I would like to give a huge shout out to the Roulette
Fire/EMS. On Wednesday, April 26th, members responded to the scene of a
possible drowning along the Allegheny River. Once members arrived they put
their training and knowledge to work and entered the cold, swift water and
assisted family members that were attempting to secure their loved one from
being swept away and to keep him above water. Fire/EMS personnel pulled the
elderly man from the river and began CPR and life saving measures, and they had
setup a landing zone for a helicopter at the nearby Reed Run Airport. Due to
ETA of the helicopter, a decision was made to go directly to Charles Cole.
Once at Cole Memorial the man was stabilized and flown to
another hospital. I spoke with a family member last evening and he is off the
ventilator, just on oxygen, he has pneumonia from the river water getting into
his lungs, and some issues with suffering a cardiac emergency at the scene
(before/after going into the water). He has been moved to another room (not
ICU) and the doctors and nurses had him up yesterday, starting his
rehabilitation.
In the mail to our Dept. yesterday we received a thank you from
the family. It is very much appreciated and I would like to let the men/woman
of the Roulette Fire/EMS know that the skills, Training and Dedication to the
Residents and visitors to Roulette Twp pays off and there are families that are
VERY appreciative. Congratulations, keep up the good work..We are glad to be
part of your Team.
Chief Phelps
