WHEREAS, Chicago Fire Department paramedic, Brendan Hehir and Ronald Kent have been credited with saving the life of seven-year-old Mia Rodgers on Sunday, August 30, 2015; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this heroic effort by The Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman of the 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, It was a typical Sunday family gathering when Mia, who was playing with her cousin, began blowing up a balloon. With the balloon at her mouth she took a deep breath and in an instant, it was down her throat, blocking her airway; and
WHEREAS, Estevan Rodgers, Mia's father, caught her in his arms and immediately tried to remove the balloon. Unable to dislodge the balloon, he calmly began CPR; and
WHEREAS, Office Peter Pietrusiewicz and Officer Victor Alcazar were on routine patrol when they were flagged down by one of Mia's family members. Officer Alcazar took over continuing chest compressions; and
WHEREAS, Chicago Fire Department Paramedics, Brendan Hehir and Ronald Kent arrived on the scene, Brendan immediately jumped into action trying to retrieve the balloon from her throat. His initial attempt with a McGill forceps was unsuccessful; and
WHEREAS, with no time to spare, the paramedics lifted Mia into the ambulance where Paramedic Ronald Kent began suction and within a matter of seconds the balloon became free and Mia's pulse began to rise. The EMS team continued oxygen as they rushed her to a nearby hospital where she; and
WHEREAS, This year's Joseph McCarthy Award, named in honor of the WWII Medal of Honor recipient who also helped establish ambulance services within the fire department, was given to Paramedic Brendan Hehir and Ronald Kent; and
WHEREAS, If not for the extraordinary teamwork and skilled, heroic efforts of Paramedics Hehir and Kent, Mia may have lost her life; and
WHEREAS, In keeping with the highest traditions of the Chicago Fire Department Paramedic Brendan Hehir and Ron Kent performed their lifesaving intervention skillfully, decisively and with outstanding results: now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-second day of June 2016 do hereby congratulate Paramedics Brendan Hehir and Ronald Kent on their heroic and life-saving actions; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Brendan Heir and
Ronald Kent as a token of our appreciation.
