'Heartsaver Hero' Awards Go to Murrieta Residents, Off-Duty Firefighter

One is a maintenance worker, one is in the Navy and one a firefighter/EMT who was off duty.

The night of July 11, the three men came together and exercised their CPR training when 64-year-old Edward Psota's heart stopped and he ceased breathing during a Knights of Columbus meeting being held at in Murrieta.

One of those men was 35-year-old Herman Espinoza, of Murrieta, who is a senior field maintenance worker for Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.

"I was across the hall from the meeting attending a men's Bible study when I heard people yelling 'Does anyone know CPR?'" Espinoza said. "So that is when I went into action. I've had this training for years; it was the first time I got to use it."

Mickey Burket, a 24-year-old Navy second class officer who also lives in Murrieta, and John Clingingsmith, a CAL FIRE/Riverside County firefighter/EMT in east Hemet, were in the room with Psota when he began shaking violently and then collapsed.

Burket and Clingingsmith immediately checked his pulse and began applying CPR.

"When we started doing chest compressions it took the both of us," Burket said.

Once Espinoza joined in, the three took turns applying compressions until Murrieta firefighter/paramedics arrived. Crews then administered oxygen, medication and used one of the Department's new heart monitors to further revive Psota.

The trio were reunited with Psota and the Murrieta fire crew from Station 3 during a ceremony held Thursday at Murrieta fire Station 2 on California Oaks Road.

While their families looked on, Burket, Espinoza and Clingingsmith were presented American Heart Association Heartsaver Hero Awards as well as certificates of appreciation from the .

Psota's wife, Marie spoke on behalf of her husband.

"There is no way that you can truly thank someone for giving your husband of 41 years back to you," said Marie, who was celebrating her 65th birthday Thursday.

"It is such an emotional thing for our family but we know that God's hand was in this, all the way, we really do. For these men to be there and the circumstances that night for everyone to be where they were, it truly was the hand of God.

"They stepped out of the box that night to help us continue a life that we so appreciate every single day...more so now than ever. We have since celebrated an anniversary, he has celebrated a birthday with me and our son's wedding is in January.

"Those things would not have been a part of his life had it not been for these special special people and they will always remain special to us, always. Thank you."

Firefighter/paramedics from Station 2 were also recognized for their life-saving efforts in a similar incident. Just eight days prior to Psota's near-death experience, they were credited with resuscitating 75-year-old Don Hill at his home in The Colony retirement community.

Hill and his wife were in attendance at the ceremony where they were reunited with the Murrieta paramedic crew.

"Upon arrival, in just a few moments in both cases, Murrieta Fire Department crews found patients that did not have pulses and were not breathing; both patients were essentially deceased," said Murrieta fire Chief Matt Shobert.

"In both instances, quick activation of the 911 system, bystander CPR, rapid response from MFD providing aggressive treatment with state-of-the art equipment, brought both of these folks back to life," Shobert said. "These patients are walking, talking, living, breathing (no deficits) examples of how the system can work and displays the importance of 'citizen CPR.'"

Shobert went over the signs of a heart attack, and encouraged residents to call 911 if they are experiencing symptoms.

"Error on the side of caution. Activate the 911 system and get the care that you probably need," Shobert said.

Community members were also urged to take part in CPR trainings offered periodically at Murrieta fire stations.

"CPR as we know it is no longer a five- to six-hour class. American Heart Association has designed a program where you can learn life-saving CPR skills in about five minutes. We really don't have to do mouth-to-mouth contact, you just have to keep compressions going," Shobert said.

Art Durbin, Murrieta fire emergency medical coordinator, agreed.

"We'd rather get to your home and find out the emergency is resolved than have you wait," Durbin said.

According to Durbin, the Murrieta Fire Department responded to 41 cardiac arrests last year. Of those cases, 60 percent were resuscitated and transported to an emergency room with a pulse and blood pressure.

Knowing CPR is also imperative, he said, while demonstrating compressions on a mannequin. 

"Bystander CPR is imperative. It is imperative because we need you to be able to start compressions," Durbin said.

He said the Fire Department is planning Valentine's Day trainings with the theme of "Save Your Honey's Heart." The goal is to get 1,000 people there every Valentine's Day, he said, "to make sure we have people out there who are able to start CPR."

Murrieta Mayor Pro Tem Rick Gibbs was on hand to help recognize the citizens and firefighter/paramedics for their roles in the two life-saving incidents.

Gibbs has a personal reason for stressing the importance of CPR training.

"Fifty years ago, I was a kid when I watched my mom die of a heart attack," Gibbs said. "I thought to myself later if only CPR had been around. Because these three guys were trained in CPR, there's family that has a father, husband, grandfather..."

Attendees reunited with hugs and hand shakes following the brief ceremony.

Clingingsmith, who lives in Menifee, said he has been a firefighter for 22 years. He thanked the Murrieta Fire Department for giving him the American Heart Association Heartsaver Hero Award.

"I think it is awesome that the Murrieta Fire Department does this to recognize their citizens," Clingingsmith said. "I really hope the program they are trying to start up really takes off. The more people who know CPR the more stories we'll be able to have like this."