North Liberty EMTs recognized for saving a life on New Year's Eve

Today, the North Liberty Fire Department awarded three Life Saver Certificates of Merit to Deputy Chris Langenberg (pictured left) of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and two of the NLFD’s EMTs, Captain Dan Dolezal (right) and Firefighter Lynn Burleson (not pictured) for their life-saving action on New Year’s Eve. Fire Chief Eric Vandewater presented the awards.
First responders were called to a residence in Madison Township on Dec. 31, 2013, for a patient in cardiac arrest. Landenberg was first on the scene. He used an automatic external defibrillator to successfully administer two life-saving shocks to the patient. Firefighter EMTs Dolezal and Burleson assisted with CPR and established an airway before the arrival of paramedics from the Johnson County Ambulance Service.
The patient was transported by AirCare helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics where he remains in stable condition.
“It was a real team effort from everyone involved,” said Landenberg.
Early CPR, a quick response, and the availability of an AED led to the positive outcome. The general public is encouraged to learn hands-only CPR by contacting the American Heart Association or their local fire department for more information.