Community members’ quick actions save man’s life

March 22, 2023

Community members’ quick actions save man’s life

‘On that night, a community came together and saved a life.’

PENTWATER — They say “it takes a village,” and community members from the Village of Pentwater certainly proved that on the night of Jan. 27.

An elderly Lake County man’s life was saved at a school basketball game thanks to many community members rushing to his aid.

The Pentwater Fire Department issued a press release recognizing those who helped.

Pentwater Fire Chief Jonathan Hughart

“There were a lot of things done right that added up to an amazing outcome,” said Pentwater Fire Chief Jonathan Hughart. “We don’t usually experience this great of an outcome, but a chain of patient care occurred very quickly after the medical event occurred, which probably made a huge difference.” 

“On Jan. 27, 2023 at 5:52 p.m., Pentwater Fire Department and Life EMS responded to a report of an elderly male possibly having a seizure in the lobby of Pentwater Public Schools before the start of the Homecoming Junior Varsity basketball game vs. Baldwin,” states the press release issued Wednesday, March 22. “Teachers, parents and Pentwater Fire Department members attending the game immediately took action by administering CPR while one of the school’s AED was retrieved. The AED was deployed and delivered a shock that restored a pulse and breathing to the patient shortly after the shock.  

“As Life EMS, Pentwater PD and other PFD members responded to the school, the patient was prepped for loading into the ambulance and transported to Mercy Health Hospital in Muskegon. It was reported that the patient was speaking during transport and was both awake and alert at the hospital. He has since been released from the hospital and is recovering well.”

Some of the people who helped include:

∙ Lucy Macher, a Pentwater third grade teacher whose son Nathan is on the basketball team, heard the man say he needed help.  

∙ Chris Bush, Interlochen State Park Supervisor who was there to watch his stepdaughter Ireland cheerleading, assisted with safely lowering the man while Macher went to the stands to get help from PFD’s Mark Haynor.  

∙ Danielle Roberts, who was there to watch her son Jack Roberts play, called 911, which initiated a response from Life EMS, Pentwater PD and  Pentwater Rescue.  

∙ Mark Haynor, PFD lieutenant and medical first responder, who was there to watch his stepson Sam play, assumed the initial assessment and immediately began CPR.  

Renae Kieda, who was there to watch her son Abram play, has a background in nursing and retrieved the AED and then helped apply the AED pads.  

Brad Van Duinen, who had just arrived and was there because several of his children were involved in the night’s events, is a PFD firefighter and medical first responder that assisted with the AED and then ran two blocks to the fire department to get the department’s rescue vehicle and equipment.  

Amy Grondsma, who was there to watch several family members involved in the night’s events, is a former paramedic who assisted after the shock was delivered.  

∙ Amanda Sniegowski who was on duty for Pentwater Police Department and is also a medical first responder for PFD, radioed that CPR was in progress and then assisted with post-shock patient care.  

∙ Ralph Baker, Pentwater’s athletic director, helped responders and family by creating space and privacy for the patient.  

An unknown male, with a background in nursing was there for the Baldwin team, assisted with the AED and post-shock care.  

“Above all, Pentwater Fire Department wishes the best for the patient and his family. On that night, a community came together and saved a life.”

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