Showing posts with label Fire DIstrict. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fire DIstrict. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

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Orland Fire honors Chicago officer who saved pool drowning victim’s life

Chicago Officer presented with the Orland Fire Protection District's William Bonnar Life Saving Award

The Orland Fire Protection District Tuesday honored Chicago Police Officer Sgt. Cindy Guerra for her role in saving the life of a 12-year-old boy from drowning during a backyard pool party in Orland Park.

Guerra, a 22 year Chicago Police veteran, said she was overwhelmed by the public response to what she was “something that comes naturally” to first responders such as police and fire fighters who are trained to save people’s lives.

From left OFPD Trustee Blair Rhode, Trustee John Brudnak, Cortez’s mother, Cortez, Fire Chief Michael Schofield, Cortez’s sister Taylor, Sgt. Cindy Guerra, Cindy’s son Joseph, and OFPD Trustee Jim Hickey.
From left OFPD Trustee Blair Rhode, Trustee John Brudnak, Cortez’s mother, Cortez, Fire Chief Michael Schofield, Cortez’s sister Taylor, Sgt. Cindy Guerra, Cindy’s son Joseph, and OFPD Trustee Jim Hickey.

Orland Fire Chief Michael Schofield present Guerra with the William Bonnar Life Saving Award, named after a longtime Orland Fire battalion chief who before joining the Orland Fire Protection District was a paramedic with the city of Chicago in the 1970s.

“We are very honored to have Chicago Police Sergeant Cindy Guerra here today, and especially Cortez whose life Cindy saved,” Schofield said in presenting the award to Sgt. Guerra.

“Firemen, policemen, or paramedics. When we are on duty or off duty, we are always ready to respond.”

Guerra thanked the board for the honor and the audience for attending the meeting, saying that she just acted out of training and instinct to help. She said she became a police officer after being inspired by seeing women fighting crime in the popular TV series Charley’s Angels.

“I thought it looked cool and decided that helping and protecting people is what I wanted to do,” said Guerra, who worked in the police department's Special Investigations Unit as a sergeant before transferring to the Office of News Affairs a few weeks before the accident.
Cortez and Sgt. Cindy Guerra
Cortez, the young boy who was involved in the pool incident, and Sgt. Cindy Guerra, who saved him using CPR

“You don’t do things to expect accolades or praise. You just do it. You act instinctively. To be recognized like this is overwhelming. I appreciate it and am so grateful.”
Guerra, worked as a police officer in a Chicagoland suburb before joining the Chicago police department, introduced Cortez.

“It wasn’t just me. Taylor [Cortez’s sister] came up and alerted an adult that Cortez was at the bottom of the pool,” Guerra recalled.

She said another police officer who was at the pool party celebrating a school graduation helped Cindy lift the boy out of the pool at a graduation party Saturday July 16, 2016 that was being held at Guerra’s cousin’s Orland Park home. Guerra gave the boy CPR, saving his life.

Cortez was with his mother, sister Taylor and relatives at the board meeting and said he was grateful to Sgt. Guerra for saving his life.

Schofield said it was important to remind the public that first responders like firefighters and police officers perform acts of heroism to save lives all the time.

The incident took special significance, Schofield said, in the wake of a series of violent attacks against police officers that has occurred across the country.

Sgt Cindy Guerra and Fire Chief Michael Schofield. Schofield presented Guerra with the William Bonnar Life Saving Award July 26, 2016
Sgt Cindy Guerra and Fire Chief Michael Schofield. Schofield presented Guerra with the William Bonnar Life Saving Award July 26, 2016

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Orland Fire District Foundation holds fundraiser Thursday May 2

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Orland Fire District Foundation holds fundraiser Thursday May 2

The Orland Fire Protection District Foundation is preparing their fundraiser to be held on Thursday May 2, 2013 to be held at 94 West restaurant in Orland Park.

Foundation committee members, comprised of community members and fire district employees, determined this year's event will support three specific groups including the Kids Fire and Life Safety Camp, the Community CARE Program, and the Residential Knox Box Program.

Community CARE provides training for individuals and businesses in CPR, AED and PADS.

The Kids Fire and Safety Camp is a weeklong children¹s camp hosted every summer by the Orland Fire Protection District to teach children fire safety practices and to understand fire prevention.

Activities include Combat challenge, CPR/First Aid, weather preparedness, fire prevention, Fire Safety Trailer, using fire hose, watching live fire and EMS scenarios, water day and many other activities The camp attracts as many as 60 children from the district each year.

The Residential Knox Box Program loans out boxes to elderly individuals who have debilitating medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, and limited mobility.  These boxes safely store keys so firefighters can enter a residence without damaging a door upon emergency entry.

"All of these programs are critical to raising fire prevention and emergency care awareness in our community. This education of the community assists firefighter response," Patti Brucki, a member of the committee said. Although there are some fees associated with the programs, funds raised by the Orland Fire Foundation are used to help keep those costs down to make them available to everyone.

The Orland Fire Foundation is a 501 ( c) 3 organization providing fire prevention and public safety awareness to the Orland Fire Protection District. The Foundation was reconstituted last year after a short hiatus. All Donations are tax deductible.

Brucki urged residents and businesses who wish to help the Fire District and to support the programs to contact her and consider sponsorship levels. Brucki can be reached at 708-288-1643.

Donations, such as Gift Certificates, Themed Baskets, Sports Memorabilia, Toys, Golf Packages, Jewelry or Event Tickets, for example, will be used for raffles to raise more funds during the event, and can be donated and dropped off in care of the Orland Fire Foundation at Fire Station #1, the OFPD Headquarters at 9790 W. 151st Street.

Tickets for the Foundation event are $50 each.  Each ticket includes drinks from 6-8:30 p.m, appetizers, and entertainment by Jimmy "O" and Rhonda Lee.  Professional photographer Rick Sanchez will take photos on the fire truck.  

Donate a bag of non-perishable food items for the Orland Township food pantry and your guest gets in free.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.orlandfire.org or at the door on May 2nd.

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