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Archives: Stars

Wendy Becofsky

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Wendy joined Mohawk Ambulance Service in October 1987 as a part-time in-house collections agent. She’s proved invaluable to the company from day one, and she developed not only Mohawk’s first in-house collections department but also the company’s first front-end verification department.

Wendy’s exceptional leadership skills led to her promotion to Business Office Manager in 2004. Four years later, she was appointed as Compliance Officer for Mohawk, and she has provided outstanding guidance and attention to this important role for the company.

Ambulance providers in New York State and across the country value Wendy as a resource, getting to know her through her involvement in both the state and national ambulance associations. Wendy has held leadership roles in the American Ambulance Association (AAA) and the United New York Ambulance Network (UNYAN).

She was the chairwoman of the AAA Medicare Regulatory Work Group and continues to be an active member of this group. In addition, she has been the Reimbursement Chairwoman for UNYAN since 2010.

Each and every day of Wendy’s 30 years of service with Mohawk she demonstrates her dedication to improve ambulance services, and she is a valuable member of the Mohawk Ambulance management team.

When she’s not working, Wendy enjoys spending time with her three daughters and her husband of 38 years, and she is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first grandchild.

 

Lori Nicole Richardson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Lori Richardson has been a valuable member of our EMS team since 2006, when she joined us immediately after completing EMT school. She became interested in serving the community after getting married to Pafford paramedic David Richardson, who is also her ambulance partner.

Lori is dedicated to serving patients in the Marianna community to the best of her ability, and she often follows up with people after the call. That might mean cooking and delivering meals to patients who are homebound, or dropping off medications for people who can’t get to the pharmacy themselves.

She and David have delivered gifts to children after particularly rough calls and attended parties for patients they’ve grown close to.

Lori is especially proud of her ability to reassure pediatric and psychiatric patients and to have a positive impact on their lives.

As an FTO, Lori helps prospective EMTs understand the challenges and rewards of the job. She also helps other crew members to ensure the units are properly cared for and supplies are stocked. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed—she has been honored with the Road Warrior and #Pafford Strong Team Member awards.

Off-duty, Lori is continuing her education, working toward a veterinary technician degree. She and David volunteer at local animal rescue organizations and visit nursing and foster homes with their dogs to provide comfort to residents.

It’s quite rare to find an EMS team, let alone a married couple, who work together and both show a dedication and commitment to EMS that spills over from the work schedule into their everyday lives.

Lori and David Richardson have earned the trust of their whole community because of their sincere care-giving “after the call.” They also enthusiastically advocate for our company and EMS, and that fills the Pafford leadership team with pride.

We are very grateful for this wonderful couple, whose knowledge, skill, and dedication mean their friends, neighbors, and our company are so well served. The  Star of Life designation is deserved by Lori and David, and it reflects the appreciation everyone at Pafford has for their past, current, and future efforts.

David Brandon Richardson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

David has been a valuable member of our EMS team since 2000, working as an EMT for one year before transitioning to Paramedic. He knew he wanted to serve the community while he was still in high school—he attended EMT school as a senior and worked as a telemetry technician until he was old enough to join our team.

David is dedicated to serving patients in Pafford’s Marianna, Arkansas, service area, with its population of 4,115. He often goes the extra mile in his rural community to ensure residents have “over-the-top” care. He and his EMT wife, Lori, have cooked and delivered meals and picked up medications for homebound patients, delivered gifts to children after particularly rough calls, and attended parties as honored guests for patients with whom they have close relationships.

Because David has lived in the community his entire life, he knows almost all the people he cares for. Taking care of a patient’s dog while he was hospitalized for three weeks or spending hours on the phone helping patients gain access to needed items such as air-conditioners, fans, ramps, and other resources are routine for him. He also carries blessing bags to deliver to homeless people he comes across while on duty.

As a leader, David is passionate about working with his coworkers to ensure everyone is on the same page and able to provide the best care. He even routinely assists EMTs with ambulance maintenance, station upkeep, and protocol review. His efforts have not gone unnoticed—he was honored twice in 2016, receiving the Johnny Gage Award and the Pafford Strong Team Member Award.

