WEST CHESTER TWP. — A West Chester Township Fire Department lieutenant’s work to help save an infant’s life while he was off duty earned him a department award that hadn’t been given out in more than decade.
Early last month, David Eberhard received an alert about a child choking at a restaurant nearby, and he was the first to respond to offer care until a full medical unit arrived.
For those actions, he was recently awarded the Butler County township’s “Fire Chief Award,” which was last bestowed in 2007.
Eberhard was at a local gas station on Dec. 3 when he heard an alert on his mobile device about a child choking at a local restaurant. He dashed to the scene and was the first one to attend to the infant.
Board of Trustees Meeting - December 11, 2018 from West Chester on Vimeo.
He expedited care for an infant in severe respiratory distress by delivering the child to the responding paramedic unit, according West Chester Township Fire Chief Rick Prinz, who presented Eberhard with the award during a recent township trustee meeting.
“Lt. Eberhard’s actions may seem insignificant but in reality his actions saved precious time, saving this infant’s life,” said Prinz, who added the infant was twice shocked with defibrillator on the way to a hospital and the child survived.
Prinz said Eberhard “is absolutely deserving of honor.”
“He has displayed exceptional public service,” he said.
Eberhard has declined to comment about the incident, but Jason Hartley, captain of one of the township’s EMS squads who has worked with Eberhard for years, described the West Chester firefighter as “a very dedicated guy.”
“He is the silent type who is straight to the point to get the job done,” said Hartley. “He made an active choice.”
Lee Wong, president of the township’s trustees, thanked Eberhard at the award ceremony.
“It’s a very high honor to save someone’s life,” said Wong.
———
©2019 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)
Visit the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) at www.daytondailynews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
