‘I just want to thank everyone here who was involved that day’
The heroic efforts of first responders and two bystanders were recognized, and awards given for their efficient, swift, and skilled responses that saved the lives of two men in a pair of cardiac arrest incidents, during Monday night’s Bishop City Council meeting.
The council chambers were filled to capacity with an eager crowd anxious for the recognition presentations, and a swell of emotion was palpable as the time approached to highlight the heroic teams and hear from the men who were saved.
Mike Patterson, the Regional Director of Program Operations at REACH Air Medical Services, opened the presentations by briefly explaining that ambulance ground services were established in the City of Bishop in July 2023, which was a huge accomplishment as the undertaking of establishing and implementing those services in the community happened in under three days. Since services were established within the city, four full-time EMTs have been hired from Cerro Coso Community College.
In partnership with REACH, Lisa Davis, the Clinical Base Manager for Sierra Lifeflight, presented an award to each of the people involved in the incidents, from the individuals who called 911 to the doctors who took care of the cardiac arrest victims while at the hospital.
The first incident happened only 30 days after ground ambulance services began in Bishop. On August 28, 2023, Ed
Elbers was trimming trees with his friend John Sutton. When Elbers began to feel unwell, Sutton recognized it immediately and dialed 911. The 911 call was played for the gathering, and Sutton can be heard saying that Elbers is barely breathing.
Davis explained that if cardiac arrest occurs there is a chain of actions that must be taken to heighten the chances of survival, the first action being the recognition that something is wrong and calling 911.
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“If that doesn’t happen then the chances of survival decrease by 10 percent even if everything else goes right,” said Davis.
She then handed a plaque award to Sutton for his life-saving efforts and “true spirit of heroism.”
The following people were also awarded for their part in Elber’s incident: dispatcher Kelsey Allred; firefighters Mandi Grisham, Courtney Morrison, and Dominic Jahn; fire captains Jim Reynolds and Hector Martinez; paramedics Colton Riesen, Andrew Bassett, and Devon Jeffrey; EMT Dana Felthauser; fight RN Crista Hollenburg; flight paramedic Craig Ethington; Medevac pilot Brandin Nafeh; registered nurses Stacey Burke,
Becky Freeman and Andrew Stevens; and Dr. David Amsalem.
Elbers was given an opportunity to address Sutton as well as the responding team of medical professionals.
“I love this guy, he saved my life and so did all of you, and I want to thank you all,” said Elbers. “He said you guys never quit, so I want to thank you for not giving up on me.”
Elbers wasn’t alone in his gratitude for the people who came to his rescue. Terry Crowell, who suffered from a case of cardiac arrest earlier this year, was present to express his own appreciation.
On Jan. 29 Crowell collapsed while working out at Bishop Fitness Center. Kevin Daniels, a bystander working out simultaneously and in the same area, immediately activated a 911 call and, while first responders headed to the scene, performed CPR and readied an AED. With Daniels’s efforts, a larger medical team was eased into caring for Crowell into recovery.
“I just want to thank everyone here who was involved that day,” said Crowell. “You know, you just go through life and you don’t think that something like that would happen to you… It was quite the experience.”
In addition to Daniels, those awarded for their part in the rescue mission efforts were: dispatcher Kelsey Allred; Bishop Police officers Cody Lawson, Robin Ludovico, and Lt. Josh Ellsworth; paramedics Lorenzo Tovar, Colton Riesen, John Almeida, and Craig Ethington; EMTs Hannah Waasdorp, Kaylyn Rickford, and Patrick Griley; registered nurses Crista Hollenberg, Andrew Stevens, Jacinda Thompsen, and Michael Ragsdale; Dr. Chelsea Robinson; pilots Brandin Nafeh, Peter Bell, and Celia Garcia; firefighters Mandi Grisham, Dominic
Jahn, Chris Costello, and Christal Alvarado; captains Jim Reynolds and Hector Martinez; Assistant Cheif Pat O’Neil, and Chief Bret Russell; flight paramedic Rafael Lara; flight nurse Clay Hudson; Stacey Ingram and Nick Weisenbach from REACH Air - Reno.