It’s quite rare to find an EMS team, let alone a married couple, who work together and both show a dedication and commitment to EMS that spills over from the work schedule into their everyday lives.

David and Lori Richardson have earned the trust of their whole community because of their sincere care-giving “after the call.” They also enthusiastically advocate for our company and EMS, and that fills the Pafford leadership team with pride.

We are very grateful for this wonderful couple, whose knowledge, skill, and dedication mean their friends, neighbors, and our company are so well served. The  Star of Life designation is deserved by David and Lori, and it reflects the appreciation everyone at Pafford has for their past, current, and future efforts.

Marcy Dawson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Marcy Dawson is a registered nurse and a Paramedic, and she has worked in emergency nursing for most of her career.

She has worked at Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin and at both Medcenter One (now Sanford Health) in Bismarck and St. Alexius Emergency Room, and she was a flight nurse when both hospitals shared a helicopter.

Marcy has a total of 16 years of flying experience. She managed Angel Air Care and was nurse manager for Minot Air Medical, which was part of Bismarck Air Medical. Marcy has also volunteered with Carson Ambulance, and she did critical care transport from the Elgin Hospital to Bismarck with New Leipzig/ Elgin ambulance.

Currently Marcy is a flight nurse with Sanford AirMed, Dickinson Base. She volunteers for both Hebron and New Salem, and she is an EMS instructor with Sanford EMS Education in Bismarck. She is certified in emergency nursing, flight nursing, and trauma nursing.

In 2017, Marcy was awarded EMS Provider of the Year by the NDEMSA.

Pam Gohn

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Pam Gohn initially studied nursing, but she soon discovered EMS and switched her career’s focus. Pam completed her EMT training in 1994, and enrolled in Paramedic school in 2003. She has also attained certification as a Critical Care Paramedic.

In 2005, Pam joined LifeCare Ambulance Service. She is now the Team Leader of the Cassopolis operation for LifeCare. Her coworkers describe her as compassionate, understanding, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. She excels at mentoring other employees. Gohn is a consistent and very competent Paramedic who has compassionately impacted many lives over the course of her 14-year career. Pam’s next goal is to become a licensed EMS Instructor/Coordinator.

Pam and her husband, Jim, have been married for 14 years. They share a blended family which now includes four children and five grandchildren! Gohn enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, camping, and home improvement projects.

LifeCare Ambulance is proud to honor Pam as a Star of Life.

 

Richard Church

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Rich is a Paramedic Field Supervisor in our Ionia County operation, and he exemplifies the best of Life EMS through his professionalism, dedication, and compassion.

He joined Life EMS in 2008 as an EMT, and two years later he earned his Paramedic certification. Fast-forward two more years, and Rich obtained his critical care Paramedic certification, and in 2013 he was promoted to field supervisor.

Always smiling, Rich presents himself in a confident and professional manner. He maintains a calm, reassuring demeanor with his patients and a cheerful, educational attitude with coworkers.

Rich is supportive of his coworkers both in their personal lives and professionally. He is always ready to help a new associate, and shares his knowledg as a very patient trainer. As a supervisor, he listens to all sides, and he doesn’t mind if someone calls him at home to trouble-shoot an issue when the on-duty supervisor is out on a call.

Over all, Rich leads by example and keeps the best interest of the communities we serve front and enter at all times. In the past, he has covered countless hours as an on-call supervisor when needed, and he continues to step up and fill partial shifts to make sure staffing levels are maintained.

Rich was instrumental over the last many months as we worked to implement HealthEMS Mobile Touch. He was one of our original beta testers and worked tirelessly on documenting using Mobile Touch to help identify issues and improve the product as we prepared it for roll-out. His feedback to Life EMS and to the vendor was very helpful. Rich also helped train his fellow associates.

Rich is a true family man. He drives the Belding Band, supports the drama arts, and encourages his children in all that they attempt. In addition to all the community activities he participates in, Rich is also an active firefighter with the Belding Fire Department.

