CHIEF COMMENDS FIVE FIREMEN FOR TWO LIFE-SAVING EFFORTS HERE

Five Cape Girardeau firefighters Saturday were cited by Fire Chief Robert Ridgeway for their lifesaving efforts in two incidents this month.

Capt. Scott Altenthal was commended for his actions May 17 in which he assisted a Jackson police officer in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a heart attack victim.

Also, Fire Marshal Thomas Hinkebein, Capt. Don Smith, and firefighters Dennis Ainsworth and James Moyers were cited for their work to rescue a woman who injured her neck in a swimming accident.

In a letter to Ridgeway, James J. Farrar of the Cape County Private Ambulance Service said Altenthal who was off-duty when he aided the heart-attack victim before the ambulance arrived "continued to help me and the crew while we worked on the patient.

"Through his efforts, he helped us keep our on-scene time to only 17 minutes," Farrar said. "His dedication to trying to help his fellow man speaks highly of his training and professionalism. The city and the fire department can take great pride in having men like firefighter Altenthal."

Ridgeway said Hinkebein, Smith, Ainsworth and Moyers used remarkable teamwork May 9 to immobilize and rescue a woman who sustained "a severe spinal injury" in a swimming pool accident.

"Their actions were instrumental in limiting the severity of said injury and quite possibly saved the life of the victim," the fire chief said.

Hinkebein said that when he came upon the pool scene, a woman was in the pool holding the victim's head above water.

"She was exhausted and was having trouble holding the victim up," he said. "I entered the pool along with a male friend who had arrived shortly after me, and we relieved the woman who was holding the victim's head above water.

"The ambulance and Rescue 1 arrived at approximately the same time."

LaDonna Cossey of the ambulance crew worked with Hinkebein and the other rescuer to place a "C collar" on the victim.

"While this was being done, Capt. Don Smith and firefighter Dennis Ainsworth entered the pool and proceeded to float a backboard under the victim," Hinkebein said. "Once the victim was secured to the backboard, we all proceeded to remove her from the pool.

"The work of the ambulance crews, along with the rescue crew was quick and professional."

A report from the emergency room physician, Dr. Nancy Weber at Southeast Hospital, indicated that the "slightest movement of the victim's spinal column while removing her from the pool or during transport could very easily have lead to her death," Hinkebein said.

Ridgeway said the actions of all five firefighters in both incidents "were consistent with the highest traditions of both the city of Cape Girardeau Fire Department and the fire and rescue service."