Medic and Officer awarded for saving 14-year-old boy's life

Austin-Travis County EMS is pushing the importance of knowing CPR after three off duty medics have saved lives recently by using their skills. One of them was honored Tuesday night for his efforts along with a Sunset Valley police officer.

The last time Austin-Travis County EMS Medic Chance Bergstrom and Sunset Valley Police Officer J.C. Hall saw each other was on October 26th, the day they saved a 14-year-old boy's life.

It happened in a shopping center off Brodie Lane. Bergstrom was driving through the parking lot with his wife. He said a boy collapsed in front of him while walking with his family.

"The child was on the ground mother was yelling out for someone to help," said Bergstrom.

Bergstrom quickly reacted as he would if he were on duty.

"The child was on his face and so I rolled him onto his back and noticed that I wasn't able to find a pulse and he stopped breathing so I started CPR," said Bergstrom.

Officer J.C. Hall then arrived. He used his automated electronic defibrillator to help the boy regain a pulse as Bergstrom continued CPR. All sunset valley patrol cars are equipped with the device. After two shocks, the boy's pulse returned.

He has since been released from the hospital and is doing well.

"It's a great feeling to know that you can help somebody who needed it, more for the parents as well," said Hall.

On Tuesday night Bergstrom and hall were presented with the lifesaving award. It is the second-highest honor a police officer can receive.

The men have since reflected on that day.

"Life is precious and a lot of times in society today we work so fast and we don't take the time to appreciate the things around us, friends, family, community," said Hall.

For Austin-Travis County EMS, the lesson is for everyone to take 10 minutes to learn CPR. Who knows? You may end up being a bystander when someone needs help.

"It's super important. I recommend that everybody learn how to do at least CPR. CPR nowadays is really simplified. Hands only push hard and fast try and get 100 beats a minute and do it as long as you can until someone else can take over," said Bergstrom.

Austin-Travis County EMS has made it really simple for you to learn from home with this training video.