RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Chicago Fire Department Paramedic Ronald Kent and. Firefighter Brendan Hehir are being hailed as heroes for saving the life of a child who was choking on a balloon in Rogers Park; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Last summer, an 8-year-old girl was attempting to inflate a balloon when she suddenly inhaled the object; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Kent and Brendan Hehir responded to the scene and upon examination could see the tip of the balloon lodged in the child's airway; and
WHEREAS, Following unsuccessful attempts to remove the balloon and observing that the child had begun to turn blue for lack of oxygen, the pair used a suction device, similar to those used in dental offices, to pull the balloon out of the child's throat; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of their actions, Ronald Kent and Brendan Hehir were honored with the Joseph McCarthy Award, which is named for the World War II Medal of Honor recipient who helped establish ambulance services within the Chicago Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, following poisonings, motor vehicle crashes and falls; and
WHEREAS, Choking can result in brain damage or death, and serious harm can happen within minutes; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Kent and Brendan Hehir's quick intervention is worthy of our admiration and esteem; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-second day of June, 2016, do hereby recognize Ronald Kent and Brendan Hehir for their lifesaving actions; and