The importance of training for life-saving situations took center stage at the Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 Nevada City Council meeting.
At the meeting, the Nevada Public Safety Department, along with Story Medical Center, was presented a Clinical Save Award by Chris Murabito of Zoll. Zoll is the company that has provided training in which Nevada Public Safety officers and firefighters/EMTs have participated.
Because of the things learned in training, emergency personnel were able to not only do their part but also to help a brave Nevada mom start life-saving CPR on her 22-year-old son.
“Twenty-one people from the 9-1-1 call to the arrival at Mercy Medical Center played a part in saving Ayden Dooley’s life,” Nevada Fire Chief Ray Reynolds said. “And the most important person involved in this miracle was Leslie Dooley, Ayden’s mom. She did what we ask people to do, call 9-1-1 and start CPR. Without her efforts, this would be a much different year for the Dooley family.”
Reynolds paid tribute to the others who were part of saving Ayden’s life when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest on Dec. 4, 2024, at 3:42 in the afternoon. The fight for his life involved the response and actions of two Nevada police officers, one police officer EMT, three fire department paramedics, three fire department EMTs, one firefighter, two Story County Medical paramedics, one Story County Medical ER nurse supervisor, one Story Medical ER doctor, three Mercy One Air Med personnel, and three Story County dispatchers. About a dozen of those involved came to the City Council Meeting for a joyous reunion with the family as they witnessed Leslie receive a Citizen Hero Award.
“I had no idea how many first responders were involved until last night,” Leslie shared the day after the meeting. “I feel so lucky every day that they had the training and resources that made everything possible, and most importantly that I get to wake up and hug Ayden every day.”
Murabito said some responders involved in saving Ayden were part of an Advanced Resuscitation Consortium where first responders train to do “best practices.” Murabito was pleased to hear from Chief Reynolds that he and other responders utilized the tips they learned from the Zoll training in this emergency. “They said it was just like the class, going step by step,” he shared.
Along with the award presented for Nevada Public Safety and Story Medical, Zoll also presented the Dooley family with “Safe Coins” in remembrance of the positive outcome.
Reynolds made a point of thanking the Nevada City Council for approving the money spent on training for Nevada Public Safety. Because of the Council’s support, Nevada’s first responders are prepared to save lives.
–Written by Marlys Barker, City of Nevada
