter medivac of another patient.
OLS Jones responded from the Isthmus station. Upon arrival, a very large, hysterical, and
inebriated crowd said the man had fallen in and had not been seen again. OLS Roberts and Jones tried to clear the
crowd and boats from the dock and immediately jumped in and dove to the bottom
to search for the victim. After negative
results on the initial search, OLS Roberts initiated a second search while on
SCUBA. Returning to the surface from a
second negative search, the victim was located under the float, in a gap under
the dock, face down. OLS Roberts and
Jones immediately extricated the large, 300+ pound male, and brought him to the
surface. A Coast Guard inflatable showed
up on scene and assisted with getting the numerous skiffs away from the
rescuers and the victim, while the Sheriff’s were able to clear the float of
the many bystanders. With the
assistance of the Coast Guard personnel, Roberts and Jones were able to lift
the victim up onto the 4 – 5 foot high float, and then begin paramedic
treatment. Despite their being soaking
wet, with no uniform for warmth, Jones and Roberts continued resuscitative
efforts for 20 minutes, and successfully restored a blood pressure. Prior to the arrival of a helicopter, the
patients condition deteriorated, and he was pronounced dead on scene.
Despite
the numerous civilians and boats on scene, no one was capable of effecting this
rescue and subsequent resuscitation except the assigned lifeguard
paramedics. Though the initial scene was
extremely dangerous and chaotic, OLS
Jones and Roberts were able to negotiate the conditions and effect the rescue,
at considerable risk to themselves.
Medal of
Valor:
Jeff Little
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| OL Jeff Little |
 | |
| OL Jeff Little |
OL Jeff Little was a member of a group
of lifeguards unofficially representing the United States Lifesaving
Association in Ecuador. It was February,
summer-time in the Southern Hemisphere, during the busy festival of Carnival.
Prior to the lifeguards arrival, three people had already drowned that week due
to the large overhead surf, and the nasty rip current conditions. OL
Little was not surfing with the group one morning, due to a foot injury from a
local reef. While out for a morning
swim, OL Little noticed a swimmer on the inside of the surfline having
difficulties. He assisted the swimmer back to the beach, pushing him to
shore, but then saw two other victims further out in the rip current. One of the victims was in serious trouble,
struggling to keep his head above water, while the other was tiring quickly
from dog paddling against the current. Reaching the victims, he
stabilized the situation by assisting both men to stay afloat, and though they
didn’t speak any English, was able to calm them down and reassure them. After attempting to tread water and guide
them to shore, OL Little realized the currents were too strong, and that they
were all at risk of drowning. The only
solution was to swim back to the shore, but having no fins or rescue can made
that nearly impossible. Improvising a
solution, and using hand signals to direct the victims, OL Little had the non-swimming victim grab his foot, and he
swam and pulled that man back to the shore, as he pushed the dog-paddling
victim ahead (where he could also keep an eye on his condition). Once inside the surfline with the victims, OL
Little held the men as they were roughly pushed onto the beach, bringing them
to the surface between sets to catch their breath. Over 30 minutes after first spotting
them. OL Little had safely rescued all
three victims. After a few minutes of
rest, he went back out and finished his swim.
Distinguished Service:
John Greger
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| Capt. John Greger |
In April, 2012, Captain John Greger
was checking in for a physical therapy appointment at a Torrance office. He noticed several doctors running from the
surgery center to the massage therapy office, and John quickly followed. Entering the office, he observed a 38 year
old male, flat on his back in one of the examination rooms, and one of the doctors
was inserting an airway. Determining that there was no pulse or breathing,
Captain Greger asked if they had an AED (automatic external
defibrillator). While one employee ran
to get it, another came in with a resuscitator . Captain Greger hooked up the resuscitator and
ambu bag, and while the Doctor began rescue breathing, he began chest
compressions. Upon arrival of the AED,
John placed the pads on the patient, and initiated the machines analyzation
phase. For several minutes the machine
directed that rescue breathing and chest compressions continue, until it
finally indicated a “shockable” rhythm.
After delivering the shock, the patient’s pulse returned, and the
patient had a good blood pressure when he was turned over to the Torrance
paramedics. Three days later, when
Captain Greger returned to PT, he was able to meet the patient (the office’s
xray tech), who had just been released from the hospital. He thanked John, and told him that a change
in his blood pressure medication caused a fatal rise in his potassium levels,
causing cardiac arrest. His doctor said
that without immediate defibrillation, and effective CVP, he could not have
survived.
Lifetime Achievement:
Dave Story
Dave
Story began his lifesaving career in 1970 and was assigned to Zuma Beach. The following year Dave transferred to the
Southern Section where he worked Marine Street and El Porto.
As
a Recurrent Lifeguard Dave became the first Recurrent Representative to the
National Surf Lifesaving Association.
When the NSLSA reorganized to form the United States Lifesaving
Association in 1980 Dave was selected as that groups first treasurer. While serving as the Sothern Section Ocean
Lifeguard representative to the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association
(LACOLA) Dave worked with Tom Viren to negotiate the first labor contract for
Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguards.
Dave
achieved a full time position with the lifeguards in 1979 and was assigned to
Dockweiler State Beach. Dave joined the
Department’s Underwater Rescue and Recovery Unit and as a member of the Marine
Mammal Rescue Team Dave was instrumental in cutting a free-swimming grey whale
loose from lobster trap lines that had entangled it.
As
a permanent lifeguard Dave continued to serve on the LACOLA labor contract
negotiating teams. He served for 6-years
at the associations Vice-President and in 1984 was elected LACOLA
President. For several years Dave
organized the annual LACOLA Blood Drive for the Southern Section.
In
1990 Dave was asked to temporarily transfer to Lifeguard Division where he
co-wrote the Lifeguard Scheduling and Timekeeping database with Captain Tom
Viren. The program was in use for nearly
2 decades and was one of the first programs of its type in the County.
Dave
was promoted to Captain in 1992 and Section Chief in 2001 and was placed in
charge of the Southern Section Lifeguards.
Retiring in 2006 Dave continues to find himself involved with the
lifeguards. He hosts the annual Lifeguard
Alumni Luncheon and still serves as the Treasurer of the LACOLA Trust
Fund. In 2004 Dave became the event
coordinator for the International Surf Festival and is the current Secretary
for that organization.
*** Many Thanks to Dave Story for providing us with this information so that we could get it out to as many lifeguards as possible and so that they have an opportunity to attend the Medal of Valor Dinner if they so choose.
10-4
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Until next time.....
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
Service • Training • Commitment
*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***
DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.
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