Oak Brook Fire Department earns Run of the Year award

OAK BROOK – Paramedics from the Oak Brook Fire Department received outstanding honors from the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital at its EMS Recognition Dinner on Wednesday at Pinstripes in Oak Brook.

EMH recognized its Run of the Month honorees and its Run of the Year recipient, which included the Oak Brook Fire Department.

Oak Brook Fire Department paramedics were named the 2013 Run of the Year recipients after responding to save a 65-year-old Merrill Lynch employee who collapsed at work.

Upon arrival, the paramedics found the man's coworkers had administered AED and were performing CPR. Paramedics then continued to perform lifesaving care enroute to the hospital where the patient then had an AICD surgically placed and was discharged home three days later.

The paramedics honored included Jake Arzer, Robert Micek, Michael Erickson and David Corkery, along with Chief McEllin for not only receiving the August 2012 Run of the Month award, but for being named the 2013 Run of the Year recipients.

In March, the department responded to a 911 call to a parking lot where a woman had been bumped by an SUV causing her to lose her balance and fall backwards hitting her head.

The team immediately initiated c-spine procedures followed by ALS procedures since she was bleeding and taking Coumadin, according to a news release. The team's diligence in questioning bystanders at the scene was also helpful in determining what had occurred, according to the release.

Because of their efforts, the woman was able to be discharged home a week later.

The foundation recognized medics Daniel Meyers, Robert Ebsen, Brian Bitterlan and George Grodek, along with Chief Tom McEllin, recipients of the March 2013 Run of the Month.