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Cole County First Responders honor fallen colleague
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By Jeff Haldiman
News Tribune
“He was one of those willing to help and did the jobs no one else wanted to do. His heart was in the right place.”
Those were the thoughts of Kevin Wieberg, captain of the Cole County First Responders, as he talked about fellow first responder Willie Livingston, 33, Russellville, who died last week while helping on a medical call.
Monday, emergency officials throughout the county saluted Livingston during his funeral.
According to Wieberg, the incident happened around 1 a.m. on Nov. 28 when Livingston went on a medical call.
“He helped a patient, and after getting them taken care of he started experiencing shortness of breath and began going into cardiac arrest,” Wieberg said. “He eventually passed away that evening.”
Livingston had been a member of the first responders since 2004, but Wieberg said before Livingston joined, he was helping out with fundraisers for the group.
Cole County First Responders are a volunteer group. They go out with the Capital Region Ambulance Service and assist on medical calls throughout the county, with exception of inside the Jefferson City limits.
“We have to pay a $6,000 insurance bill each year and the only way we have to get money is from fundraisers,” Wieberg said “We are not tax based so we get no tax money what so ever.”
Eventually, Livingston got his training and joined the group. First responders must complete a 40-hour first responder course and have training once every month. They also are required to do 12 hours of ride-along time with an ambulance.
Livingston was certified at the first responder level, but Wieberg said they can get people to the level of EMT or paramedic.
Currently, the group only has 25 active members to serve the entire county, with the exception of Jefferson City. Those who want to become a member can contact Wieberg at kwieberg38@embarqmail.com.
”Willie made it his duty to go out of his way to help others,” Wieberg said. “It's sad to see someone lose their life while volunteering, but it was great to see him go out doing what he loved to do.”
Those were the thoughts of Kevin Wieberg, captain of the Cole County First Responders, as he talked about fellow first responder Willie Livingston, 33, Russellville, who died last week while helping on a medical call.
Monday, emergency officials throughout the county saluted Livingston during his funeral.
According to Wieberg, the incident happened around 1 a.m. on Nov. 28 when Livingston went on a medical call.
“He helped a patient, and after getting them taken care of he started experiencing shortness of breath and began going into cardiac arrest,” Wieberg said. “He eventually passed away that evening.”
Livingston had been a member of the first responders since 2004, but Wieberg said before Livingston joined, he was helping out with fundraisers for the group.
Cole County First Responders are a volunteer group. They go out with the Capital Region Ambulance Service and assist on medical calls throughout the county, with exception of inside the Jefferson City limits.
“We have to pay a $6,000 insurance bill each year and the only way we have to get money is from fundraisers,” Wieberg said “We are not tax based so we get no tax money what so ever.”
Eventually, Livingston got his training and joined the group. First responders must complete a 40-hour first responder course and have training once every month. They also are required to do 12 hours of ride-along time with an ambulance.
Livingston was certified at the first responder level, but Wieberg said they can get people to the level of EMT or paramedic.
Currently, the group only has 25 active members to serve the entire county, with the exception of Jefferson City. Those who want to become a member can contact Wieberg at kwieberg38@embarqmail.com.
”Willie made it his duty to go out of his way to help others,” Wieberg said. “It's sad to see someone lose their life while volunteering, but it was great to see him go out doing what he loved to do.”
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its-me wrote on Dec 6, 2007 8:16 AM: