On top of the daily average 313 non-emergency calls handled by the 911 communications team, dispatchers also see about 170 emergency calls a day. It’s not unusual for 911 dispatchers to administer life-saving advice to the callers on the other end of the line.
Teresa Smith was training Nautica Geislar when they received a call from a man whose girlfriend was unresponsive. Teresa coached Nautica through the call and together they assisted the caller through CPR.
Dallas Keffer coached a caller through CPR after a receiving a call requesting a rescue squad for an adult female in cardiac arrest.
Joe Boyce assisted a caller whose husband overdosed. After the woman administered Narcan, Joe provided compression instructions. The patient woke up 2 1/2 minutes later.
Jamie Cason assisted a woman who believed her grandson had died, but Jamie determined he needed CPR. She coached the woman through compressions, and the patient made it to the hospital where he received Narcan.
Kristy Cressler helped a caller whose wife had fallen and was unconscious and not breathing. Kristy quickly created a call for service and started CPR instructions.
Lynsday Rimmel assisted a caller whose husband was in cardiac arrest. Lynsday helped keep the caller calm and encouraged the woman and her son to continue CPR.
Members of the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office, too, helped save lives in 2022. Here are their stories:
A despondent female was driving around making suicidal statements. After Sarpy 911 dispatchers pinged her phone, Deputies David Coombs and Carl Del Santo found the suicidal person in a parking lot near.
The deputies shattered the vehicle’s rear window to gain entry, and then they assessed her medical condition. She was unresponsive, her pupils were pinpointed and her breathing was shallow. It was apparent the driver overdosed. The deputies subsequently administered Narcan and cared for the victim until she was transported to a local hospital, where she made a full recovery.
The following is a Sheriff’s Office Team Lifesaving Award. The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a personal injury crash on the interstate. Sergeants Kevin Krecklow and Peggy Buchannan, and Deputies John Sanderson, John Lingnau, Dale LaSonde, Kevin Newrones and Matthew Richardson responded.
The driver was unresponsive, his skin was discolored and his pupils were restricted. Further, it didn’t appear the driver was breathing. Therefore, the responders performed CPR and administered two doses of Narcan. Eventually, the driver regained consciousness and was transported to a local hospital.
The following is another Sheriff’s Office Team Lifesaving Award. The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a possible overdose at a gas station. According to dispatchers, an unresponsive male was on the ground adjacent to the gas pumps.
When Sergeant Kevin Krecklow arrived, he noticed a bystander was already performing CPR on the man. Sergeant Krecklow immediately became involved and administered three doses of Narcan. Meanwhile, Deputy Dale LaSonde and Deputy Newrones arrived and took over CPR. Eventually, the man regained consciousness and recovered.
The following is a Sheriff’s Office Commendation. Sergeant Mike Perrin was driving in Omaha while off-duty in his family's personal vehicle. Sergeant Perrin witnessed a female run into the street and she was being chased by a man.
When the female fell on the street, the male jumped on her and began punching her face. Without regard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Perrin exited his vehicle and immediately approached the suspect. Sergeant Perrin and a witness then pulled the suspect off the victim. Sergeant Perrin and the witness physically detained the non-compliant suspect until Omaha police officers arrived and placed him under arrest.
During the investigation, the Omaha police officers discovered the victim was five months pregnant and the suspect/boyfriend impeded her airway during the domestic violence assault. Conceivably, the victim and her unborn child may have suffered considerable harm if Sergeant Perrin and the Good Samaritan didn’t act quickly and effectively.
Deputy Tyler Williams was dispatched to a rescue call at an apartment complex. Upon his arrival, Deputy Williams noticed a teenager performing CPR on her unconscious mother in the apartment. With assistance from the victim’s other child, Deputy Williams prepared the victim for an AED shock. After the AED performed an analysis, the AED indicated “no shock.” Deputy Williams then took over CPR until he was relieved by medics from the Papillion Fire Department.
The victim survived this near-death incident because of the quick and decisive actions of Deputy Williams, the victim’s children and the Papillion medics.
Check out more stories from the 2022 Sarpy County Annual Report.