Belmont Police, Fire Recognized for Life Saving Team Work

Photo: Personnel from Belmont Fire and Police, who were recognized for its teamwork, with Belmont Selectmen Sami Baghdady (left) and Jim Williams (right).

It was an awful accident that occurred a few months ago in Belmont.

A vehicle went off the road and imploded. Arriving at the scene, a Belmont Police officer found the driver (who due to privacy laws can not be identified) still in the vehicle in the worst possible condition; unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse.

That’s when the training for Belmont’s first responders kicked in. Members of the police departments removed the driver from the wreck and began preliminary lifesaving CPR. When Fire Department firefighters and paramedics arrived, they continued first aid while placing an advanced airway and stabilized a collapsed lung while treating the myriad of traumatic injuries. The victim was then sped to a nearby Boston trauma center.

And the victim lived.

The quick response by Belmont’s first responders in saving that one life was recognized by two organizations last week, according to Belmont Fire Chief David Frizzell and Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin as they presented many of the first responders before the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Nov. 2.

The American Heart Association Emergency Cardiac Care Heart Saver Hero Award recognized the following police and fire personnel for their “hands on” work that saved the victim:

Belmont Police

Officer Franz Strassman
Officer Michael Pelrine
Office Jonathan Riddell
Sgt. David Sullivan

Belmont Fire

Paramedic James Bing
Paramedic Michael Dayton
EMT John McDonald
EMT Dennis Maher
Lt. Andrew Tobio
Capt. Wayne Haley

In addition, both public safety departments were recognized last week with the “Outstanding Team Response of the Year Award” from the Metropolitan Boston Emergency Medical Services Council Region IV. The award recognizes that a patient’s outcome may not be dictated by a single individual but may be as the result of team orientated professional approach, from the emergency telecommunicators to those who hands over the victim to hospital staff.

The Belmont Fire and Police team includes:

Belmont Police