09/23/2026
On Wednesday, September 16th, Southwest Health EMS held a gathering to celebrate a life saved during a cardiac arrest event. This was the first time that all of those that were involved in the event were all in the same room.
On the afternoon of Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day), the life of our patient, his family and friends changed. Tim Zauche had been outside doing yardwork when he started to have chest pains and became very sweaty. A family member who was going to take Tim to Southwest Health, but a family friend said no and called 911. That 911 call started an emergency response from Southwest Health EMS Med2. Just before Med2 arrived on scene, a second 911 call was made telling the dispatcher that CPR was in progress and that information was relayed to the crew. With the updated information, Med1 also responded to the scene.
Once Med2 arrived a minute later the crew took over CPR, applied the cardiac monitor/defibrillator and shocked Tim. The crew started advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) measures, administering medication and shocking Tim a second time. Tim regained a pulse after the second defibrillation. Med1 arrived at this time and assisted with managing Tim during this critical period.
Tim was moved to the ambulance, where advanced life support continued and a request for UW Health MedFlight was made. Southwest Health EMS transported Tim to the helipad at Southwest Health and turned care over to the MedFlight crew, who transported him to a cardiac center for further specialty care.
Southwest Health EMS and Zoll Medical Corporation provided certificates and challenge coins to three of Tim’s family and friends for the vital role that they played in saving Tim’s life that day (early recognition and quality CPR). The dispatcher, police officer and EMS crews also received certificates and a challenge coin for their role in saving Tim’s life.
Pictured: Platteville Police Dispatcher Amy Dillman, Platteville Police Sgt. Matt Froiseth, Tim Zauche, AEMT BJ Baker (Med1), Critical Care Paramedic Jerry Moore (Med1), EMT Josh Bloom (Med2) and Paramedic Ashton Schulz (Med2).
**Information shared with permission of the patient.
Southwest Health EMS would also like to take this opportunity to encourage members of the public to learn bystander or hands-only CPR. Early, high-quality CPR is essential to make a difference for those suffering a cardiac arrest event.
