When retired Salt Lake County, UT Local 1696 member John Atkin went into cardiac arrest and collapsed in his home, his fellow IAFF members from West Jordan Local 4624 responded, saving his life. In appreciation, the Jordan Valley Medical Center honored Local 4624 members Kristopher Maxfield, Jessie McKenna, Michael Moon, Mark Powell, Kenneth Pratt and Darren Schmidt with its EMS Amazing Save Award.
“Our West Jordan brothers always answer the call for those in need, but this one was different. It was to help a brother fire fighter,” says General President Ed Kelly. “John is a special member of the IAFF family because not only is he a retired Local 1696 member, but he is also the father of current Local 1696 member Chris Atkin and IAFF employee and former wildland fire fighter Jason Atkin.
“On behalf of the IAFF and its members,” Kelly adds. “I want to commend our Local 4624 members for the lifesaving work they did that day.”
John Atkin was going outside to finish some yardwork when he collapsed on May 22. His wife, Mary, immediately called 911. A calm voice on the phone, dispatcher Chelsea Sottiyonthin, guided Mary through the CPR process until the West Jordan Local 4624 members, all from Fire Station 53 Platoon A, arrived to take over emergency medical care.
As John was still unconscious and without a pulse, the Local 4624 members used a defibrillator and continued CPR as they transported him to the Jordan Valley Medical Center. He was treated for cardiac arrest and discharged from the Intensive Care Unit after just five days later.
Atkin’s survival and quick recovery are attributed to the skilled prehospital care provided by the Local 4624 members.
“There is no crew more deserving of our Amazing Save award than the West Jordan Fire Station 53 Platoon 1 crew,” says Sara Morgan, Jordan Valley Medical Center EMS liaison. “It was our honor to recognize their great work and let them know we appreciate everything they did that day and every day.”
