Teens Who Saved Life Honored By Farmington Hills

From Farmington Hills: The Farmington Hills City Council presented a special Life Saving Award to two young employees of the Costick Center at their most recent meeting held on February 13. Kira Hadden and Emily Mayoras were working as lifeguards at the Costick Center pool on the afternoon of November 27, 2016. They observed a 78-year- old woman who was motionless and face down on the pool’s surface. Hadden and Mayoras activated the Costick Center’s Emergency Action Plan, calling 911 and entering the water to conduct the rescue.

When the two young lifeguards reached the woman, they quickly determined that she was not breathing normally. Together they placed the woman on a backboard, removed her from the water, and lifted her onto the pool deck. After confirming that the woman had a pulse, Hadden and Mayoras turned her on her side to remove water and open her airway, and then applied the AED (automated external defibrillator).

Farmington Hills fire fighter/paramedics soon arrived on the scene and performed additional advanced life support treatment. The woman was then rapidly transported to Beaumont – Farmington Hills where she was stabilized and transferred to the intensive care unit. Within days, Esther Godfrey was discharged from the hospital and has since made a full recovery. Esther Godfrey was present when Kira Hadden and Emily Mayoras were honored at the City Council meeting with a Civilian Citation for their heroism and professionalism.

“The Fire Department and City Council were in agreement that this outcome would not have been possible without the heroic efforts of these two lifeguards,” said Fire Chief Jon Unruh. “This is an excellent example of different City departments and their employees coming together to serve the people of our great City.”

Photo Courtesy of Costick Center