Several community heroes were honored last week for stepping up to save the life of a young girl who nearly drowned in a community pool June 29.
Because of their actions, Tyana Bridges was in attendance at the Fayette County Commission meeting Thursday night with her mom Jennifer by her side.
Chris Carter was recognized for pulling Tyana from the pool and helping Liz and John Wolka perform CPR while paramedics were on the way. As it turned out, two young men provided an assist as well, heading down the driveway to flag down the first responding units, which was critical because they were initially dispatched to a different address nearby, according to Fire Chief David Scarborough.
When Battalion Chief Craig Woods arrived, he had the Wolkas continue CPR because they were performing it correctly while he dried off the girl and applied the pads to an automated external defibrillator which delivered an electrical shock to stabilize her heartbeat, Scarborough explained.
Soon after, other paramedics arrived and took other life-saving measures as the patient was taken to Egleston Children’s Hospital, Scarborough said.
The Wolkas and Carter received Life Saving Awards from Scarborough, along with the two young men who helped flag down the paramedics: Tyson Bridges and Joey Fumei.
Scarborough also awarded the Fire Department Unit Citation to Woods, Lt. Stephen Teague, Firefighter/EMT William Lay, Firefighter/EMT Joshua Frasier and Firefighter/Paramedic Richard Ryckeley.
