ONTARIO — Awareness guided Wednesday’s Ontario City Council meeting as leaders emphasized child protection efforts and highlighted a device already making life-saving impacts.

Life-saving tools making a difference

Council President Eddie Gallo highlighted the recent life-saving efforts involving the LifeVac device.

Ontario police officers recently used the anti-choking tool to clear an airway and save a life.

“The assisted living facility my wife works at — Sinceri Senior Living — obtained one or two of those (LifeVac devices),” Gallo said. “Just last week they were able to save a life.”

Gallo connected the incident to increased awareness following Ontario officers’ actions.

“Because of our police force having those and it being publicized as a life-saving attribute, at least one has been obtained and able to save another life,” he said.

In previous reporting, Police Chief Tommy Hill said he purchased a LifeVac device for every patrol vehicle to ensure officers would have the tool available when needed.

“I put my faith in that it would work,” Hill said. “My goal was to give our people the equipment they need so they don’t have to walk away from a call where they couldn’t save somebody’s life.” 

The department has since expanded access to the devices, providing some to the schools and planning to equip the Early Childhood Development Center as well.

‘Together we protect their tomorrows’

Mayor Josh Bradley marked his first official proclamation by declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“It is an honor and privilege that this is the first proclamation I get to read,” Bradley said. “The work that you guys do is just unmeasurable.”

He presented the proclamation to Tara Lautzenhiser, executive director of Richland County Children Services, who urged the community to take an active role in prevention.

She also outlined the scope of the issue, noting the agency investigated 1,455 child victims last year and 975 cases altogether, with physical abuse ranking as the most common.

Lautzenhiser shared this year’s theme — “Together We Protect Their Tomorrows” — and invited residents to participate in awareness efforts throughout April.

She encouraged the public to wear blue on April 8 and submit photos with friends, coworkers or classmates to the agency for publication online.

“If you see anything, make sure you speak up — help before we get to them,” Lautzenhiser said.

“It’s really about how we as a community and adults can reach out to others before it becomes a trauma. When you see someone struggling just support or check in with them.”

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