Megan Flores, the Flagler County 911 dispatcher, received a call on May 8 regarding a 9-year-old kid who was not breathing. She continued to give family members directions over the phone as she sent out officers and paramedics. While deputies Kyle Manka and Sierra Held helped and looked after two other youngsters at the scene, Sheriff’s deputy Christopher Nguyen utilized his automated external defibrillator (AED) as soon as he arrived. The boy was breathing and cognizant by the time he was driven to the hospital.
Sheriff Rick Staly of Flagler County honored the team’s life-saving work last Thursday. According to their citation, they are receiving a life-saving award for their acts, which are in accordance with the highest traditions of law enforcement. Manka, Nguyen, and Held received the honors. At the second quarter award event at the Operations Center, Staly included the 10-year-old child and his family in the presentation.
We don’t get to be this involved in a life-saving operation and witness the results every day,” Staly stated. To put it simply, this is the reason we have AEDs in each of our patrol cars so that deputies can act before paramedics arrive.
The boy’s father stated, “I just want to thank all of you for being prepared and knowing what you need to do when you arrive on the scene because with this help, my son’s still here with his quick actions, and this is very appreciative.”
According to Staly, it all began with the 901 call. The child was too bashful to accept his invitation to speak. He had been handed a challenge coin by the sheriff.
Whitney Zuazua, a 911 Communications Specialist, was also honored for saving lives. She was contacted on April 28 regarding a 60-year-old woman who was not breathing. Before a deputy came and took over chest compressions, she spent six minutes giving CPR instructions over the phone. The patient’s pulse had returned at the site following the fire department’s check.
Referring to all of the honorees, Staly stated, “It gives me great pleasure to honor these men and women who go above and beyond the call of duty.” It is a privilege for me to be in charge of this outstanding group of people that give freely of themselves to serve and defend Flagler County residents. View the complete release and award list here.
