On Monday, October 21st during the monthly Board of Trustee’s meeting, the New Lenox Fire Protection District (NLFPD) will honor a New Lenox resident who quickly responded to a neighbor in need, when he noticed he was not breathing.

On the evening of July 1st, Leo Jimemez noticed his neighbor was not responsive and immediately began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the paramedics arrived on scene.

Once the firefighter/paramedics arrived, they found the 55-year-old male patient to be in cardiac arrest. They began the Cardiac Arrest Management Program and ALS interventions. The patient regained his pulse with blood pressure and was transported to a local hospital.

“We want to say thank you to Leo Jimemez for being willing to help out a neighbor in need,” said NLFPD Deputy Chief Dan Turner. “It is because of his quick thinking and knowledge of what to do in this type of situation that we were able to achieve a great outcome for the patient. We are proud to give him our Life Saver Award, he truly deserves it.”

In addition, the firefighters who were part of this emergency call will also be given the New Lenox Fire Protection District’s Life Saving Award at the Trustee’s meeting. The Life Saving Award is given to members who are directly involved in the successful resuscitation of a patient who was without a pulse or respirations, and the patient is resuscitated in the field and makes a complete and full recovery with little to no detrimental effects.

“Due to the severity of the situation, we look at someone who is not breathing the same as a structure fire,” stated Turner. “We send multiple firefighter/paramedics to calls for cardiac arrest. With the structured response, each rescuer has specific actions they provide, which has helped to create more positive outcomes than in years passed. Thanks to the early intervention of CPR by the neighbor, and our first responders, we were able to get the best possible outcome: this patient is able to continue to enjoy his life.”

The primary mission of the New Lenox Fire and Ambulance Protection District is to provide a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property within New Lenox Village and Township from the effects for fires and sudden medical emergencies or exposure to dangerous conditions created by man or nature with professional, compassionate, and quality service.