Lifesaving awards, commendations presented to police officers, firefighter

Mon, 03/12/2018 - 4:00pm

    CAMDEN – First responders who saved the lives of a severely injured middle school student and a man who had overdosedwere formally recognized by Police Chief Randy Gagne at the Camden Select Board meeting March 5. 

    Detective Curt Andrick and firefighter Isaiah Backiel were commended by Gagne and Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley for saving the life of Adin Grey, a middle school student, after a bicycle crash across the street from the Public Safety Building in September.

    Grey lost control of his mountain bike and the force of the crash drove the handlebars info his stomach, severing an artery and a vein. Andrick and Backiel were both outside and immediately applied pressure and bandages to a wound in Adin’s stomach the size of a 50-cent piece.

    Deb Chapman, a resident at the Knox Mill apartments, also witnessed what happened and called across the street to the firefighters for help.

    Gagne said that Andrick and Backiel were first recognized at the Maine Chiefs of Police Association annual banquet Feb. 9 and received individual Life Saving Awards. At the Select Board meeting, both Chiefs presented each with an engraved bell with the date of the incident.

    “Without the quick actions and lifesaving care that was given, Grey might not be with us today,” Gagne said.

    Sgt. Dan Brown and Officer Chris Hansen were recognized next for saving the life of a man who had overdosed in January. Camden and Rockport police and firefighters were trained on how to administer Narcan Jan. 17 and just 48 hours after they began carrying the drug, both officers applied what they learned to save a man’s life.

    Gagne said that the officers followed overdose protocol policy before administering the Narcan to the man to reverse the effects of his overdose. The man was transported to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport for further treatment.

    Both received letters of commendation.

    “Officers now have another means of saving a life that otherwise may have been lost,” Gagne said.

    Family members and officers from Rockport police also attended the recognition ceremony.

    Related stories:

    https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/two-days-after-camden-and-rockport-responders-begin-carrying-narcan-it-helps-save-life/97123

    https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/camden-first-responders-apply-just-right-pressure-save-boy-s-life/95286

    Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com