Nicole “Nikki” Warren is being recognized for her clinical skills and quick action that saved the lives of patients on two separate occasions.

The first, a motor vehicle crash where the patient was at first believed to be deceased, required rapid attention after a longer-than-expected extraction from the wreckage. En route to the hospital, the patient received blood products and post-intubation care as Nikki used all her clinical knowledge to keep the patient alive during the flight. Because of her extraordinary abilities, that individual survived and was eventually discharged.

In the second incident, a patient with a crossbow arrow in the leg required three units of blood, one unit of plasma, and multiple doses of epinephrine. Despite these ministrations, the patient went into cardiac arrest and compressions were started. Due to the extraordinary level of care exhibited during this patient’s flight, the patient managed to make a full recovery.

In both of these patient interventions, Nikki played an irreplaceable role in the survival of these individuals.

Shane Terry, a nearly 20-year veteran with Air Evac Lifeteam, is an expert in emergency medical care, known for his ability to quickly assess and intervene in critical situations. His expertise has been particularly noted in two significant incidents: one involving a former AEL team member and the other, a child.

In the first instance, Shane was in an ER when a former team member experienced cardiac arrest. His quick thinking and skillful intervention, alongside ER staff, saved the individual’s life.

In another case, Shane responded to a call for a child in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, he immediately recognized that the child’s airway tube was incorrectly placed. Shane reintubated the child and, recognizing the weather conditions were unsafe for flight, accompanied the ground unit to ensure the child received continuous care en route to the hospital.

Shane’s dedication to patient care and his ability to act swiftly in critical moments make him a standout in the field. His nearly two decades of service with Air Evac Lifeteam and his commitment to saving lives are why he is recognized as a 2024 Star of Life honoree.

William “Brent” Fisher is being recognized for his exceptional dedication to emergency medical care, as demonstrated during a critical response in December 2023. Brent and his flight nurse partner arrived at the scene of a hunting accident where the patient had been shot in the leg with a crossbow arrow. The patient was still in a tree stand, complicating extrication for air-medical transport, and Brent and his team had to wait before beginning life-saving interventions.

The arrow had entered just above the patient’s knee, piercing the femoral artery and causing severe hemorrhaging. Brent administered three units of blood, one plasma unit, and multiple doses of epinephrine, all while coordinating the need for additional blood products. Just before arriving at the hospital, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Brent immediately began chest compressions, stopping only to secure himself for landing, and resumed once they were on the ground.

Thanks to Brent’s extraordinary care during transport, the patient survived and made a full recovery. His quick thinking, skill, and unwavering commitment to patient care were pivotal in saving the patient’s life.

Juvencio Estrada is being recognized for his lifesaving actions during a critical incident involving another company’s ground ambulance and an 18-wheeler collision. Juvencio, along with Flight Paramedic Johan Alvarado, was dispatched to the scene of the accident, where they quickly assessed that one of the patients in the ambulance was in urgent need of advanced care. The patient was experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and had suffered right arm trauma with a tourniquet applied.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, Juvencio and Johan promptly removed the patient from the ambulance and transferred them to their aircraft for immediate transport to advanced medical care. During a fuel stop at Laredo International Airport, they discovered that the patient’s left anterior chest was unstable, among other pressing medical concerns. Acting swiftly, they performed a needle decompression and other complex medical procedures, which immediately improved the patient’s condition.

Their quick decision-making and skilled interventions were described as “lifesaving,” with the patient later expressing that they wouldn’t have survived without the care provided by Juvencio and Johan. Their actions exemplify the highest standards of emergency medical care.

Johan Alvarado’s skill, EMS knowledge, and quick thinking are credited for saving the life of a patient in another company’s ground ambulance when that ambulance and an 18-wheeler collided.

Johan, along with Flight Nurse Juvencio Estrada, were dispatched to the scene of the accident, when they realized that one of the patients in the ambulance was experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and right arm trauma with a tourniquet applied. Both Johan and Juvencio assessed that the patient needed to be immediately transported to advanced care, so they removed the patient from the ambulance and placed them into their aircraft.

