Bend Fire & Rescue are hosting a Life Saver Award Ceremony on Thursday April 6 at 3 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Bend Fire & Rescue Administration Building (1212 SW Simpson Ave, Bend).
Deschutes County Dispatcher AJ Franzke and community member Jenae Cruikshank will be recipients of Bend Fire & Rescue’s “Life Saver Award” for their part in the successful resuscitation of Bend resident Scott Cruikshank. On July 9, 2022, Mr. Cruikshank was mowing his lawn when he went into cardiac arrest. Jenae Cruikshank, Scott’s wife, immediately called 911 and with guidance from the 911 dispatcher, AJ Franzke, administered CPR until Bend Fire & Rescue medics arrived on scene to take over lifesaving interventions.
“These cardiac survival stories are becoming more and more common in Bend,” states Drew Norris, Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services. “If a cardiac arrest victim is given early CPR the chances of them positively responding to our advanced treatment is much more likely.”
Bend Fire & Rescue cardiac arrest survival rates are one of the top in the nation. These survival numbers are due to a team effort that includes bystander CPR, Deschutes County 911 dispatch, Bend Police, and the cutting-edge training and life saving techniques of Bend Fire & Rescue paramedics.
