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Broward Sheriff's Office West Weston Fire Rescue personnel honored after on-site resuscitation and transport
Summary
At the May 19 Weston City Commission meeting, Chief Todd Draesen recognized Broward Sheriff's Office West Weston Fire Rescue personnel whose resuscitation and rapid response on Nov. 11, 2024, restored life and meaningful neurological function to a contractor who suffered an electrical arrest.
Weston honored the Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Fire Rescue employees of the month on May 19 after a Nov. 11, 2024, response in which first responders resuscitated a contractor who suffered a life-threatening electrical injury and cardiac arrest.
Chief Todd Draesen described the incident to the commission and audience, saying the contractor's grounding rod struck an underground power line while work was underway and that one worker received a powerful shock, going into cardiac and respiratory arrest. "The cardiac monitor confirmed a life threatening arrhythmia known as ventricular fibrillation," Draesen said.
Draesen credited a coworker who performed immediate bystander CPR and the rapid interventions of the BSO Fire Rescue team, naming EMS Captain Gareth Bradley (who was not present), Captain Regis Smeltz, Lieutenant Sean Quintoni, and firefighter-paramedics Lisette Munoz, Joseph Pesta, Brett Ishmael, Fernando Gajate and Roberto De Piazza. He described the team's actions: multiple defibrillations, airway management, intravenous access and high-quality CPR, which restored a pulse and led to the patient's transfer by air rescue to Broward Medical Center.
The patient spent 16 days in the hospital before transfer to a rehabilitation facility and was described as alert and responsive with meaningful neurological recovery. Draesen emphasized the "chain of survival," listing early 9-1-1 activation, bystander CPR, rapid first response, defibrillation and advanced hospital care as key links.
"When all the links of the chain of survival are strong as they were on this day, we give patients the best chance not just to live but to return home to their families," Draesen said. He also encouraged CPR training for residents, noting the department provides instruction throughout the year.
Ending: Chief Draesen presented the named personnel as Broward Sheriff's Office West Weston Fire Rescue employees of the month for May 2025 and asked the audience to join in recognizing their life-saving response.