Terry Childers

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Terry Childers is the 2018 Star of Life representing LifeNet’s Hot Springs, Arkansas division. Terry originally decided to become a paramedic because he thought it would be an exciting and fast-paced career. After twenty-seven years in the business, he affirms that he was right! Terry has served patients, their families, and his coworkers in many roles over the years, and says he has learned from some of the best providers in Arkansas. Terry has managed both ground and flight programs, served as educator, and functioned as mentor to innumerable EMS professionals over the years.

Terry admits that the main reason for his long tenure in EMS is the personal gratification he feels when caring for patients. While he acknowledges the critical impact he and his peers have played in life-saving moments, Terry relishes the ability to make someone’s day better by providing a moment of comfort, or just by listening to their stories. He confesses that patients probably do not realize that caring for them contributes as much to his well-being as he hopes does the role he plays in their lives.

Terry’s peers nominated him to represent them as Star of Life and their accolades left him humbled and honored. One co-worker’s words shared the sentiment of many, stating “He is an amazing medic and takes care of people like no one else!” Another peer said, “He is humble, kind, and never hesitates to help someone else.”

When not at work, Terry finds time for balance in life by relaxing on the Lake. Recently he has been renovating a 103-year-old house and, during breaks, enjoys sitting on his front porch with Leroy, his bulldog, who is a celebrity of sorts among his EMS community.

 

Casey Dodson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Casey Dodson joined LifeNet in April 2011. He was among a group of new employees who helped create an entirely new EMS delivery model for the Stillwater, Oklahoma area and surrounding communities. This new venture was challenging for all involved, and Casey contributed his years of EMS experience and knowledge to our success. He has now served in EMS for seventeen years.

His coworkers know Casey as a senior partner who can handle any scenario or difficult scene. He is frequently paired with new employees during Field Training and employee development processes. A new medic can be comforted knowing that if Casey is his partner the shift will go well.

Casey also likes to have fun at work. He revels in “poking the bear” whenever a manager is around, usually to get a reaction, but often to bring attention to an issue with possible solutions. When he is away from work, Casey enjoys spending time with family and friends. He helps with charitable functions in the community as a member and an officer of the Stillwater Elks’ Lodge.

 

Cyndy Rider

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Cyndy Rider is a full-time paramedic with Lifenet, Inc. in Texarkana, Arkansas. As a child, she split her time between her home in Texarkana and the family farm in Garland City, Arkansas where her father was a farmer and member of the volunteer fire department. After graduating from Arkansas High, she attended Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Mass Communication.

In 2011 she moved to Providence Village, Texas with her husband, Thomas Rider. While living in North Dallas, she felt a strong desire to leave the retail industry after more 10 years and pursue a childhood dream of becoming a paramedic/first responder. In 2013 she completed her EMT training at UT Southwestern and began working for Allegiance Ambulance in Carrollton, TX. In 2015 she returned to school to become a Licensed Paramedic. She moved back to Texarkana and began working at Lifenet the following year.

Cyndy is well-respected among her peers and co-workers for her positive and cheerful attitude, passion for her job, and exceptional care and concern for her patients. Fellow employees describe Cyndy as, “…always coming to work with a positive attitude and is constantly showing compassion for her patients as well as her coworkers. She cares about her patients and always wants to do her best!”

Cyndy thoroughly enjoys working with students as a preceptor. She takes great pride in teaching others, not only the skills necessary to become a confident and proficient paramedic, but also how to maintain a positive attitude in stressful and sometimes difficult circumstances. She is grateful for the opportunity this job has given her to have a meaningful impact on the lives of her patients and fellow employees.

In her spare time Cyndy enjoys camping, traveling, spending time with her four dogs, playing piano, and serving the members of Fairview United Methodist Church.

 

Lindsey Duff

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Lindsey Duff consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. She often volunteers on missions during her off-time, some of which take Lindsey away from home for days or weeks at a time. One of these volunteer missions was a very complex bariatric transport to the Middle East. No other company had the resources to complete this mission. Lindsey was responsible not just for patient care, but also for the wellbeing of another medical crew member who became seriously ill during the lengthy transport.

