Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Teamwork saves a man’s life

Emergency responders receive commendation


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer


Among those gathered in Ketchum City Hall on Monday evening for a commendation ceremony recognizing the lifesaving efforts of first responders were, in back, from left, Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall, Ben Varner, Mike Elle, Dustin Coleman, Tom Ancona, Ed Binnie, all with the Ketchum Fire Department, Mal Prior, Brian Tierney, Taan Robrahn, Corey Allen, with Sun Valley Fire Department, Aaron McCarver, with Sun Valley Police Department, and Sun Valley City Councilwoman Michelle Griffith. In the front row, from left, are Lauren, Kim, Rex, Kelly and Ryan Willows-Munro. Rex is alive because of the efforts of first responders. Express photo by Willy Cook

A man is living, breathing and enjoying the company of his family thanks to actions by local emergency responders last month.

Commendations for that lifesaving teamwork were given to members of the Ketchum Fire Department, Sun Valley Police Department and Sun Valley Fire Department for their response to Rex Willows-Munro, who was suffering cardiac arrest.

The commendation took place during the Ketchum City Council's regular meeting Monday at City Hall.

Ketchum Fire Chief Mike Elle described a tense situation in the early hours of May 12, in which responders were called to the Indian Springs condominiums in Sun Valley to aid a man who was not breathing. As dispatch called out first responders, another dispatcher instructed a family member on how to perform CPR.

Dustin Coleman, Tom Ancona, Ed Binnie, Eric Daigh, Ben Varner, and Mike Elle, from Ketchum Fire; Mal Prior, Corey Allen, Brian Tierney and Taan Robrahn, from Sun Valley Fire; and Aaron McCarver, from Sun Valley Police, responded to the scene, reviving the man and transporting him to St. Luke's Wood River's emergency room for further treatment.

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"Rex Willows-Munro is with us because our system worked really well," Elle said.

Representatives from Ketchum and Sun Valley attended the ceremony, giving plaques and thanks to those being recognized.

"The combined efforts of these fine members resulted in the saving of a life and demonstrate the skills, dedication and cooperation of the Ketchum Fire Department, the Sun Valley Fire Department and the Sun Valley Police Department," Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall read from the commendation.

"There's just no better outcome that you could imagine," he added.

Willows-Munro attended the ceremony with his family and expressed gratitude to the responders, saying their training paid off.

"I'd like to say thank you to each and every one of you," he said. "It actually does work. I'm proof."

Rebecca Meany: rmeany@mtexpress.com




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