North Cook News

The Village of Lincolnwood recognized the efforts of its first responders during the Jan. 17 city council meeting.

The Board of Trustees applauded the Village's fire department for its life-saving efforts, asking Fire Chief Barry Liss to give a brief backstory on Illinois' firefighter paramedics.

“Paramedics and their life-saving skills first began in Illinois back on Dec. 1 of 1972, actually not too far from here at the Buffalo Grove Fire Department under the direction of Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights," Liss said. "Today's paramedics are professional men and women functioning as adjuncts of local emergency rooms and trauma centers. They specialize in providing immediate emergency treatment of the sick and injured."

"Since the program's inception in 1972, paramedics and the capabilities that they bring with them have continued to evolve," Liss continued. "Today, they are providing some of the latest breakthroughs in advanced cardiac and traumatic life support, utilizing much of the specialized equipment that you see before you this evening. Twelve-lead cardiac monitoring and interpretation, cardiac defibrillation, cardiac pacing, establishing intravenous access, administration of a wide variety of fluids and medications, and providing a patient airway, utilizing endotracheal intubation techniques along with CPR.”

Liss acknowledged the members of his department who aided in a life-saving event on Oct. 28 in which they were able to stabilize a patient until they reached the hospital, where they were able to recover and return home. At the time of the incident, the patient wasn't breathing, so the first responders initiated treatment and CPR, clearing their airway and restoring breathing and circulation.

In honor of their efforts, Battalion Chief Dean Friedlund, Lt. Eddie Arias, Lt. Hayden Hooghkirk, firefighter/paramedic Collin Elrich (now with Evanston Fire), firefighter/paramedic Dan Mazurkewicz (now with Schiller Park Fire), and firefighter/EMT David LeClercq Jr. were given life-saving awards.

"While we have so many of our fire department here, I would just like to say thank you so much for the shroud of safety that you provide our village day in and day out," Lincolnwood Mayor Jesel Patel said. "Obviously fire protection, but the EMS services are used on such a regular basis by so many of our residents and families here. We really do appreciate its amazing service, the hard work you put in, and the dedication. We see it every day. So thank you. And keep it up."