Toni Adkins would not be living today had it not been for the quick actions of Officers Brittany England and Kiashira Ruiz.
Both officers received bronze Chief's Award medallions from Chief Art deWerk at Monday's council meeting stemming from their quick response and actions on April 11.
Adkins called 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher that she was having trouble breathing. However, by the time the two officers arrived to her home in the 3200 block of Matterhorn Way, Adkins had stopped breathing and was in full cardiac arrest. When there was no answer at the door, Ruiz and England contacted their watch commander, Sgt. Deidre Borges, who gave permission to break a window in order to gain entry into the residence.
The pair immediately found Adkins and went into work administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions to get her heart pumping again.
"One could argue that she actually passed away," noted deWerk.
Ruiz continued CPR while England contacted Adkins' family. In a short time, fire first-responders and AMR Ambulance paramedics were on scene. Adkins had a heart beat at the scene.
"I was hoping she'd make it," said England who was asked what she was thinking in the moment.
"The saves aren't that frequent to be honest," said deWerk. He noted that in many cases a person brought back to consciousness will often fail a short time later.
Adkins and her husband were at the award presentation.
"The main thing I want to say is thank you, bless your hearts," Adkins told the officers in the Council Chambers. "Because I wouldn't be here if you hadn't broke in."
Ruiz, who was recently named Reserve Officer of the Year, said she was only doing her job and credited all she learned in the academy and on-the-job training to the life-saving effort.
Both officers received bronze Chief's Award medallions from Chief Art deWerk at Monday's council meeting stemming from their quick response and actions on April 11.
Adkins called 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher that she was having trouble breathing. However, by the time the two officers arrived to her home in the 3200 block of Matterhorn Way, Adkins had stopped breathing and was in full cardiac arrest. When there was no answer at the door, Ruiz and England contacted their watch commander, Sgt. Deidre Borges, who gave permission to break a window in order to gain entry into the residence.
The pair immediately found Adkins and went into work administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions to get her heart pumping again.
"One could argue that she actually passed away," noted deWerk.
Ruiz continued CPR while England contacted Adkins' family. In a short time, fire first-responders and AMR Ambulance paramedics were on scene. Adkins had a heart beat at the scene.
"I was hoping she'd make it," said England who was asked what she was thinking in the moment.
"The saves aren't that frequent to be honest," said deWerk. He noted that in many cases a person brought back to consciousness will often fail a short time later.
Adkins and her husband were at the award presentation.
"The main thing I want to say is thank you, bless your hearts," Adkins told the officers in the Council Chambers. "Because I wouldn't be here if you hadn't broke in."
Ruiz, who was recently named Reserve Officer of the Year, said she was only doing her job and credited all she learned in the academy and on-the-job training to the life-saving effort.
