Four Orange firefighters and two emergency personnel from Acadian Ambulance Service received the Texas Department of Public Safety Director’s Award in Austin Thursday. They were honored for saving the life of a local DPS trooper who was having a heart attack while on duty.
DPS Director Steven McCraw during a ceremony presented the honors to Orange Fire Department Captains Cody Caples and Terry Veitch, along with firefighters Jacob Bilbo and Greg Gravett. Cierra Nixon and Joshua Wagner from Acadian were also honored.
DPS reports that on October 20 last year, Trooper Phil Brady secured a spare tire under his DPS patrol unit and told his sergeant he wasn’t feeling well. At the Orange DPS office, his sergeant noticed Brady had signs of distress and called 911.
EMT Nixon and Paramedic Wagner found Brady unresponsive and began CPR. They also used a heart defibrillator. The Fire Department personnel arrived and assisted with the CPR and heart resuscitation.
Trooper Brady’s heartbeat and breathing were restored. He was then taken to a Port Arthur hospital, according to a DPS media release. The treating physician said Brady had a heart attack. The first responders saved his life and prevented him for having major heart damage.
So proud of you guys. Way to go, Cierra
Congratulations to four Orange heroes. Recognition well deserved.