Des Plaines Fire Fighters, Police Officers Earn Life Saving Award

One night last December, Des Plaines resident Becky Hruby, 32 and almost nine months pregnant, woke to find her husband Brian Hruby, 33, gasping for air. He was not responding.

Panicked, she called 911. Des Plaines police officer Chris Harrison arrived first and began CPR. Several Des Plaines Fire Fighters arrived shortly after, helped stabilize Brian Hruby and ultimately save his life.

Harrison, along with other police officers and fire fighters, was recognized Jan. 16 for his life saving actions at a meeting.

Earlier:

Brian and Becky Hruby had their 3-week-old son Edward in tow.

“I am grateful they were as responsive as they were,” Brian Hruby said, adding that it was nice to meet the men who saved his life.

Aside from welcoming a new baby to the family, the Hrubys purchased a Des Plaines home in November and both recently became the proud business owners of LaLaLand Ltd., an upscale children’s clothing boutique, in downtown Elmhurst.

Harrison was given the Life Saver Award. Fire Department Captain Scott Peirson, Engineer Mike Donovan, and Firefighter/Paramedic Lucasz Szerlag were also recognized for their actions.

The award is given to recognize police officers and fire fighters who through quick and prompt actions, save someone's life. The Des Plaines Police Department awarded four officers last year, and Harrison is the first police officer to be recognized in 2012, said Acting Police Chief Mike Kozak in an email.

Recipients are recognized at city council meetings.

“I appreciate my family not having to go through what it would be like if I wasn’t here,” Brian Hruby said. Brian and Becky Hruby also have two daughters.

A Black Friday Rescue

Separately, Edward Rogers, a Des Plaines firefighter/paramedic, was recognized for his role in saving a Black Friday shopper’s life at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. He also earned the Life Saving Award.

Rogers, who was off-duty at the time and in a store line just before 4 am, heard Helen Stratton, 56, shouting that her husband collapsed and was not breathing. He rushed over and along with another bystander, began performing CPR.

“The timing was amazing,” Stratton said. “Ed [Rogers] was the first person there after me.”

Other bystanders helped with the efforts and a mall security guard brought an automated external defibrillator over. The equipment was used and CPR continued, which brought back Tim Stratton’s pulse. Shortly after, Stratton, 53, regained a pulse, began breathing, and even started talking. The Schaumburg Fire Department transported him to a local hospital.

Helen Stratton said hospital workers were shocked at how responsive her husband was upon arrival at the hospital. During the ambulance ride, her husband argued with paramedics when they wanted to cut off his brand new shirt, she added.

“He takes everything in stride,” Helen said. The Strattons have five children and 11 grandchildren, and Helen invited Rogers to their home to meet their family. Tim and Helen Stratton live in Schaumburg.

Helen Stratton credits her husband’s speedy recovery to the immediate and quick response of Rogers and the other Good Samaritans. She added that two nurses helped that day and she hasn’t been able to identify them.

Tim Stratton said his recovery is going well, although getting used to his defibrillator pacemaker has been a weird adjustment.

“It’s like having a deck of playing cards taped to your chest,” Tim Stratton said.

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