LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Lima Memorial Health System kicked off National First Responders Week by thanking local EMS workers.
First responders from around the area were invited to the 27th annual EMS Banquet to show appreciation for all their hard work, the difficult situations they face daily, and the time with their families that they have to sacrifice in order to go out into the community and save lives. Awards were presented to those who went above and beyond this past year, with categories like Stroke Alert Award, Trauma Run of the Year, and Cardiac Run of the Year.
"These are very unique calls that these guys went on. Not that all calls aren't important, but the particular calls that we're going to be representing tonight are those unique calls that you don't see every day. So, it really uses their education to treat those kinds of patients, and really for good outcomes, that's what it takes, so we're going to honor them tonight," said Lima Memorial Health System EMS manager Doug LaRue.
LaRue suggests that community members take time this week to personally thank first responders with a gesture like sending a card or dropping off cookies.
This year's award winners are:
EMS Educator of the Year
Brock Yingling, Apollo Career Center
Cardiac Run of the Year
David Lowery, Vincent Skeins, and Gabrelle Dulebohn, Wapakoneta Fire Department
Officer Corey Zwiebel, Wapakoneta Police Department
Medic Run of the Year
Jonathan Garcia, David Coulter, Scott Jacobs, and Matthew Hammons, Lima Fire Department
Officer Logan Shick, Lima Police Department
Trauma Run of the Year
Michael Miller, Haydyn Taylor, and Nathan Hampton, BKP Ambulance District
Danny Foulk, Brent Warren, and Tyler Pitts, Kenton Fire Department
Stroke Alert Award
Samuel Blank, Alex Barden, Brad Courtney Jr., Mike Wenning, and John Lowry, Uniopolis Fire Department
Departments of the Year
Wapakoneta Fire Department
Wayne Township Fire and Rescue
