Honoring 2 Heroes

Honoring

Gary DeCook

Barnes City Fire Department IA

EOW: Aug. 27, 2022 | Age: 66 | Tour: N/A

On Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, Captain Gary DeCook was performing maintenance at the fire station, including fire apparatus and equipment work. After he was finished, he went home and less than 5 minutes after arriving, collapsed in his driveway. His fellow emergency responders arrived at the scene and immediately performed CPR but were unsuccessful. He passed away from an apparent heart attack.

Honoring

Edwards J. Hayes

Bear Creek Township Carbondale, Pennsylvania

EOW: Sept. 3, 2022 | Age: 71 | Tour: 35 years

He was treating a patient in the back of an ambulance “when he was stricken ill a few blocks from the hospital,” Cottage Hose Ambulance & Rescue posted on Facebook. He died a few hours later with family near him. The EMS agency praised Hayes for his skills, professionalism and humor. “His loss will be felt by many, especially those patients and the community he served,” the post read. Hayes began volunteering as an EMT in 1987 and later became a full-time paramedic. He served in that role for 35 years. He and his wife and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Disclaimer:

This information is supplied by the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org) and the U.S. Fire Administration (www.apps.usfa.fema.gov).

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First Responder Benefit Association (FRBA) is our nonprofit founded to fill the gap of financial hardship that can often burden families of fallen First Responders. The First Responder Task Force funds 100% of FRBA’s administrative and operational expenses so that 100% of public donations go directly to aiding the families in need.

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*The $5,000 survivor benefit is paid when a line of duty death occurs. Line of duty is defined as AFBA members who are Emergency Service Providers to include law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers who are killed while involved in operations at or responding to/from the scene of an incident. If death occurs otherwise, outside of a suicide, the beneficiary will receive a $2000 benefit.

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