Cheltenham Township recognized the following first responders with a Life Save Award for their actions related to saving the life of a 23-month-old child whose arm was amputated by a fallen tree:
- Cheltenham EMS: Jessica Barto, Nathan Wass, Thomas Herb
- Second Alarmers/Wyndmoor Fire Company: David Brierly
- CTPD: Ryan Ewald, James Stocklos, Christian Dobush, Kevin Norton, Lee Thompson
- Springfield Township Police Department: Robert Calvin Wiley, Sean Badolato
The incident took place in July at the 7900 Block of Chandler Road in Glenside. The child sustained critical injuries from a large tree branch that had fallen approximately 50 feet, including an amputated arm.
They were honored during the Board of Commissioners meeting on October 23. Cheltenham EMS Captain Frank Boyle presented the awards.
To watch the meeting in full, you can click here.
“The true crux of the story here is the teamwork that occurred between Cheltenham Police and EMS, Springfield Police, and Wyndmoor Fire. This was an extremely stressful call for the crews,” Captain Boyle said. “This child’s life was saved because of the timely and coordinated actions of each responding department. It was the assistance of our neighboring organizations and the work of each individual that made the outcome of this call possible.”
Excerpt from the Life Saving Awards:
On July 6, 2024 at 18:14 hrs … you responded to a call for a traumatic amputation of an arm in the Glenside section of Cheltenham Township. Prior to arrival, you requested a helicopter for transport to CHOP. Upon arrival at the location, you found a child being carried towards you with an arm amputation. It was reported a tree had fallen on the child. EMS and PD worked collectively to perform lifesaving interventions, your efforts were successful, and the child is now back home with family.
“It is difficult to put into words the emotional distress our first responders experience with calls like this. The scenes we sometimes witness are truly traumatic,” EMS Chief Jessica Barto said. “They stick with us regardless of the outcome. Celebrating these moments, in which our first responders rely on their training, instinct, quick actions, and teamwork to achieve the best outcome possible, buoys our spirits and motivates us to keep showing up for the next shift. In precious minutes, we were able to make a difference for this family. This is why we do what we do.”
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Photos: Cheltenham Townsip