Volunteer firefighters honored for their efforts saving man's life 7/3/2009 11:40 PM
Volunteer firefighters Mark Chase, Justin Goodwin and Jason Goodwin receive life saving medal.
By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
Volunteer firefighters Mark Chase, Justin Goodwin and Jason Goodwin thought they were meeting at their Couchton headquarters Friday to show off the brand new engine, but, in the midst of the conversation, they were surprised with a lifesaving recognition award.
In December, Couchton Fire and Rescue volunteers raced to the Cedar Drive home of a man who had stopped breathing. The 52-year-old victim didn't respond to his rescuers and went into cardiac distress, said Chief Donnie Cook.
The three grabbed an automated defibrillator and worked effortlessly to save the man.
"He's walking today," Lt. Greg Bailey said.
Bailey, an EMT with Aiken County and a volunteer for Couchton's Fire and Rescue, said the 23-person department has had first responders long before many others in the area.
"That alone sends up to a log of wrecks, falls and anything EMS is needed for," he said.
In 1979, the call volume for EMS was significantly lower than it is now, but even 30 years ago, an ambulance could be as far away as 15 to 20 minutes.
"So we established the first responder program," Bailey said. "We knew it would be a lot of work, but we decided to take it on."
The department has continued to take on responsibilities as the area has continued to develop.
"We are up 50 calls from this time last year," Cook said. "We have seen a lot of growth."
The 75 square miles in their fire area has stayed consistent for years, but there are several new polo farms in the area, bringing in more traffic.
Bailey said rescuers have been to a number of catastrophic and sometimes fatal wrecks.
"We have had 14 deaths on New Holland Road over the last five years," he said.
In an effort to grow with the developing community, the fire chief said the department continues to apply for grants and stimulus money to build their fleet.
The department recently replaced its 1980 engine with a 2009 Pierce version.
The truck pumps 1,250 gallons a minute and is equipped with the jaws of life.
Firefighters have also received a rescue saw.
"It's like a saw on steroids," Bailey said.
The department has a total of nine trucks, which include three engines, two tankers, two forestry trucks and a rescue truck.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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