Neighbors of St. Charles clears snow to help paramedics get people to ambulances

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A group of people in O’Fallon, Missouri, joined in to help paramedics get their neighbor into an ambulance following this week’s snowstorm.

First responders received a call Thursday afternoon to a man who was having trouble breathing. When they arrived at his home in Drake Court, there was at least 8 inches of snow on the driveway and sidewalk. This is not the safest condition for transferring a patient on a stretcher to an ambulance.

Acting Captain George Toelke, of the O’Fallon Fire District, said he and an engineer used a shovel to start clearing the road.

“I was at the top of the driveway going down when someone stepped in front of me. And this kid came out of nowhere, and I’m thankful,” Toelke said.

That child was one of about 15 first responders when first responders needed help.

“I saw the ambulance coming and I thought they needed help because I saw them taking out the shovel,” said Sam Rademeyer, a boy who lives in the neighborhood. “There was a lot of snow, and I just decided to get my shovel to shovel and help them.”

Children and adults leave the house with shovels in hand to help.

Will Muckerman, another young man who helped shovel snow, said: “We just saw that the ambulance was coming to the courthouse and we just knew that someone needed help.

First responders were there to help Ron Pillow, who said he was feeling weak. His neighbors cleared his sidewalk and driveway in minutes, so paramedics could get him to an ambulance.

“Mr. Ron is a good man, and he helped us, and I just had to help him,” said Rademeyer.

Toelke also thanks for all the help first responders have received.

“Their help has been enormous,” Toelke said.

Pillow said he was taken to the hospital, where they treated him for dehydration and released him last night. He said he couldn’t ask for better neighbors.

“I owe it all to all of those people,” says Pillow. “The story is about them, not about me. Just remember that. ”