In mid-October, Michigan DNR Conservation Officer Kyle McQueer received an emergency call dispatched by the Barry County Sheriff's Office to a residential address on Keller Road in Orangeville Township. The call was regarding a CPR-in-progress situation.
Less than a mile away, McQueer immediately responded and was the first emergency responder to arrive on scene, within minutes of the initial dispatch call.
Upon arrival, McQueer was directed to a detached garage where he located a 64-year-old man unconscious and not breathing. After assessing the situation and confirming there was no pulse or signs of breathing, McQueer activated his department-issued automated external defibrillator and began lifesaving measures.
An AED is a portable, user-friendly device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electric shock in an attempt to restore normal heart rhythm during cardiac arrest.
McQueer performed CPR, directing people on scene to assist with equipment, and maintained communication with dispatch regarding the man's condition.
McQueer continued CPR and AED monitoring until the Orangeville Fire Department arrived, followed shortly by EMS. He assisted firefighters and remained engaged in resuscitation efforts. After several critical moments, responders were able to regain a pulse before transporting the man to Pennock Hospital in Hastings. The man was later transferred to a hospital in Grand Rapids and eventually released.
"Officer McQueer's quick response and ability to stay calm under pressure and utilize his training were instrumental in giving this man a fighting chance at survival," said Chief Brandon Kieft, DNR Law Enforcement Division.
McQueer has been a conservation officer since 2017 and is assigned to Barry County.
Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.