The Connection

Everyday the McLean Volunteer Fire Department works tirelessly to protect and serve the McLean community. On Saturday, May 25, the dedicated firefighters were able to see the importance and the impact of their efforts with the visit of Delaney Saslav.

NEARLY ONE YEAR AGO, 4-year-old Delaney fell into a pool during a summer party and partially drowned. When her parents, Andrew and Jill Saslav, realized their daughter was in danger, they removed Delaney from the pool and a family friend began to perform CPR on Delaney. “When we arrived, she did not have a pulse and she was not breathing,” said David Sellers, one of the firefighters who arrived on the scene.

“We got out, grabbed our medical equipment and began our own level of care, which was advanced life support care and then we stabilized her as best we could while we waited for the ambulance to arrive.”

Lieutenant Lee Boswell, who also assisted in Delaney’s rescue as the medic officer, said her role was “to step back and make sure everything was being done. I made sure that the IV’s were being placed, the airways were secure and that the correct medications were being administered.”

Delaney was then transported to Fairfax Hospital, where firefighters described her prognosis as “extremely positive.” Boswell also felt confident that Delaney would recover successfully: “I was very optimistic walking away, because I saw the chain of survival, I saw the early intervention from the bystanders, I know that she received oxygen immediately and that we were able to do everything that we could do early, quickly, and fast, everything that would have been done in the emergency room. I had a really good feeling walking into the ER. Before I left the ER, she was actually trying to grab the nurse’s hand.”

Although doctors were positive about Delaney’s recovery, Sellers described the initial stages of Delaney’s resuscitation as “very stressful, most folks think we just come and perform our jobs, but we are human too and it is extremely stressful for many of the first responders.” He added that part of his stress came from seeing such a small child in danger. He emphasized that “with a child, with her whole life ahead of her, it adds a sense of urgency. Fortunately for myself, here in McLean we have an extremely talented team of medical first responders and firefighters. They are awesome and they do an outstanding job day in and day out.”

DELANEY’S VISIT on Saturday allowed her family to thank the McLean fire department for saving their daughter and the first responders got to reunite with a happy and health Delaney. When Andrew and Jill Saslav arrived at the station with Delaney and her little brother Ian, they were welcomed by the McLean firefighters along with a handful of local reporters. Delaney was presented with her own firefighter hat and although initially shy, she quickly warmed up to the men and women who had saved her life.

After meeting with the first responders who saved their daughter, the Saslav family took a tour of the fire station and shared a meal with the firefighters. Delaney’s parents could not express enough gratitude to the McLean Volunteer Fire Department for the care they gave to Delaney. Jill Saslav teared up with thanks as she praised the men and women who rescued her daughter.

“They gave us back our daughter,” she said. “I don’t know how to repay them. Everyday I am so thankful for what they did, for being there to respond so quickly and even after Delaney was in the hospital we were getting phone calls and emails from people here checking up, making sure Delaney was OK and asking how we were doing.”

Andrew Saslav thanked the fire department and stated that, “It was really their speed and professionalism that saved Delaney’s life. There’s a little girl over there walking and talking because of them and their efforts.” The firefighters were equally touched by Delaney’s visit. David Sellers was excited to see Delaney again. “This is exactly what firefighters live for, this is exactly why we come to work everyday, and why we do all of our training, all of the long hours, reading the books, studying and practicing, all of the drills it all comes down to that moment and when we have a successful outcome, there’s absolutely nothing better. Every firefighter in the country looks for an outcome like this,” he said.

DELANEY is still recovering from lingering effects of her accident, but she is expected to make a full recovery and her progress amazes her family everyday. “She was in the pediatric ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for about two and half weeks, and then we moved to the National Rehab Hospital in D.C. for exactly four months, before we came home,” Jill Saslav said. “We still have some progress to make but she is there everyday, she has that independent spirit again.” While Delaney overcomes her few remaining issues, she attends the Drew Model School in Arlington where she is in pre-kindergarten. In order to prevent such an ordeal from occurring again, the Saslavs have enrolled their children in swim lessons and have advice for other parents.

Andrew Saslav emphasized that a drowning can happen even when parents feel their child is safe. “You have got to be vigilant,” he says. “The reality is that we were about five feet away from the pool and there was a bush between us. You have to be vigilant and know your surroundings.” David Sellers stated that the fire department responds to 20 to 30 drowning-related incidents each year and advises, “always be aware that when children disappear, the water is the very first place to check. Children love being in the water and it is only natural because it is hot outside and the water is nice and refreshing. But it can also be a dangerous place and just keep safety in mind, so you don’t have to see any of us.”

Delaney, for her part, was all smiles as she enjoyed the company of her rescuers for the afternoon and excitedly explored all the fire trucks in the station.