On October 1, 2019, during a meeting of the Los Angeles Fire Commission, the executive leadership of the Los Angeles Fire Department formally recognized an LAFD Firefighter/Dispatcher and the crew from LAFD Station 61 for their teamwork in saving the life of a man who collapsed in cardiac arrest while jogging.

The incident was reported at 8:45 AM on June 10, 2019, when LAFD Firefighter/Dispatcher Pablo Flores received a 9-1-1 call reporting an adult male jogger had collapsed and was possibly seizing in front of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art at 650 South Fairfax Avenue.

Flores immediately dispatched the nearest LAFD responders, and continued to query the caller, quickly confirming that the patient was indeed pulseless, non-breathing and in need of CPR. Assertively inspiring a pair of bystanders to perform that vital hands-only CPR, Flores updated responders from Fire Station 61 as they rushed to the scene in the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles. 

Moments later, Light Force 61 and Paramedic Rescue Ambulance 61 were at the patient's side, systematically relieving bystanders in commencing CPR with ventilatory support, as a defibrillator was swiftly attached to the patient, indicating that a potentially life-saving shock was advised - an effort that would be required three times as intravenous medications were skillfully administered.  

The LAFD team continued undaunted in their advanced life support measures in the field, which returned the man's pulse and respiratory effort within ten minutes of their arrival. Soon thereafter taken by LAFD ambulance to specialized hospital care, the man was amazingly released from clinical care five days later. 

Expressing admiration for the bystanders who performed hands-only CPR, and extreme pride in the LAFD responders who rendered lifesaving prehospital care, Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas presented formal Certificates of Appreciation to:

• Captain Ricky Crawford
• Captain / Paramedic Arturo Tarango
• Apparatus Operator Ryan Carlos
• Engineer Clark Hills
• Firefighter / Paramedic Christopher Hughes
• Firefighter / Paramedic Jose Veliz
• Firefighter Viet Le
• Firefighter Lawrence Newbury III
• Firefighter / Dispatcher Pablo Flores Jr. 

Which read...

"In recognition and sincere gratitude for your heroic courage, diligent efforts, personal initiative and expedient assistance which directly resulted in the saving of a man's life during a cardiac arrest emergency on June 10, 2019 in the 5800 block of Wilshire Boulevard, the Los Angeles Fire Department officially commends you for extraordinary lifesaving efforts to a citizen of the City of Los Angeles. Presented this 1st day of October, 2019. Signed, Ralph M. Terrazas, Fire Chief".


EVENT PHOTO GALLERY