During AMR Air Ambulance’s more than four-month FEMA deployment to the U.S. Virgin Islands for Hurricane Irma and Maria relief, Lindsey spent six weeks on duty with just two breaks, each lasting less than a week. Lindsey voluntarily sacrificed her personal time as well as the holiday season to support the Virgin Islands community. Lindsey is truly a selfless and loyal Flight Nurse who facilitated challenging patient evacuations while living in sub-optimal conditions in a post-disaster zone.

Lindsey received positive recognition from other Air Medical programs for her energetic and “can do” attitude, and represented our organization with honor. AMR Air Ambulance is extremely proud to have Lindsey represent our organization as a 2018 Star of Life!

 

Nick Goff

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Since he joined Pafford in 2015, Nick has impressed his colleagues by serving as a leader, staying motivated, and being positive. He has a work ethic that’s second to none, and that shows in his job performance as well as in his overall demeanor and attitude. He inspires people around him to take a little extra initiative at the station and go beyond expectations.

Nick is very dependable and often covers open shifts, and he played a significant part in all four Pafford EMS deployments this past year.

He is very goal-oriented and takes pride in his work, and he sets the bar for his fellow employees. Anytime he sets out to do anything to better himself or our service, rest assured, it will be done. And Nick doesn’t just complete things: He excels at the things he does. You can see this in his dedication toward his continued education, and by simply observing the way he completes delegated tasks.

Nick began his EMS career in 2013—earning Employee of the Year for Westville EMS—before joining Pafford as a PRN NREMT. Nicholas quickly obtained his NREMT-Advance; today he is an Nationally Registered Paramedic as well as a Field Training Officer.

He loves to be able to make a difference in the lives of the patients he treats, and he delivers critical medical attention and advanced life support at emergency scenes, both onsite and in transit. Nick also assists with daily truck and equipment checks, ordering supplies, and scheduling. He is motivated to achieve both personal and organizational objectives, including helping Pafford achieve CAAS accreditation.

Nick has participated on a volunteer fire department, responding to fire and first responders’ calls. He and his dog, a Dalmatian, also visited local schools to teach children about fire safety. Today he volunteers in the areas of education and skills check-off.

Robert Scott Morency

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Robert Scott Morency has worn many different hats in his pre-hospital care career. Since his discharge from the US Navy in 1991—he was a corpsman in the Marines for seven years—Scott has dedicated his life to serving the sick and injured in Massachusetts as a Paramedic, firefighter, EMS manager, risk and safety manager, and clinical educator.

In Scott’s current role as Armstrong’s clinical services manager, he instructs not only Armstrong employees but also first responders and EMS providers from local police and fire departments in such areas such as ACLS, CPR, PALS, PHTLS, TECC, LEFT, AMLS, and TEMS. Scott is a true people person, and he is able to relate to his students in both the private and public sector, making him an invaluable resource.

Scott also serves as a clinical liaison between Armstrong and various municipalities, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, urgent care centers, and assisted living facilities, giving them an easy channel of communication and tailoring programs to meet their specific needs.

Throughout his eight years at Armstrong Ambulance, Scott has gained an impressive reputation as an instructor, and he continues to receive high marks from his students. He is known for making complicated subjects easier to understand, and he can connect to providers at all career levels. Scott has a passion for improving pre-hospital care through education, and he is frequently called on to mentor new EMS providers.

Scott has made a lasting impact on our employees and also significantly impacted the development of all trainees by building a Patient Care Simulation Laboratory on site at Armstrong Ambulance. As a result of his efforts, Armstrong’s customers benefit tremendously by practicing patient care and emergency response skills in a realistic home- or hospital-like setting.

Scott’s other major accomplishments and contributions include serving as Armstrong’s Designated Infection Control Officer (DICO) and Safety Committee Chair, as the Northeastern Law Enforcement Council’s (NEMLEC) Tactical Medical Operator/Supervisor, and as a member of the Massachusetts Region IV Pre-Hospital Systems Committee.

When he is not working, Scott enjoys spending time as a Delivery Captain in the summer and as a competitor on the Ridgeway Racing snowmobile team in the winter months.

 

Kenneth Truax

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Ken started his ambulance service career at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Michigan in July 2009, working as an EMT and qualifying as a Paramedic in 2013.

After working in the field for two years, Ken gained additional experience serving as a dispatcher and inventory controller, working his way up to operations supervisor and eventually station manager.

