Off-duty Minneapolis Firefighters Save Heart Attack Victim

Two off-duty Minneapolis firefighters put their emergency medical skills to good use at a Coon Rapids restaurant Oct. 27, 2007. Firefighters Robert Sawyers and Sherri Waisanen were dining at Khan's Mongolian restaurant when they noticed an individual lying on the floor. They determined the woman was not breathing and had no pulse.

After calling 911, the two immediately began CPR on the woman. Thanks to their quick action and medical training, Sawyers and Waisanen were able to regain the victim's pulse until paramedics arrived. The patient was transported to Mercy Hospital, where it was determined the woman had suffered massive heart attack. The woman is now looking at a full recovery and is doing very well.

Minneapolis firefighters do more than just battle flames. They are trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's), attending 16 hours of continuing education in a variety of basic and advanced emergency medical topics annually. The department responds to nearly 25,000 EMS calls each year. The most common types of calls are for breathing problems, trauma-related injuries and cardiac and obstetric problems. Firefighters also deliver about two dozen babies a year.