Tag Archives: firefighters

Fast actions of Wyoming officers, firefighters in saving infant recognized at annual event

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Hard News, ,
Firefighter Matt Young, Fire Lt. Brad Deppe, residents Lauren and Andy Gohlke with their son Emerson, Police Sgt. Blair Shellenbarger and Police Officer Lee Aktinson at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety Employee Recognition Ceremony on March 23. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

“I just remember thinking that I was watching my child die on the floor right now,” Lauren Gohlke said of Jan. 10, 2022, the day her son Emerson stopped breathing.

Through the quick actions of her husband, Andy Gohlke, and the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, Emerson’s life would be saved.

“I am so very, very thankful to our first responder and everyone at the hospital,” Gohlke said, adding she especially appreciated Officer Chad Lynn for assisting her. “How fast that they got there and that they truly cared about Emerson, even though they didn’t know who he is, which means a lot.”

Gohlke and her husband, Andy, were taking Emerson to his one-month check up on Jan. 10, 2022.

“I had been siting in the back with him and I noticed he was purplish-red in color,” Gohlke said. “We hadn’t even left the driveway yet and I said something to my husband, Andy, who got out of the car and immediately came around to the back.”

Andy Gohlke brought his son out of the car into the cold as the couple thought it might help to wake Emerson up. Realizing there was a problem. Andy Gohlke took Emerson inside and immediately began performing CPR. The couple had taken a class in infant CPR at Corewell Health a few months.

“He told me to call 911 and as I was on the phone with dispatch, I could him go “one, two, three…,” Gohlke said.

The Call No One Wants to Hear

“[It is] the call that no one wants to hear, an infant is not breathing” said Captain Timothy Pols, of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, during the department’s annual employee recognition ceremony on March 23.

Sgt. Blair Shellenbarger and Officer Lee Atkinson were first to arrive and observed Andy Gohlke performing CPR on his son, who was not breathing and did not have a pulse, Pols said. Shellenbarger and Atkinson worked together to resuscitate Emerson. Shellenbarger took over CPR and Atkinson prepared the AED (automated external defibrillator) machine.

Equipment Officer Steve Boetsma, Firefighter Matt Young, resident Andy Gohlke, with his son Emerson, Police Officer Lee Aktinson and Sgt. Blair Shellenbarger were recognized for their life saving efforts. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

“The whole thing is still a blur,” said Gohlke, who by this time had been moved to the living room with Officer Chad Lynn. “[Lynn] told me that the reason there was so many people there is that they are all dads and parents and they understood what we were feeling.”

Gohlke heard the AED advise not to shock. Shellenbarger continued to perform CPR and heard Emerson make a slight noise and take a shallow breath, Pols reported. It was then that Equipment Operators Steve Boetsma and Tom Marsman and Firefighters Matt Young and Dan Rettig arrived and took over resuscitation efforts by administrating oxygen and continuing CPR.

“With the application of this treatment, Emerson’s color improved,” Pols said. “He regained a pulse and was breathing on his own.”

Gohlke said Officer Lynn let her know that Emerson had cried a little, saying “That is good. That is good.” Gohlke added that it did make her feel better.

Appreciative to all the First Responders

Emerson was taken to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where after a series of tests, it was determined that he had silent reflux. After doing some research, Gohlke learned silent reflux does not usually go to the extreme of a life-or-death situation.

Looking back, Gohlke said if she hadn’t been siting in the backseat, she might of just thought Emerson was sleeping and he probably would not have survived the trip to the doctor’s office. She is also grateful that her and her husband took the infant CPR class, something she now recommends to all young couples. Pols noted that the quick action of Andy Gohlke to perform CPR on his infant son helped “avoid losing precious seconds while waiting for first responders.”

Sgt. Blair Shellenbarger, Officer Lee Atkinson, Fire Lt. Brad Deppe, Equipment Operators Steve Boetsma and Tom Marsman, and Firefighters Dan Rettig and Matt Young all received the Life Saving Award at the March Employee Recognition Ceremony. Andy Gohlke received a citizen citation for his quick actions in performing CPR. Pols noted they were all just happy that Emerson and his family were able to join them for the event.

“You know its more than a year later and we are are still dealing with the trauma of the event,” said Gohlke, who described it as the worst week in the couple’s lives. “These guys just went back to work.

“It means a lot to know we have people in our community such as those on the Wyoming police and fire who are there for our children and our love ones.”

Kentwood to celebrate National Night Out Tuesday, Aug. 2

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , ,

Kentwood police officers, firefighters and city leaders will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 2. (Courtesy)



By WKTV Staff

Kentwood police officers, firefighters and city leaders will help celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 2. The event will feature block parties, neighborhood events and more.

  

National Night Out is an annual nationwide event that promotes community-police partnerships and encourages residents to turn on their porch lights and come outside to connect with their neighbors, community leaders and local police and fire department personnel.