In 2015, he was promoted to operations manager for the entire Michigan region of Superior—a vital role, where he very capably leads six station managers through every aspect of daily operations for EMS and Non-Emergent Medical Transportation.

Superior of Michigan is a large ambulance company, and his position requires dedicated, consistent leadership. Ken continuously proves himself instrumental at managing and planning the tactical and strategic initiatives that directly affect with the mission and vision of Superior.

Ken is well known by his peers for his friendly, composed demeanor. He leads by example through his positivity and exceedingly strong work ethic. His key strengths are his competitive, analytical, and strategic thinking and planning, but Ken is also empathetic and thoughtfully balances his personal and professional attributes to be an effective leader and respected colleague.

Ken was a key contributor to Superior of Michigan’s achieving CAAS accreditation in November 2017. He doesn’t rest on this achievement, though, and he continues to promote the understanding that he manages a company that must constantly live up to the challenge of exceeding industry standards and find ways to translate this into everyday actions.

The ambulance industry needs managers with this attitude, and that is why Ken is recognized as a highly valued member of the Superior team. He is vital to our organization’s growth and elite status in the ambulance industry.

If you ask Ken why he decided to become a Paramedic and work in the ambulance industry, he will tell you simply, “It’s because of the excitement of helping people.”

In his personal time, Ken enjoys spending quality time with his family, truly focusing on the joys of life with his wife, Brittany, and his 2-year-old son, Alex (who looks just like him in miniature form). Ken and his wife are expecting their second child in September.

 

Dane Domagal

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Dane began his EMT career as a member of the Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service team in July 2007. Since then, he has happily taken on more responsibility as he’s advanced within the organization. 

In his current role, Dane is responsible for the supervision of more than 100 EMT professionals. It’s a demanding, all-encompassing role that includes the on-boarding and acclimation of new hires, quality assurance training, education, new employee development, employee relations, customer service, problem resolution, and assorted management and leadership tasks, for good measure.

Dane is the kind of person who will do whatever he can to help those around him succeed, and he has the passion, love, and enthusiasm that make him one of our agency’s most up-and-coming leaders.

When he’s not working at Superior, Dane enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Baily. Dane proudly serves as an usher at his church during Sunday services.

He has adopted or fostered many abandoned animals, and he loves being greeted by his dog, Mabel, every night when he returns home.

Dane has always shown an interest in politics from a very young age and hopes one day to take part in a campaign.

Patrick Bankston

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Public service has been the focus of Pat’s career. Indeed, he has a total of 35 years of public service experience—28 years with the Clarksdale Fire Department, where he attained the rank of assistant chief, and 12 years with Pafford.

He has been a valued member of the Pafford EMS team since he joined the company full-time after retiring from the fire department. 

Pat demonstrates a true commitment to his patients and keeps his lines of communication open to family members, readily answering their questions, and often making sure patients are doing well after the call. He goes beyond the call of duty.

Pat aims to provide optimal service to patients and he leads by example, supporting his coworkers in their quest to offer the finest care. He single-handedly revamped our station supply system for improved accessibility and inventory—the behind-the-scenes work that’s not always seen but keeps the company running at top efficiency.

He is a can-do medic who is always willing to help out around the station, no matter what the task. He’ll happily stay over covering shifts, building cabinets, or giving the rookie crew members sound advice. He takes the initiative to improve the workplace and the company’s morale—and save lives.

Pat has been honored by Pafford twice with the Johnny Gage Award for most patients transported in his district.

He displays a true example of giving your all and asking for nothing in return, each and every day. We are so pleased to nominate him as our Star of Life for our Mississippi operation.

Demel Fountain

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Demel entered EMS in 2002, right after he graduated from Chicago’s Malcolm X College School of Health Sciences. He fell in love with the profession, and went on to earn his Paramedic license in 2006 from St. Francis in Evanston.

When he entered management a few years later, he ended up working just a few blocks from his alma mater, providing care and treatment to people in the local community and the Greater Chicago Area.

