MEMBERS RECEIVE CITATION

Tonight members attended a meeting of the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners to support Captain Fran Paolone and Engineer George Almond who received merit citations. Members from Belmont Hills Fire Company were also honored at this ceremony. The Citation of Merit is awarded to a fire department member or members whohave acted in an outstanding manner worthy of recognition. The service oraction may occur on or off duty.On the evening of February 2 2007 at 20.22 hours a black Lexus pulledonto the apron of the Union Fire Association of Bala Cynwyd. The femaledriver began to blow her car horn and flash the lights in order to getsomeones attention.Engineer Almond heard the noise and proceeded to the front of the firehouse. He approached the vehicle and noticed the male passenger slumpedover the front seat. Engineer Almond then called to the crew room for helpand Captain Paolone came to assist him. Together they removed the gentlemenfrom the car and laid him down on the apron. Engineer Almond checked for apulse and found none. He Initiated CPR with Captain Paolone providingrespirations. Lower Merion Police arrived on location and assisted withtheir AED and their oxygen. Shock was administered and there was no changein the patients status so the firefighters resumed CPR. At that point EMSparamedics arrived on location and started providing advanced life supportwhile LMPD Officer Jason Harper took over compressions. The paramedicsintubated the patient and placed a line to deliver medication. They wereable to get a pulse back before leaving the fire station. They thenproceeded to transport the gentlemen to Lankenau Hospital. His pulse waslost on the way but EMS team was able to regain prior to arrival atlankenau.There is little doubt that their prompt and appropriate action contributedto this gentlemens survival and hopefully he eventual full recovery. Theirquick thinking professionalism and training made them a credit tothemselves their families the Union Fire Association of Bala Cynwyd theLower Merion Fire Department and the community as a whole.The board of Commissioners of there Township of Lower Merion feels itfitting and proper to publicly recognize there actions of firefightersPaolone and Almond and to thank and commend them for service tendered in aclearly exceptional manner.