About Me
Instructor: Former First Responder, Rescue Chief, Fire/Rescue Department & a EMT since 1982 with real world life experience. Over 16 years as an American Heart Association Instructor who trained over 7000 students.
Instructor joined the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department as a cadet at the age of 16. Became an EMT at the age of 19 and worked for American Ambulance for 4 years. Became a member of the Omaha Police Department and the age of 20. Instructor has provided over 41 years combined public community service as a First Responder leaving in good standards. (Served 17 years on the Bellevue Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department & 24 years in Law Enforcement). With real world life experience additional information will be shared with students and the reality of how things really work on the street.
Instructor work his way up from Rescue Lieutenant, Rescue Captain and left the fire/rescue department as or Rescue Squad Chief. Instructor is and has been an (EMT) Emergency Medical Technician since 1982. During his career Instructor have personally performed CPR on over 30 person including (adults, children and infants). Instructor will be able to provide students additional information and insight about how things really happen on the streets in the "real world". HEARTSAVER has found that some of the additional information that was provided to prior students are now in the new 2020 Guidelines.
Prior Volunteer or Community Public Service Organizations
State of Nebraska Foster Care (License #18226490)
FIRST RESPONDER (41 Years Combined)
Community Service: Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department (17 years Community Public Service)
Community Service: Omaha Police Department (24 years)
(EMT) Emergency Medical Technician since 1982.
HEARTSAVER is a member of the AHA Atlas Instructor Site. A former member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) being on their Honor Roll since 2007. Trained several staff members of the American Heart Association in 2011 and 2013. HEARTSAVER is an AHA Training Site and aligned with Creighton EMS Education as a (BLS) Basic Life Support training site.
Life Saving Rescue Jennifer & Kourtney Woracek- Made Local & National News
It was1997 when I served on the Omaha Police Department, was an EMT Emergency Medical Technician and also serving on the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Dept as Rescue Chief when this event occurred.
As I said back in 1997, “God used us as a vessel to rescue these girls”. Jennifer and Kourtney Woracek’s survival was also the result of the efforts, teamwork of all those who did their part and was also a piece of the puzzle. From the 911 dispatcher, members of my crew and others on the police department, the ER staff, life flight, hospital personal who treatment the girls, those who provided rehabilitation & physical therapy and all those in the community who supported these girls, and their family are also part of the story.
After their near-death experience and having to live with the long-term effects of frostbite of their fingers and toes they both have overcome a lot. Through their tragedy they both have been successful and graduated from high school, they both have a master’s degree from college and Jennifer also got married. I am so very proud of their accomplishments and how they turned out.
I use this story as a real-life training tool when I provide First Aid & CPR training. This story also should be a reminder that children as young as 3 years old has the ability to get out of the house without parents knowing about it. My message is “higher locks on doors or an alarm when the door is open may help prevent future tragedies or even the death of a child”.
Instructor: Former First Responder, Rescue Chief, Fire/Rescue Department & a EMT since 1982 with real world life experience. Over 16 years as an American Heart Association Instructor who trained over 7000 students.
Instructor joined the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department as a cadet at the age of 16. Became an EMT at the age of 19 and worked for American Ambulance for 4 years. Became a member of the Omaha Police Department and the age of 20. Instructor has provided over 41 years combined public community service as a First Responder leaving in good standards. (Served 17 years on the Bellevue Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department & 24 years in Law Enforcement). With real world life experience additional information will be shared with students and the reality of how things really work on the street.
Instructor work his way up from Rescue Lieutenant, Rescue Captain and left the fire/rescue department as or Rescue Squad Chief. Instructor is and has been an (EMT) Emergency Medical Technician since 1982. During his career Instructor have personally performed CPR on over 30 person including (adults, children and infants). Instructor will be able to provide students additional information and insight about how things really happen on the streets in the "real world". HEARTSAVER has found that some of the additional information that was provided to prior students are now in the new 2020 Guidelines.
Prior Volunteer or Community Public Service Organizations
- [1982-1999] Bellevue Volunteer Fire (Firefighter & Rescue Squad) leaving as Rescue Chief
- [2011] Eastern Nebraska CERT (Community Emergency Response Team IS317 Basic Level)
- [2011] Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
- [2013) Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) (A resource for EMT's, Police and First Responders)
State of Nebraska Foster Care (License #18226490)
FIRST RESPONDER (41 Years Combined)
Community Service: Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department (17 years Community Public Service)
- Firefighter / Emergency Medical Technician- Intermediate/ EMT
- Rescue Squad Lieutenant / Rescue Squad Captain / Rescue Chief
- First black person on the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department and first black Rescue Chief
- Left Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department after becoming a Field Investigations Major Crimes Detective on the Omaha Police Department
Community Service: Omaha Police Department (24 years)
(EMT) Emergency Medical Technician since 1982.
HEARTSAVER is a member of the AHA Atlas Instructor Site. A former member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) being on their Honor Roll since 2007. Trained several staff members of the American Heart Association in 2011 and 2013. HEARTSAVER is an AHA Training Site and aligned with Creighton EMS Education as a (BLS) Basic Life Support training site.
Life Saving Rescue Jennifer & Kourtney Woracek- Made Local & National News
It was1997 when I served on the Omaha Police Department, was an EMT Emergency Medical Technician and also serving on the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Dept as Rescue Chief when this event occurred.
As I said back in 1997, “God used us as a vessel to rescue these girls”. Jennifer and Kourtney Woracek’s survival was also the result of the efforts, teamwork of all those who did their part and was also a piece of the puzzle. From the 911 dispatcher, members of my crew and others on the police department, the ER staff, life flight, hospital personal who treatment the girls, those who provided rehabilitation & physical therapy and all those in the community who supported these girls, and their family are also part of the story.
After their near-death experience and having to live with the long-term effects of frostbite of their fingers and toes they both have overcome a lot. Through their tragedy they both have been successful and graduated from high school, they both have a master’s degree from college and Jennifer also got married. I am so very proud of their accomplishments and how they turned out.
I use this story as a real-life training tool when I provide First Aid & CPR training. This story also should be a reminder that children as young as 3 years old has the ability to get out of the house without parents knowing about it. My message is “higher locks on doors or an alarm when the door is open may help prevent future tragedies or even the death of a child”.
Jennifer Worcacek was 3 years old when she died in my arms due to low body temperature and exposure. The outside temperature was about 9 below 0. She survived ending up with frostbite fingers and toes. Through the tragedy she and her twin sister Kourtney graduated from high school, got their master's degree and Jennifer got married. This was a 20 year reunion meeting as adults for the first time. A true survivor.
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