Weston City honors BSO firefighters after bystander CPR and AED use saved teen; city offers free CPR training

Weston City presented Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) Weston Fire Rescue employees with certificates after a rapid response and bystander intervention helped save an 18-year-old soccer player who collapsed during a game.

Chief Todd Drazen recounted that bystanders immediately began high-quality CPR, retrieved a publicly accessible automatic external defibrillator and followed the device's voice prompts before BSO crews arrived. "CPR and AED training is simple. It takes less than an hour to learn and it truly saves lives, as you can see in this particular case," Drazen said.

Drazen named the responding team — Captain Jean Paul Rebor, driver-engineer Jeffrey Acevedo, Lieutenant Paul Vassell and firefighter-paramedics Jose Pan, James Hall and Lucas Mora — and said the patient regained a pulse, was stabilized, required a trauma alert and was flown to a trauma center; the patient spent a few days in hospital care and has since returned home.

The chief used the incident to emphasize community preparedness and announced a free Weston Community CPR day on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Weston Community Center, hosted by BSO Weston Fire Rescue. "We hope to train another additional 400 responders," Drazen said, noting registrations are available on the city's website and that walk-ins are welcome.

Drazen also described the role AEDs play in stopping the lethal rhythm ventricular fibrillation and walked through the "chain of survival": early recognition, calling 911, bystander CPR, rapid defibrillation and rapid transport. The commission joined in recognizing the team and encouraged residents to take advantage of training to improve outcomes in future emergencies.

The commission gave the honors during its Feb. 17 meeting; the presentation included brief remarks and a ceremonial photo.