In 2011, Demel took the next step in his career by earning his Critical Care Paramedic license from University of Maryland-Baltimore. Demel has worked since then as a CCT medic in the Chicago area, and his dedication and professionalism have been recognized by his recent promotion—he now oversees two of Superior’s south suburban stations.

Demel has had several cardiac arrest saves in the field, and he has touched countless lives during his career. He has proven that hard work, mixed with dedication and compassion, does a great service not only to the company but—more importantly—to the community. We are proud to nominate him as a 2018 Star of Life.

Randy Nichols

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Randy Nichols has been a part of AMR in LaGrange, Georgia for four years. He started as an EMT, then quickly progressed to Paramedic. During this time, he has also assumed additional responsibilities including Field Training Officer, Shift Supervisor, Disaster Response Team member, Director of Education, and part-time fleet mechanic, all while making sure that the 74 people in his EMS family feel welcome.

One day, Randy asked if we could launch some educational classes for staff. Once he got the green light, he was off and running; taking on all aspects of the project from ordering books to researching the Georgia licensure requirements. Randy created an EMT Basic Class and an AEMT Class, while simultaneously developing three Level 3 instructors. Word has gotten out about the success of the AMR LaGrange education programs. We are now hosting four classes and have a waiting list, all because Randy recognized we needed to do better as an industry in teaching the next generation.

Randy’s compassion for his team and his “never say no” attitude empower him to help staff of all experience levels, from new recruits on day one of employment to seasoned staff with 20 years of service history. As Randy would say, his goal is “Making AMR great in two thousand one eight!”

 

Rosemary O’Keefe-Kirschner

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Rosemary O’Keefe-Kirschner truly embodies the best of AMR-New Haven. She is its heart and soul, and there is not an employee who has not been positively affected by Rosemary. She constantly looks for ways lend a helping hand to her coworkers and her community.

Rosemary is the kind of person who is always looking out for those around her, no matter what she herself may be going through personally. She is truly a selfless individual who will stop at nothing to help someone in their time of need.

The entire New Haven staff looks up to Rosemary. She is the Paramedic colleagues go to for advice, mentorship, or to discuss a difficult call.

Rosemary has been honing her skills and serving this community for 39 years. In an interesting parallel, these skills which were recently demonstrated when she had a code-save of a 39-year-old woman. Thanks to Rosemary’s knowledge and experience, this young mother of three returned home to her children.

 

Michael Schwenke

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Mike Schwenke is a respected member of the EMS community in Effingham, Illinois, and has been for 14 years. He enjoys teaching almost as much as he loves being a Paramedic. Throughout his career, he has taught countless numbers of first responders, EMTs, and Paramedics. Mike excels in his teaching, and wants to make sure his coworkers can meet the same standards of excellence he holds for himself. While Mike has only been with Abbott EMS for one year, his dedication to the profession has proven invaluable to our operation.

Mike wants everyone to be knowledgeable, and is always first to answer questions from his team and others. He took the time to meet with local hospitals and train them on Abbott’s preferred airway devices, as they had not previously used the i-Gels brand. Mike also met with the local fire departments to improve communication and collaboration on emergency calls.

 

Andrea Strongman

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If you are lucky enough to be partnered with Andrea Strongman, the chances of your having a slow shift are low: She has a reputation for being dispatched whenever a big event or rough call occurs. This reputation was solidified on October 8, 2017, when a devastating fire hit the Sonoma Valley region.

Andrea and her partner were working the night shift when the fire began. High winds quickly spread the fire across the region, knocking down power lines and inundating the area with smoke and ash. The pair were dispatched to evacuate a paraplegic patient from his home, which was in the direct path of the fire. They arrived to find the house engulfed in flames with no firefighting resources available. Despite making every effort to gain entry, the flames were so hot and destructive it became clear the fire would prevent any further rescue efforts.

Distraught, Andrea and her partner had to compose themselves so they could continue to run calls being dispatched that night. Together, they performed countless residential, hospital, and skilled nursing facility evacuations, in addition to emergency medical transports to the ERs that were still open.

Andrea accomplished all of this in the midst of consoling and reassuring several of her colleagues who had lost their homes. Andrea’s partners may not always benefit from her reputation, but without question her community and her patients do.