‘It’s all about the EMTs’
BROKEN BOW - Jeff Shea and Julie Griebel of Broken Bow know first hand how important a good emergency responders are. The afternoon of June 14, Shea wasn’t feeling well and he went inside the house. And that’s all he remembers.
“Julie called 911,” he said. “They were here in a hurry.”
Shea had experienced heart failure, complete cardiac arrest. When Griebel called 911, she told the dispatcher he had no pulse. Some of the EMTs live close by and were able to be there almost immediately. According to Griebel, they used the Lucas device which does chest compressions for CPR and a defibrillator to shock his heart. They worked on Shea until he arrived at the emergency room and then was flown by helicopter to Kearney.
“We are so thankful,” Griebel said. “Without a doubt, he wouldn’t have made it.” She said she knew God had a hand in the unfolding events. Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney has just re-opened after their initial COVID-19 shutdown which meant family and friends could be there to offer support.
Shea appeared at the Sept. 22 City Council meeting to thank emergency responders in person. He said he had no idea how many people were involved in his call.
“I can’t say enough about our EMT crew. It takes a special person to do that,” he said. “Not all of us can put our own lives and families on hold and go help someone they may or may not know in an emergency”
Shea wants to make sure the emergency responders get all the attention and credit they deserve. “It’s all about the EMTs,” he said. “”I hope they continue to be supplied with all the equipment that they need because they obviously save lives.”