First responders awarded for heroic rescue of teen girl
A 17-year-old girl found not breathing in a St. Paul house fire last month is expected to make a full recovery thanks to several firefighters, medics and two doctors.
WCCO reports more than a dozen first responders received the Meritorious Service Award, the highest civilian honor, for the rescue.
The girl, age 16 at the time, was found not breathing in a second floor bedroom of the home that was filled with smoke. Her heart had stopped.
Firefighters brought the girl down to the first floor, where medics began CPR. Two ER doctors from Regions also responded. One doctor spent 5 minutes resuscitating the girl until she began breathing again.
Due to bitterly cold temperatures and the late arrival of the ambulance, emergency responders had to conduct CPR inside the home, risking their own lives.
The girl was taken to Regions Hospital and transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was placed in a hyperbaric chamber. She continues to recover and is expected to be ok.
