Corporal Michael Schmidt of the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office received the Sheriff’s Office Life Saving Award for his quick actions during an emergency. The August 29 ceremony, led by Sheriff Knowles, also included the mother of the victim Schmidt saved earlier this year, according to the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident in question took place on May 29, when Schmidt noticed an emergency medical call on his computer-aided dispatch screen; it was concerning a 17-year-old male with a severe leg injury resulting from a saw accident. Without waiting for a formal dispatch, Schmidt sprang into action, heading straight for the address provided. Upon his arrival, he found the young man in the backyard suffering from a severely bleeding, partially amputated lower leg; in that moment, the corporal displayed remarkable composure and skill, issuing directives to the victim's brothers to both assist and expedite the ambulance's arrival and applying a life-saving tourniquet that managed to control the blood loss.
The social media statement from the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office illustrated the harrowing scene: "Upon arrival, Corporal Schmidt was directed to the victim, who was lying in the backyard of the residence. Assessing the scene, Corporal Schmidt quickly determined that the injury was catastrophic, involving heavy bleeding and a partial amputation of the lower leg near the ankle." His swift measures not only stabilized the victim but also ensured that the young man remained conscious and alert throughout the ordeal, as he reassured and encouraged the victim for the roughly six minutes before additional rescue personnel arrived.
The aftermath revealed that the injury was caused while the teen was cutting brush with a weed trimmer equipped with a circular blade, an unfortunate kickback resulted in the incident, yet the victim, showing presence of mind, managed to call out to his brothers for help who in turn dialed 911 facilitating the sequence of events that followed leading to Corporal Schmidt's timely intervention, without which, as per the Ozaukee County Sheriff's report, the outcome could have been gravely different. Recognizing Schmidt's actions, Sheriff Knowles said, "Without Corporal Schmidt’s immediate and decisive actions, the victim could have succumbed to life-threatening blood loss or suffered permanent disability or amputation."
Corporal Schmidt's conduct that day not only exemplified the highest standards of the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office but also affirmed the core values of the force, which include Honor, Integrity, Loyalty, and Duty. As part of the ceremony, Sheriff Knowles lauded the corporal, stating, "Your quick response, compassionate care, and exemplary decision making reflect the highest standards of professionalism and embody the core values of the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office." Schmidt's actions stand as a testament to the importance of quick reaction and professional training in moments where every second counts and lives hang in the balance.
