Two Manhattan Beach police officers were honored last Wednesday for coming to the aid of an elderly woman who passed out while eating at the McDonald’s on Artesia Boulevard in October.
Justin Hidalgo and Taylor Klosowski were given lifesaving awards by the South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation at the annual Medal of Valor luncheon at the Torrance Marriott on May 20.
“These awards are given with the knowledge that the acts being recognized are but a minute portion of the outstanding work performed by members of South Bay area police and fire departments,” said the event’s program.
Hidalgo and Klosowski were among nine officers from the Torrance, Hawthorne and Gardena police departments who were recognized by the nonprofit foundation, which is “dedicated to providing financial support for families of fallen or disabled police and fire personnel from the nine South Bay cities that have their own independent police and fire agencies.”
Manhattan Beach Police Chief Eve Irvine presented the men with their awards in front of a few hundred attendees, many of whom were in uniform.
Hidalgo’s and Klosowski’s recognition stemmed from an Oct. 9 event in Manhattan Beach. At 8:49 a.m. on that day, a woman called 911 saying her mother had passed out in a booth at McDonald’s and wasn’t breathing. The mother was cold to the touch and turning grey, her daughter said.
The Manhattan Beach Fire Department was dispatched. However Hidalgo and Klososki, who were in separate cars in the area, both heard the call and headed immediately to the restaurant, arriving before the fire department.
Klosowski arrived first and started giving the woman CPR.
“When he located the elderly victim, she was still sitting upright in the booth,” said the foundation’s description of the deed.
When Hidalgo got there, he continued CPR using a bag valve mask, a pump that forces air into the lungs.
“Although not required to, Officer Hidalgo took it upon himself early in his career to become a certified EMT and to carry first aid supplies such as a bag valve mask with him at all times for just this type of emergency,” the foundation said.
“The officers did not stop CPR even after the patient vomited on them and continued to do so until paramedics arrived.”
When the Manhattan Beach Fire Department made it, they took the woman to Little Company of Mary Hospital.
In addition to Hidalgo and Klosowski, five other officers were given lifesaving awards; one was given an award for distinguished service; and Nick Facer of the Torrance Fire Department was given the Medal of Valor for his role in rescuing a struggling surfer and swimmer off the coast of Ireland. ER
