First responders save Kentucky man

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 9, 2003

As far as Stanley Evans is concerned, all the first responders that were on the job last month are true heroes.

Evans may be an authority on the subject because it is something that is very dear to his heart.

On Sept. 8, the 56-year-old from Greenup, Ky., suffered a cardiac arrest while working at S&S Carryout in Ironton. As part of the first responder program, crews from the Ironton Police Department, Ironton Fire Department and the Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services raced to the scene.

They used an automatic external defibrillator to jump start Evans' heart.

Once Evans was stabilized, he was transported to the hospital.

"I don't know what happened," Evans said. "All I know is what they told me. They said they found me out cold."

Since then, Evans has had two stents and a defibrillator placed in his heart and is still thankful for the quick response by the people who saved his life.

All the individuals working that fateful day attended a ceremony at the Ironton City Center Wednesday where they received commendations from Mayor Bob Cleary and a representative from the American Heart Association and SEOEMS.

Evans attended the ceremony with his wife, Nyoka, his daughter Kim Little, his son-in-law and his two grandchildren. While his wife was more visibly emotional, he had the opportunity to meet for the first time the men who saved him.

"They deserve everything they can get. They do a job most people can't do," Evans said. "It is nice to be able to say 'hello and thank you for saving my life.'"

"(The first responder program) needs to be used everywhere it can," Nyoka said. "Without them, he wouldn't be here today."

Mayor Cleary was the first to present the men and their departments with certificates of commendation. The individuals were also recognized by Eric Kuhn, executive director of SEOEMS district, and Neal Cooper, coordinator at the American Heart Association's designated Community Training Center at King's Daughters Medical Center,

"We are here today to celebrate, here to celebrate a life that was saved," Cleary said. "Sometimes people in the public call the police and fire department heroes. They just say it is all in a day's work, but I think in something like this they truly are the heroes."

The individuals honored were SEOEMS employees Jeff Jenkins, Dale Jewell, Carl Floyd and Brent McKee; Ironton Police Officers Sgt. Anthony Forest and Capt. Danny Johnson; Ironton Firefighters Aaron Collins, Daryle Fogelsong, John Leach, Jack Delong, Capt. Mike Mahlmeister and Capt. Craig Thomas.

While none of the men said they considered them heroes, nearly everyone in attendance disagreed.

"More than 250,000 Americans die each year from sudden cardiac arrest," Cooper said. "Thanks to the men here today that number is reduced by one."

Since the first responder program was implemented five years ago, this is only the first or second case in the Tri-State where defibrillators have been able to save the life of someone who had suffered a cardiac arrest, said Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon.

Runyon also wanted to recognize Lt. Joe Stevens who administrates the first responder program for the fire department.