Hinsdale firefighter, lieutenant honor late deputy chief with lifesaving training classes

HINSDALE – Just more than four years after the Hinsdale Fire Department said goodbye to Mark “Big” Johnson, a department firefighter and lieutenant have joined together to find a way to keep his memory alive.

In September 2010, Deputy Chief Johnson was found unresponsive in the basement of the firehouse after suffering a heart attack during mandatory workout hours, according to firefighter Steve Tullis.

Tullis – one of the firefighters who found Johnson – said he has always looked back on that day and wished he and his fellow firefighters could have done something more.

Teaming up with his lieutenant, Mike Neville, Tullis said the pair have found a way to ensure others are prepared for similar situations by beginning a business which offers CPR certification, as well as training on an automated external defibrillator and first aid training, called “Mark.”

“It’s a very simple life skill that anyone can learn,” Tullis said of the programs.

Tullis and Neville will offer two separate courses, each running between three and four hours, according to Tullis.

One option for those interested in learning lifesaving techniques is the HeartSaver AED class, which is ideal for the “everyday person.” Through the American Heart Association, the class will offer CPR and AED certification or recertification. Participants in the class will learn to correctly administer CPR and to use a defibrillator, which are now common at many workplaces and schools. Defibrillators delivers a small electrical charge to the heart to restart the heart and are easy for most people to use.

The second class option will be CPR for Healthcare Professionals. This course, also through the American Heart Association, is designed for anyone in the health care industry seeking certification or recertification. The course will be geared toward health care professionals.

Participants in the programs will receive certification cards, which are good for two years, according to Tullis. Classes will be on site for each group, meaning the business can travel to homes, offices, schools or anywhere people want to learn.

Classes also will be available for both small and large, from 5 to 50 people. The cost to take the courses depends on the number of people in the group and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

A portion of the proceeds will be put toward a scholarship fund – set up by Johnson’s wife and son – for children of Hinsdale firefighters, according to Tullis.

“It just made total sense to include Mark,” Tullis said. “We don’t ever want anyone to forget him. This will keep his memory alive and fund the scholarship.”

In addition to teaching people lifesaving skills, keeping Johnson’s memory alive is a big part of the goal of the courses. Tullis explained that every firefighter has a call number to use over their radio. Johnson’s number was 1002, and through the program, Tullis is hoping to certify at least 1,002 people.

“We’re not looking to make millions, we just want to certify 1,002 people,” Tullis said.

In each class, Tullis said he and Neville will share their experience and stories about Deputy Chief Johnson’s life. Incorporating Johnson into the business “just feels right,” according to Tullis.

“[Deputy Chief Johnson] was big on life, and he was quick to help people and was generous with his time,” Tullis said.

Tullis said Johnson’s story is a powerful one. He hopes to prepare people to act when a similar situation arises. You never know what could happen at any moment, he said.

“Unfortunately, we learned from that experience,” Tullis said. “My message is really, you need to be prepared because this is going to happen at some point in your life.”