Brenda McAllister honored by state

[May 17, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- This weekend, as part of the Illinois Department of Public Health's 24th annual Emergency Medical Services Awards program, IDPH Director Damon T. Arnold honored seven people and organizations from across the state for their heroic acts of courage. Gov. Pat Quinn proclaimed May 15-21 as Emergency Medical Services Week in Illinois to recognize the heroic efforts of emergency responders and everyday citizens.

"The men and women being honored today are true heroes who have acted selflessly to help people in need under harrowing circumstances. These awards are a way of saying thank you for their heroic efforts," Dr. Arnold said. "Some of the honorees are emergency workers who put their lives on the line every day, while others are Illinois residents who have acted with courage to help a fellow citizen avoid serious injury or even death. Both of these categories constitute the definition of a true hero."

One of those so honored was Brenda McCallister from Atlanta. On July 8, 2010, while at the Atlanta Ballpark, Brenda McCallister noticed that a 6-year-old boy was hit in the chest with a baseball bat. McCallister immediately recognized that the child was in cardiopulmonary arrest and began CPR. This type of cardiopulmonary arrest from blunt trauma to the chest has a survival rate of only 3 percent in cases when CPR is delayed. Brenda McCallister's quick actions led to saving the boy's life.

In Illinois, there are 66 EMS resource hospitals, 64 trauma centers, 19,018 first responders, 22,688 basic emergency medical technicians, 989 intermediate EMTs and 13,769 paramedic EMTs. There are also 4,478 emergency communications registered nurses and 2,671 trauma nurse specialists selflessly providing 24-hour service to the people of Illinois.

[Text from Illinois Department of Public Health file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

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