A 9-1-1 dispatcher with Pottawattamie County Communications received a Life Saving Award, Thursday, for her role in saving the life of a man suffering from cardiac issues.

Pott Co. Communications Operator Elizabeth Cleveland (Center) (Photo from the Pott. Co. Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)

Operator Elizabeth Cleveland answered a 911 line during the early morning hours of October 16th. A frantic female caller said her dad was having trouble breathing. While rescue was being dispatched, Cleveland spent 9 minutes on the phone keeping the caller calm and giving her instructions for CPR, until help could arrive.

Cleveland also repeated instructions when the caller’s mother took over compressions, giving positive reinforcement and counting with her. She remained on the line giving instructions until she could hear a Deputy on scene using an Automated External Defibrillator. Lewis Township Rescue transported the patient to Jennie Edmundson Hospital at around 12:30-a.m. A diagnosis revealed the patient had suffered from a neurological event which lead to cardiopulmonary arrest. He was discharged from the hospital a few days later.

The award was presented in conjunction with National Telecommunications Week.

Firefighters in Harlan responded to the scene of a structure fire late Thursday night. The blaze at 1622 Willow Street was reported shortly after 11-pm.  Occupants of the house said that a woman was laying on the couch when she saw an orange glow in the vicinity of the kitchen.

When she got up to investigate, she saw that the glow was coming from the garage area and opened the door. Flames then erupted into the rest of the home. The couple and their baby escaped the home with only the female’s hand being burned from the hot door.

The Harlan Fire Department was on the scene for about 2 ½ hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The occupants of the home mentioned that they did not have smoke detectors in the residence. Harlan Fire Chief, Roger Bissen, reminds anyone that does not have a smoke detector in their home to call the Harlan Fire Department. The department has detectors available free of charge.

(KNOD)

(In an update to our story earlier this morning) A man from Audubon County has died from injuries he suffered during a grain bin accident Thursday afternoon. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 62-year old Gary Glen Fancher, of Audubon, died at the scene of the accident in northern Audubon County. Fancher had entered the bin to break the corn loose from above, while unloading the bin.

Authorities say they received a 911 call just before 1-p.m. about a person being trapped in the grain bin. Audubon Fire and Rescue requested assistance from the Exira, Harlan and Atlantic Fire Departments. After extensive extrication efforts, Fancher was removed from the grain bin and pronounced dead.

Audubon Police also assisted the Sheriff’s Department at the scene.