911 dispatcher and woman earn life-saving awards

A pleasant visit between a father and daughter turned frightening this past April on Pauline Street in Waterford Township, when the man had a heart attack; but thanks to the efforts of his daughter and a 911 dispatcher, his life was saved.

New Baltimore resident Julie Davis saw her father, Larry Wilkie, collapse from a heart attack in front of her. Davis promptly called Waterford Township 911. Dispatcher Ashley Zoltowski gave Davis emergency medical directions so she could perform CPR on her stricken father.

The collaboration between the pair is credited with saving Wilkie’s life.

“The gentleman lived due to how they performed CPR,” said Waterford Township Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Finkbeiner. “They got his respiration and pulse back before paramedics could get there.”

To honor the bravery of both Davis and Zoltowski, the Waterford Township Board of Trustees recently awarded them each with the silver Community Hero Lifesaving Award on Monday, Sept. 26.

Wilkie was brought to a nearby hospital where he recuperated.

Waterford Township honors between three and six acts of heroism between three and six times each year, on average.

The Waterford Township Fire Department Valor and Service Awards Committee launched the Community Hero Lifesaving Award Program in 2008 to recognize individuals or groups who make contributions or perform courageous acts related to fire or emergency medical service.

The event must take place within the township.

Awardees are nominated by members of the Fire Department, and members of the department are not eligible for the awards.