Kentwood’s National Night Out celebration will be held at various locations on Tuesday, Aug. 2. (Courtesy)

Kentwood police officers, firefighters and leaders will join residents at 15 gatherings, most of which will take place from 6-8 p.m. Residents can learn about a variety of safety topics and explore police cruisers, fire engines and other emergency response vehicles at the events.

“National Night Out gives residents a chance to connect with our police and fire teams and learn how we can all be part of a community effort to make the City of Kentwood a wonderful place to call home,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “The city’s leadership team is excited to spend time with residents and enjoy an evening of camaraderie, community and connection.”

Several community-based events will be hosted throughout the evening and feature a variety of free activities, including appearances from McGruff the Crime Dog.

  • Ada Bible Church, 1640 East Paris Ave. SE, will offer food and activities from 5-8 p.m.
  • Pentecostals Church, 2627 44th St. SE, will host a party from 6-8 p.m.

     
Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin (shown when he was deputy chief). (Courtesy)

“National Night Out is a great opportunity for our department to spend time with community members in a fun, relaxed setting,” Police Chief Bryan Litwin said. “We always look forward to this event and value strong community relationships.”

National Night Out was created in the 1980s through an established network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, crime prevention associations and volunteers across the country. It began with a goal to promote thriving neighborhoods by uniting community members and police against neighborhood crimes.

For more information, visit kentwood.us/NNO

‘Boots and Badges’ brings first responders, community together for day of appreciation and fun

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Kids Activities, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, , , ,

Two of the area’s finest with Shake Broukian and her son, Charlie

By Catherine Kooyers

 

June 24th was an action-packed day on the grounds of Grace Bible College, and the weather couldn’t have been any better. Happy people, food, ice cones and family friendly activities brought the community and businesses together with firefighters, police officers and other first responders.

 

It was all part of ‘Boots and Badges’, an annual event hosted by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce to honor and show appreciation for the area’s first responders. The idea is to get people connected with their local law enforcement outside of an emergency or distress call.

 

A fun-filled game of kickball between firefighters and police was just one of the highlights. Families posed for photos with mascots of the White Caps and Drive #1, hit the button on the dunk tank, competed in 9 Square (a volleyball-type game), checked out the vehicles used by first responders, and even became “honorary” first responders, complete with hats and badges.

 

 

Lunch is on Wyoming residents as way to say thanks to police, fire

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Pets/Animals, Senior Living, , , , , , , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Two special luncheons were not only designed to say thank you to the many first responders who helped with a July 15 fire, but also an opportunity for residents of Bayberry Farms Apartments to heal.

 

“We really wanted to show our appreciation for all that the Wyoming police officers and firefighters did for us,” said Catherine Kooyers, a resident of Bayberry Farms Apartments and one of the organizers of the event that took place earlier this month.

 

img_6099“By being able to say thank you, the residents are able to put closure on what happened and heal from the entire event.”

 

It was July 15 when a call went out that there was a fire at the Bayberry Farms Apartments, a Wyoming senior-living complex located at 2520 56th St. SW. “Earlier that day, we had just had the fire department here but it turned out to be nothing,” Kooyers said. However, the mid-afternoon fire was much more serious as smoke started to fill the apartment complex. Kooyers, who lives in an apartment that was near where the fire started, ran through the building knocking on doors and trying to get people out.

 

“Because of the earlier incident, some people didn’t think the second situation was all that serious,” Kooyers said.

 

Along with tenants, firefighters and police, workers from the nearby businesses came over to help with the evacuation.

 

“I heard a knock on the door but didn’t pay that much attention to it,” said resident Ellen Vining. “I heard another knock, much harder and decided I needed to answer it.

 

“There was a young lady telling me that I needed to get out. She was all dressed in blue so I thought she was one of the firefighters.”

 

Vining later learned that person was a Monelli’s employee who was coming in for her shift when she saw the smoke and came over to help.

 

“I learned a very valuable lesson that day,” Vining said with a chuckle. “Don’t ignore a knock on the door.”

 

Because of the organization of the tenants it made it easier for the department to assess who was missing which in turned meant the lost of only a pet, said Wyoming Deputy Chief Brian Bennett. Three people were taken to the hospital to be checked out. Three units suffered the most damage with the entire building having smoke and water damage.

 

img_6098It has taken several months, but most of the residents have been able to move back home and with the fire behind them, the tenants felt now was a good time to show their appreciation to the police officers and firefighters with the special luncheons.

 

“It is always nice when you are able to come back and visit with those who you were able to help and learn what has happened since the fire,” Bennett said. “A lot of times, we are in and out and we do not get that chance to talk to the residents and see how they are doing afterwards.”

 

“I am so impressed with all of them,” Vining said. “They all have such compassion which I guess that is why they became firefighters.”