LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — When medical emergencies happen, emergency medical service personnel are often the first on the scene providing critical care that can save lives.

To recognize those efforts during National EMS Week, Mercy Health-St. Rita’s hosted an awards ceremony honoring local EMS personnel for their dedication and service to the community. Whether serving full time, part time or as volunteers, EMS workers play a vital role in emergency care by providing immediate treatment before patients arrive at the hospital.

Mercy Health-St. Rita’s honors local ems personnel during National EMS Week

“They start care in the back of the ambulance. It's the same things that we're doing in the ER at the hospital. They provide that life-saving care, and they're the first link in the chain of survival for those patients. Many times getting to us at the hospital, so we can do what needs to be done. They respond day in, day out, night, weekend, holiday - it doesn't matter,” says Brian Anderson, EMS & Trauma Prevention Coordinator at St. Rita’s.

National EMS Week recognizes the commitment and sacrifice of emergency medical professionals who respond to calls around the clock to help those in need.

Mercy Health – St. Ritas Award winners are:

GREG KING AWARDCatherine Nye, BKP EMS

STOKE CARE AWARDS

BMRT Ambulance District – Robert Beatty, Cody Dickinson, and Andrew Roy

American Twp Fire Department – Ross Emans and John Schimmoeller

BKP EMS – Michael Miller and Haydn Taylor

Putnam Co. EMS – Brendan Fry, Holly Recker, and David Winslow

TRAUMA CARE AWARDS

Delphos Fire Rescue – Ryan Shumaker, Gage Stemen, and Scott Warnement

Middle Point Fire Department – Rick Busch, Josh Evans, Andrew Honigford, Brian Honigford, Andrew Miller, Brock Profit, Chelsea Reynolds, and Sarah Wortman

Wapakoneta Fire Department – Gabrelle Dulebohn, Trey Sager, Caleb Schwartz, Eric Snapp, and Atrayu Wolter

Shawnee Fire Department – Lyle Dray, Kyle Froning, Todd Gardner, Mike Hasenstaub, Trenton Jorgensen, Garrett Smith, and Bryan Stumbaugh

Cridersville Fire Department – Logan Bowers, Garry Cress, Austin Greer, Josh Myers, and Jeff Reichelderfer

LACP – Tommy Caudill, Kylee Morrisey, and Austin Sizemore

Lima Fire Department – Abdul Ahmed, Matthew Baker, Jeremy Miller, Justin Orphal, Craig Recker, Grant Schroeder, and Jacob Shivley

Perry Twp. Fire Department – Nick Adams, Nick Myers, and Laci Graham

CARDIAC CARE AWARDS

Continental EMS – Nick Rohrs, Abbey Sudlow, and Heather Weller

American Twp. Fire Department – Joe Hartman, Brian Helmig, Carson Kazee, and Rich Wilson *** Bystanders assisting: Audra Daniels, Rachel Flores, Gene Heitmeyer, and Ron Williams

Lima Fire Department – Matthew Baker, Miles Conrad, Rich Deubler, Jeremy Miller, Derek Newland, Justin Orphal, and Jacob Shivley

Columbus Grove EMS – Jody Barto, Grant Schroeder, and Ryan Smith

OB “STORK” AWARD

LACP – Duane Boyd, Randy Houts, and Kylee Morrisey

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