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Lifesavers honored at Council meeting

Lifesavers honored at Council meeting
Posted on 09/26/2018
Mayor Frank Klipsch with Police Chief Paul Sikorski, Cpl. Danny Antle and Senior Recreation Manager Theresa Hauman hold lifesaving awardsA pair of lifeguards, a Davenport police officer and a pair of Davenport Fire crews who saved a two-year-old girl’s life in an incident in July at Fejervary Family Aquatic Center were recognized Wednesday at the Davenport City Council meeting.

Thank you to Fejervary Family Aquatic Center employees Jenny Smith and Caitlin Trainor, Davenport Police Cpl. Danny Antle and Davenport Fire’s Lt. Brad Kruse, Firefighter James Mehner and Firefighter Mike Lintz Jr. of Engine 5 and Capt. Craig Black, Engineer Ron Wilson and Firefighter Zack Streit of Truck 3 for your quick work!

In the incident, which occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on July 24, lifeguard Jenny Smith spotted the girl struggling in the water near the shallow end of the pool. Smith alerted staff that she was making a save and entered the pool, pulling the girl from the water and placing her on the pool deck.

Police Cpl. Danny Antle immediately called for fire and Medic EMS response. Kaitlin Trainor, the aquatic center’s assistant manager, and Antle quickly noticed that the victim’s face was gray and bluish. Antle checked for obstructions and water inside the girl’s mouth. The child was unable to breathe due to gasping and shaking. Trainor administered CPR compressions and Antle gave two rescue breaths, then they alternated. Firefighters arrived and took over. A short time later the victim stopped shaking and began breathing. The girl was taken to Genesis Medical Center East Central Park by Medic EMS.

Antle accompanied the victim to the hospital and told the emergency doctor of what appeared to be some type of seizure after the girl was pulled from the pool. Before leaving the hospital, Officer Antle spoke to the victim and it appeared that the girl was acting like a normal two-year-old. The child was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for further evaluation.

Antle later interviewed the adult who was at the pool with the victim to the pool and learned the child had never had a seizure before and had no known medical issues.

Smith was a deep water lifeguard during the summer of 2018 at Fejervary Family Aquatic Center and is a senior at Davenport Central High School. Trainor was the Learn-to-Swim Coordinator/Assistant Manager at the aquatic center this summer and works with Stepping Stones during the school year.

Smith and Trainor received their American Red Cross deep water Lifeguard, First Aid, and CPR training in 2017. Throughout the summer 2018 season they participated in weekly refresher training to maintain their life saving skills, including timed lifeguard scenario trainings, First Aid and CPR review. Officer Antle helped maintain a safe environment at Fejervary Aquatic Center during the summer of 2018 as a member of the Davenport Police Department.