From left: Skokie Deputy Fire Chief Ken Borre, Chris Pytell, Karen Hyman, Devonshire Aquatic Center Pool Manager Patricia Schultz, Lifeguard Erin Moran, and Fire Chief Ralph Czerwinski.
At the January meeting of the Skokie Village Board, its trustees recognized two park district aquatic staff and two pool patrons for their lifesaving efforts at the Devonshire Aquatic Center on August 15, 2014.
During what the Skokie Fire Department called a near drowning accident, a four-year-old boy was rescued when park district lifeguard Erin Moran observed the boy underwater, blew her whistle to alert other staff, and then jumped into the water to aid the boy. With the help of pool patron (and park district golf pro) Chris Pytell, pool manager Patricia Schultz and Skokie resident Karen Hyman, Moran pulled the boy from the pool and onto the pool deck. With the boy having no pulse and not breathing, pool staff immediately initiated CPR. After spitting up water, the boy regained consciousness and began to breathe on his own. Advanced life support was then provided by the Skokie Fire Department, with the boy being transported to Evanston Hospital and later released.
At the board meeting, Citizenship Lifesaving awards were bestowed upon the four individuals for their actions, with the boy's mother giving a moving 'thank you' speech to the four.
For more information about the Skokie Park District pools or aquatics program, call Scott Runkle at (847) 674-1500, ext. 2721.