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Dan Collins,
a retired captain from DeSoto County Fire Rescue, hugs Cpl. Dan Kowal after
presenting him and Sgt. Charles Frost (right) with Phoenix Awards at a ceremony
honoring emergency responders Wednesday. Sgt. Frost and Cpl. Kowal helped save the
life of Collins’ 40-year-old son Shawn Collins who accidentally came into
contact with a power line. Photos by Cpl. Efrain Hernandez (3)
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Bystanders
were administering CPR to a 40-year-old linesman whose boom accidentally
touched a power line in East Naples when Collier County Sheriff’s Office
deputies arrived.
Sgt. Charles
Frost and Cpl. Daniel Kowal determined that the man had no pulse. Cpl. Kowal
quickly used his CCSO-issued automated external defibrillator (AED) and
delivered one shock. He and Sgt. Frost then took turns continuing CPR on the
man to bring back his heartbeat and breathing so he could go to the hospital
for further treatment.
The man
walked out of the hospital two weeks later.
On
Wednesday, the man’s father gratefully presented certificates to Sgt. Frost and
Cpl. Kowal, along with three East Naples firefighters and a Collier County
Emergency Medical Services paramedic for their lifesaving efforts on July 3.
“That
40-year-old man was my little boy,” Dan Collins said choking back tears as he
thanked them for saving his son Shawn Collins.
Dozens of emergency
responders, including seven CCSO deputies, were honored with the prestigious
Phoenix Award at a ceremony at Collier County Emergency Medical Services, 8075
Lely Cultural Parkway in East Naples.
The award
recognizes local emergency responders who were involved in the rescue and
treatment of a patient who has suffered cardiac arrest and was brought back to
life after being found without a pulse.
Collins, who
recently retired as a captain from DeSoto County Fire Rescue after 26 years,
said his son was unable to attend the ceremony to personally thank his rescuers
because he started a new job Wednesday.
He said that
while his son’s rescuers may think they were just doing their job that day, he
wanted them to know what they did was so much more.
“You just
think that’s what you do but to me it’s not just what you do, it’s what you
did,” Collins said.
The other
CCSO Phoenix Award recipients are:
Cpl.
Shannon Patton and Cpl.
Jack Hazel: On Oct. 5, 2013, Cpl. Patton and Cpl. Hazel responded to a call
of a man who was unconscious and not breathing. The deputies partnered to
provide lifesaving assistance with CPR and an AED. Paramedics evaluated the
patient and found pulses and respirations. The man was later discharged from
the hospital alive.
Cpl.
Scott Pepin: On Oct.
27, 2013, Cpl. Pepin was on patrol in East Naples when he was dispatched to a
call of an 81-year-old man who was not breathing. When he arrived at the man’s
residence he found the man unconscious on the floor. He used his AED and
CPR to resuscitate him. The man regained his pulse and was transported to the
hospital, where he was later discharged alive.
Cpl.
Ralph Scala: On
Sept. 7, 2013, Cpl. Scala found a 62-year-old man on the floor with CPR in
progress. He applied his AED and delivered one shock. The patient became awake
and alert. He was transported to the hospital and discharged
alive.
Cpl.
Daniel Kennedy: On
Oct. 26, 2013, Cpl. Kennedy found an 83-year-old woman on her bedroom floor
with CPR already in progress by another person in the home. He applied his AED
but no shock was administered. He continued CPR. The woman’s pulse and
breathing returned. She was discharged from the hospital alive.
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Cpl. Daniel
Kennedy receives his Phoenix Award for lifesaving from Dr. Robert Tober,
Collier County medical director, Wednesday.
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Seven
Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies received prestigious Phoenix Awards
for lifesaving at a ceremony at Collier County Emergency Medical Services on
Wednesday. From left, the deputies are Sgt. Charles Frost, Cpl. Daniel Kowal,
Cpl. Shannon Patton, Cpl. Ralph Scala, Cpl. Jack Hazel, and Cpl. Scott Pepin.
Not shown: Cpl. Daniel Kennedy.
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