Calloway County, Ky.–A Calloway County Deputy Sheriff, Dispatcher and a Kentucky State Trooper are being credited with helping save the life of an Almo man in mid-January. The incident occurred January 18, 2022 at the Mitchell residence in northern Calloway County.
At approximately 9:00 a.m., Calloway County 911 Emergency Communications Center Dispatcher Dan Galloway answered a 911 call from Whitney Mitchell, reporting her husband, Mike, had collapsed and was unresponsive. Dispatcher Galloway immediately sent Calloway County Sheriff’s Deputy/Captain Richard Steen and an ambulance to the residence. Dispatcher Galloway also began Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) with Whitney, instructing her on how to perform CPR.
Kentucky State Trooper Mike Ray was on duty in Calloway County and, upon learning of the emergency, also responded to the Mitchell Residence. Captain Steen and Trooper Ray arrived shortly thereafter and took over the CPR. Captain Steen also attached an Automated External Defibrillator and administered two “shocks”. Mitchell was then transported by Murray-Calloway County Emergency Medical Services to Murray Calloway County Hospital for further treatment. Mitchell recently was discharged from his hospital stay and is currently recovering at home.
Mike Mitchell, owner of Mitchell’s Towing, was one of the first business owners to donate funds to the 2021 Calloway County Sheriff’s Office initiative to place an AED in each vehicle. In May of 2021, Mitchell donated money for the purchase of three AEDs. That initiative was successful and each Calloway County Sheriff’s patrol vehicle is now equipped with an AED. One of those AEDs was used to help save Mitchell’s life less than a year after he made the donation.
Another unique factor in this story is the Dispatcher involved was also the first ever person in Calloway County to have an AED used on him. In May of 2004, off duty Calloway County Sheriff’s Deputy Galloway suffered a cardiac event at a local business. Two Calloway County Deputy Sheriffs were the first on scene and used the AED from one of their patrol vehicles to help revive Galloway. Galloway now serves as an Emergency Communications Dispatcher.
“The quickness of everyone involved was key to saving Mr. Mitchell’s life. Also key was the fact that our patrol vehicle had an AED available. I’m so thankful Mr. Mitchell’s donation came full circle and he is recovering from his cardiac event,” said Calloway County Sheriff Nicky Knight.