DULUTH, MN (KDAL) – Two dozen citizens, first responders and emergency communications specialists were presented with Lifesaver Awards from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday.
The 911 Lifesaver Awards are presented each year to recognize the efforts of those who work together, often risking their own safety, to save others.
The 24 recipients this year were involved in nine separate incidents ranging from providing CPR to heart attack victims to water rescues and pulling victims from a house explosion.
The 2024 911 Lifesaver Awards:
Daniella Lee and Emergency Communications Specialist Chris Bender – Last September, Daniella was able to save her grandfather’s life by performing CPR, which she’d learned through a training program offered by the Hibbing Fire Department. Bender was able to provide guidance and encouragement until paramedics arrived
Rogelio “Ro” Noyes – In January of this year, the 17-year-old and his father heard a loud noise and discovered their elderly neighbor’s house on fire. Ro called 911 and then ran to help open a stuck door that had been trapping the neighbor inside. He then helped the man to a nearby garage to wait until firefighters arrived.
Nicholas Nelson, Tony Maynard and Grace Zeller – last May, as has widely been reported, two men drowned and another two rescued in the Curtain Falls area of the BWCA. Nicholas and Tony had been camping in the area when the situation began. Nicholas was the first to make contact with the people, and Tony called 911. The pair assisted the injured men until help could arrive and also helped create a makeshift landing zone used to evacuate them. Meanwhile Grace is the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources pilot who flew in to rescue the injured men.
St. Louis County Sheriff’s Investigator Matt Miranda and Deputies Blair Twaddle, Riley MacLean, Kyle Voltzke and Dar Giancola – last September, during an intense physical training session for new deputies, Deputy Scott Garrick collapsed. His colleagues jumped into action using an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), CPR, and supplemental oxygen, and saved the life of one of their own.
Emergency Communications Specialist Don Walters, Deputy Josh Etter and Paramedic Cody Hanson – when a woman in the Embarrass area went into cardiac arrest in December 2023, Don was able to provide medical direction and CPR instructions for 18 minutes to the caller until Deputy Etter and later Paramedic Hanson arrived, ultimately saving the woman’s life.
Louis Meglen, Lucas Martin Crawford-Nichols, Lindsey Evraets, and Danielle Mazzio – During a water emergency off Park Point last July, Louis noticed a man struggling in the water. Louis was able to carry the man to shore where he’d already signaled the others who were able to provide CPR until paramedics arrived.
Christian Romundstad – The day after the incident above, Christian noticed an individual struggling in the water after falling off a jet ski on Caribou Lake. Christian was able to bring the man to shore, where medical personnel were able to attend to him, saving the man’s life.
Alan Williams and Gregory Ryder – Last June, while traveling on Highway 73, Alan spotted a man on the side of the road covered in blood. It was ultimately determined to be due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Due to poor cell phone coverage, Alan was unable to call for help, so he flagged down another passerby, Gregory, who was able to call 911. Because of their quick actions, the man was able to receive medical care in a timely manner.
Amber, Lisa and Les Reinking – when a neighbor’s home exploded in November 2023, these three rushed to help, pulling two victims from the debris and caring for them until medical help arrived. Amber is a past participant in the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Explorers program and credits that training for helping her set aside fear and focus on helping – leading to the best possible outcome of no lives lost.
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