Staff photo by Fritz Busch Bridget Kavan, front row, left, and Lafayette Area Ambulance emergency medical technicians (EMTs), back row, from left, Nicholas Klinger, Mark Dick and Ashley Juracek, receive Lifesave awards from the South Central Minnesota EMS at the Lafayette Fire Department Monday. Lowell Kavan, whose life was saved by his daughter Bridget and the Lafayette Area Ambulance Service, is pictured front row, right.

LAFAYETTE — Three Lafayette Area Ambulance emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and the daughter of a Lafayette man who suffered a cardiac arrest were honored for their lifesaving efforts at the Lafayette Fire Department Monday.

Minnesota State University, Mankato, student Bridget Kavan and Lafayette Area Ambulance EMTs Nick Klingler, Ashley Juracek and Mark Dick received the South Central Minnesota EMS System Lifesave award for “outstanding effort and teamwork resulting in a CPR save” on July 16.

“Your actions are an example of the great things that happen through action, perseverance, and dedication to your community,” read the award letter.

On that evening, Lowell Kavan passed out while taking his socks off in his residence. Fortunately, his daughter Bridget was nearby.

“I was in the other room,” said Bridget, a Gaylord Aquatic Center lifeguard. “My mother and I sat him down, he went unconscious, had cardiac arrest and a seizure. I called 911 and did chest compressions for several minutes.”

“The Lafayette Ambulance crew initiated a transfer of care from Bridget Kavan, and quickly initiated their cardiac arrest protocol, applying an automated external defibrillator (AED) and automated compression device (LUCAS), as well as inserting advanced airways,” according to the award letter.

“High-quality CRP continued for about six minutes, at which point Lowell Kavan had a return of spontaneous circulation and was breathing again. Responding Lafayette Ambulance crew members coordinated a handoff to advanced life support and the patient was transported to New Ulm Medical Center.”

He was soon airlifted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis where he remained in a coma for a couple of weeks.

Kavan talked about what he remembered about coming out of the coma.

“It was a mix of dreams and reality,” he said.

A chiropractor in Winthrop and Fairfax, Kavan came back home on Aug. 25.

His therapy includes walking about half a mile a day and lifting weights.

“I want to thank the first responders and Bridget for all their help,” Lowell said. “Without it, I would not be here today.”

“These awards should really go to Bridget and all our EMTs. All of them would have done the same thing,” said Dick, Lafayette Area Ambulance president. “We’ve got awesome EMTs that are well trained and supported by the community. I can’t say enough about how important their role is for a little town of 500.”

Dick said Bridget’s quick start was the key, plus a quick call for more advanced care.

“Learning CPR is important,” Dick said.

Successful outcomes of patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are rare, with about one in ten victims surviving, according to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.

In cases where victims survive, success is found by ensuring the five links in the chain of survival are followed:

• Early recognition of cardiac arrest and 911 activation.

• Early CPR with an emphasis on chest compressions.

• Rapid access to an AED, EMS intervention, and post-cardiac arrest care.

“The teamwork needed to accomplish this is rooted in a love of community, and in this case, a daughter’s love of her father,” read the award letter.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.