A couple weeks ago, two captains from the Meridian Fire Department had major health scares.
A GoFundMe was made by the firefighters’ union on Sept. 17 for two Meridian firefighters — captains Daniel Krenz and Garrett Hirsch — who have recently suffered significant, life-threatening medical events.
According to Derek Nelson, President of the Meridian Professional Firefighters Local 4627, the two endured life-threatening incidents within days of each other in early September. Krenz was diagnosed with an aortic dissection — a life-threatening medical emergency that is typically deadly — after going to a Nampa Fire Station with abdominal pain. Hirsch suffered a cardiac arrest at a pickleball tournament and happened to be out with a coworker, who knew exactly what to do and where to take Hirsch for treatment.
”If not for that, then it’s a totally different outcome,” Nelson said.
The two captains have been discharged from the hospital and are recovering in their homes. It’s unclear when either of them will be well enough to return to work.