LOS ANGELES - On March 29, 2019, one civilian and nine LAFD members executed life saving measures with great skill and precision to save a 78-year-old man who had gone into cardiac arrest.

Mr. Yona noticed a man lying in the street and called 9-1-1. After dispatching units to the address, Firefighter Lemus gave emergency CPR instructions to Mr. Yona and CPR was initiated immediately. Rescue 59 and Light Force 92 arrived on scene and took over for Mr. Yona, providing advanced cardiac life support (including defibrillation). The patient was transported to UCLA Medical Center (a specialty center for this type of cardiac event) and regained a spontaneous heart beat as they were pulling into the Emergency Department bay. A rapid transfer of care sent the patient directly to the definitive cardiac care that he needed, where doctors and nurses took over. 

This chain of events (referred to as the Chain of Survival) led to a successful recovery for our patient. The four interdependent links in the chain of survival are early access, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced cardiac life support. All four were intact and essential for the patient's outcome. This patient was discharged from the hospital with a favorable outlook, thanks to the ten individuals who have been honored at the July 2nd Fire Commissioners Meeting. 

• Mr. Itay Yona (Bystander Rescuer)
• Captain II, Christopher A. Cooper, F.S. 92-A  
• Apparatus Operator, David Gastelum, F.S. 92-B 
• Engineer, Timothy Davis, F.S. 92-A 
• Firefighter III, Tyrone T. Fong, F.S. 92-A 
• Firefighter II, Kevin J. Ramirez, F.S. 92-B
• Firefighter II, Terrail L. Lambert, PTI-S
• Firefighter III / Paramedic, Marcus D. Jacobs, F.S. 34-A
• Firefighter III / Paramedic,  Kenneth F. Wigchert, F.S. 101-B
• Firefighter III / 9-1-1 Call Taker, Alberto G. Lemus, MFC-A