Unsung Hero Award
Special Officer Bob Kiefer
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
By some accounts Orange County Sheriff's Special Officer Bob Kiefer has been involved in about half a dozen life saving incidents. Though he may not have always been present Keifer's Sheriff Department students have saved at least four lives.
Kiefer was off duty on a Sunday afternoon in September 2008 shopping for groceries with his wife. That's when the 63 year old officer used the same life saving techniques he had taught to more than 300 deputies over the years. Kiefer and his wife Nancy were standing in line when he heard a commotion behind him. He turned to see a man thrashing his arms and legs and banging his head on the floor.
Kiefer raced over to the man, who was grasping for air. Realizing the man was having a seizure, Kiefer tried to secure him before he hurt himself. He shouted for someone to call 911while securing the man's neck and head to prevent it from banging on the floor. A fellow shopper helped Kiefer to stabilize the man. After several minutes the man stopped thrashing. His breathing and heart rate slowed. Kiefer checked, couldn't find a pulse and started CPR. In the third cycle of CPR the man began breathing again and as his breathing returned so did the seizures. Kiefer continued to restrain the man to prevent further injury until the paramedics arrived. The man was then taken to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in San Clemente, where he was treated and released.
Kiefer joined the Orange County Marshal's Department in 1999 at the age of 52. He was trying to fulfill a childhood dream. In 2001, while working as a Sheriff's Special Officer in the Laguna Niguel Courthouse, Officer Kiefer began working with Ray of Life founder Helena Jacobsen to try to get defibrillators in every Orange County Courthouse. Kiefer's interest in becoming a trainer and advocate for CPR and the use of defibrillators goes back to 1996. Kiefer was surfing on Memorial Day weekend when he noticed signs of a heart attack. Suddenly he was in a Saddle back Memorial emergency room before he lost consciousness.
The quick response of doctors and professional care in a well equipped hospital saved his life.
Through his involvement with Ray of Life and defibrillators, Kiefer started teaching deputies how to use the machines. He has taught deputies in the dignitary protection unit, in the James A. Musick Facility and in various Orange County cities. At least four of his students have saved lives.
