On March 5, the Charleston Fire Department was dispatched for a report of a male who had fallen in a restaurant. While enroute, first responders learned that the male had stopped breathing normally and was unresponsive.
Crews arrived to find Edward Adams, a Charleston resident, in cardiac arrest and with no pulse, and there were two bystanders performing CPR.
First responders took over CPR and began advanced-life-support measures. Medics resuscitated, stabilized and transported Adams to Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital in Mattoon, said Mike Schwenke, the Sarah Bush Lincoln EMS coordinator.
Adams survived the medical event, and he was present at the Charleston City Council meeting April 21. The first responders who treated him were awarded certificates and challenge coins at the meeting.
“Throughout the incident, these fellow providers and first responders demonstrated exceptional clinical judgment,” Schwenke said.
Dr. Joshua Novak, an emergency medicine doctor at Sarah Bush Lincoln, thanked the responding firefighters and the community members who started CPR.
“Having community members activate EMS, early CPR, early defibrillations and these experts [the EMS crew] are what all go into allowing this gentleman to be with us here today. I just want to say thank you guys very much,” Novak said.
Firefighters Jordan Kauffman, Alan Clovis, Brett Jackson and Austin Siemer, along with Captain Robert Plummer, Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Berkheimer and Fire Chief Tim Meister were the recipients of the awards.
Kauffman and Clovis are firefighters and paramedics, and Jackson and Siemer are firefighters and basic emergency medical technicians.
Kauffman was the crew member who administered CPR to Adams on the way to the hospital. Kauffman has worked in the EMS field since 2015.
“It’s an honor to receive the award. It’s not something you get to do every day,” Kauffman said.
Also on April 21, a public hearing on the proposed annual city budget took place before the City Council meeting. During the meeting, the City Council voted to approve the budget.
Charleston Comptroller Mike White presented the budget, which will go into effect at the start of the city’s fiscal year on May 1.
The budget amends the general fund, library fund, playground and recreation fund, motor fuel tax fund, drug traffic prevention fund and water sewer fund.
The citywide budget is $42,458,816.
The Council also passed an ordinance approving updated ambulance rates.
The base ambulance rate for basic life support was increased from $902 to $993. The rate for advanced life support was increased from $1,312.95 to $1,444. Both care levels have a transport fee of $20 per loaded mile, which is an increase from the previous $19 per loaded mile.
The transport fee is set to annually increase by one dollar. The BLS and ALS rates are set to increase by 3% each year starting on May 1, 2027.
The fee for non-emergency standby service for any commercial enterprise increased from $150 per hour to $195 per hour, and the charge is up to the discretion of the fire chief.
Ambulance calls that do not result in a transport will cost $175, and calls using a third medic will have an additional $75 fee.
The fee for extrication services for nonresidents is $500.
Individuals making more than five public service calls per year may be charged $50 per additional call at the discretion of the fire chief.
Alongside the ambulance fees, updated water and sewer rates were also approved at the meeting.
Residents using 1,000 gallons or less will be charged $19.75, an increase from the previous $18.99.
The next 9,000 gallons of water use will also be charged at $19.75 per 1,000 gallons.
Residents using more than 10,000 gallons will be charged $19 per additional 1,000 gallons, an increase from the previous $18.27.
Eastern Illinois University is charged the over 10,000 gallon rate for all of its water usage.
Residents within corporate limits who only use the water service will be charged $17.78 per 1,000 gallons for the first 10,000 gallons. After that, the rate becomes $16.99 per additional 1,000 gallons. The previous rates were $17.10 and $16.34.
Mayor Brandon Combs also appointed Michael White to a 2-year-term on the Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees.
His term will begin on May 6.
