KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. -- The Kingsley Field Fire Department plays double duty serving the needs of the 173rd Fighter Wing and the needs of its community in Klamath Falls, Ore. Throughout 2017, Kingsley Fire Department responded to 239 community calls for aid as a part of their mutual aid agreement.
Although their primary purpose is to provide fire prevention and fire protection services for structural and aircraft responses, they also have the chance to save lives.
On Feb. 17, 2018, the Kingsley Fire Department responded to assist an unresponsive local citizen during a mutual aid call. Once on scene, the fighter fighters implemented their Basic Life Support capability. As trained professionals, the members executed continuous CPR, assisted ventilations, and drug administration from the first moment on the scene through the transport to the hospital.
“These folks were at the right place at the right time and willing to do the job,” said Col James Mitchell, 173rd Mission Support Group commander.
After calling the hospital for an update, they found the patient to be recovering in the Intensive Care Unit after experiencing what was identified as cardiac arrest.
“They literally saved the life of a local citizen,” said Mitchell. “If it was another shift, another day, there would be three or four other people [being recognized] because every single one of you is stepping up to take care of people,” he said while speaking to the fire fighters.
The Kingsley Field Fire Department was recently recognized for these efforts by Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, the Adjutant General, Oregon.
“We never want an event like this to happen, but this highlights the ultimate reason that we do what we do,” added Mitchell.