Storm Drain Rescue Results In Hinsdale Honors

HINSDALE, IL — A man was trapped in a hole and not breathing during the afternoon of Aug. 6. Paramedics from the Hinsdale Fire Department showed up, finding the man in a storm drain on a berm about 30 feet off of Burr Oak Road. They asked the man whether he was breathing. He responded, "I don't think so, I am not sure," according to a fire department report.

The man was 15 to 20 feet down in the sewer, with his face barely above the water. The man was not having a medical problem, paramedics figured, but rather suffering from a toxic atmosphere.

"The whole shift worked quickly and skillfully to complete the rescue, resuscitate and transfer care to Hinsdale (Emergency Department) in 25 minutes with an on-scene time of 21 minutes," said Jon Carlson, the fire department's emergency medical services coordinator, said in a letter.

Carlson's letter was to the Good Samaritan Hospital EMS System. He was nominating six members of the fire department for the Hartmann award for their rescue.

The fire department revealed Tuesday that the six members were chosen for the award and will be presented with it Wednesday morning.

The six members are Chief John Giannelli, Capt. Michael Neville, Lt. Andrew Ziemer, and firefighters Douglas Niemeyer, Patrick Schaberg and Michael Wilson.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Joseph Hartmann, the first medical director of emergency medical services at the Good Samaritan Hospital. It is given annually to medic crews or fire departments who exhibit excellence in the delivery of emergency care in a pre-hospital setting.