First Responders, Civilians Honored For Saving Boy's Life

SPRING PARK, Minn. (WCCO) - Close to 30 Twin Cities emergency responders and civilians were honored for helping save a young boy's life on Monday night in Spring Lake.

Blake McShane fell out of a window at his grandparent's condominium last month. It happened in Spring Park near Lake Minnetonka. Blake barely missed hitting the concrete.

Amy Swanson, a Mound patrol officer, was first on the scene.

"When I got there, you could tell he wasn't breathing very well, and so I hooked up the pediatric AED pad," Swanson said.

Blake fell about 20 feet from the third story window. He and his sister were playing on a cool Sunday morning. The window was open, and Blake pushed through the screen.

Dave McNichols, an Orono patrol officer, also reached the scene of the accident early on.

"I opened up my truck, got the oxygen out, started with the medical supplies, while the deputies and special deputies worked on Blake," McNichols said.

Paramedics airlifted Blake to North Memorial Medical Center, where he was listed in critical but stable condition. He broke his jaw, bruised his lungs and suffered a concussion.

But even just a day after surgery, he significantly started to improve.

At Monday night's Spring Park City Council meeting, the first responders and civilians were given a Lifesaving Award for helping revive Blake and stabilizing him till he could be airlifted.

Blake is now up and doing well. There's no indication he'll suffer any long-term injuries as a result of the fall. He's been out of the hospital for several weeks, back home with his family.

"This is actually the reason we do this. These few times we can make a difference in somebody's life," McNichols said.

Emergency responders admit it's nice to be recognized. But the real reward they've gotten is knowing they helped save a little boy's life.