During a fuel stop at Laredo International Airport, Johan and Juvencio determined that the patient’s left anterior chest was unstable along with other medical concerns. They deemed a needle decompression was necessary and performed both intricate medical procedures. Immediately, the patient’s condition improved.

Johan and Juvencio’s interventions were lifesaving. Even the patient who survived that ordeal credits their survival to Johan and Juvencio’s care.

When a premature baby, born at 27 weeks’ gestation, was in respiratory distress, Dakota Shadwell’s expertise and training on the Bubble CPAP helped save the infant’s life.

It happened when Dakota and his partner, Kelly Hamill, were called to help a patient who had been taken to a local emergency department in a rural area that did not specialize in obstetric or neonatal care.

Once there, Dakota and Kelly delivered excellent patient care to not just one, but two patients—the mother and her baby—until additional specialty help arrived. The baby, who weighed just two pounds, would go on to receive additional care from a ground pediatric specialty team while Dakota and Kelly transported the mother by air to another regional health facility.

Kelly Hamill is being honored for her impressive ability to pivot the focus of her care and successfully utilize her training on a new lifesaving technology for infants.

Kelly’s dedication and flexibility were recently demonstrated when she and her partner were dispatched to a rural hospital for what they thought was a call for a mobile EMS response for an adult female transport. However, they ended up providing care and resuscitating a baby as well.

Kelly and her partner, Dakota Shadwell, worked together to stabilize both the mother and the baby, who was born prematurely at 27 weeks’ gestation and weighed only two pounds. They utilized Bubble CPAP technology designed specifically for such small and fragile patients. Their skillful employment of this new advanced system allowed the baby to go from a distressed respiratory condition to a stable one.

The pair then continued to treat the baby, increasing blood glucose, attempting UVC, and obtaining peripheral IV access. They stayed with the baby until a ground pediatric specialty team arrived, then transported the mother by air to another regional hospital.

Ian Carroll is being honored for his bravery and skill in two separate situations—one involving a patient whose vehicle fell into a river and another involving a patient injured in a mining truck accident.

The first incident happened when Ian was off duty, sitting in his car at an intersection. That is when he saw another vehicle run through that same intersection and into the nearby river. Ian quickly left his car, jumped into the river, and pulled the driver out of the sinking vehicle and onto the shore. He then stabilized the patient as more help arrived.

In the other situation, Ian entered a crashed haul vehicle and administered blood products to an injured driver whose leg was bleeding profusely. While fire personnel worked to extricate the individual from the truck, Ian realized more blood was needed, so he called for another AEL aircraft to deliver additional supplies. That decision was a critical factor in helping save both the patient’s leg and life.

Lauryn Allgood is being honored as a Star of Life for her contributions to quality improvement across her organization. Lauryn’s Quality Enhancement Program Director marked her as a standout contributor when Lauryn joined a committee tasked with mitigating or eliminating risk. When that leader moved into a new position, she transitioned Lauryn to lead the committee and continue the project to completion.

Lauryn accepted the challenge evincing an ingrained desire to lead and an innate knack for being a leader. She impressed her colleagues with her ability to learn, think critically, problem-solve, and—most importantly—ask the right questions. By the time Lauryn had completed the companywide project, her efforts had impacted every single flight crew member in the Air Evac organization. She has helped foster a culture of continuous improvement that is not limited to improving patient care but touches all areas of operations and all people.

Lauryn is a skilled clinician who holds a Master’s degree in Nursing and is committed to providing care at a moment’s notice. This makes her service outside the designated scope of a flight nurse all the more noteworthy. She reflects the best values of the company and is an asset on the job and off.

Lance Blythe is being honored as a Star of Life for providing critical care to a four-year-old gunshot victim while also guiding a new nurse during the transport.  The toddler had been shot in the abdomen and had lost a lot of blood. Lance not only performed his duties with calm and precision but also provided leadership and guidance to the nurse, who, along with Lance, had to effectively manage an entire supply of blood and plasma. Once the hospital was selected, Lance instructed the pilot to communicate with the OCC (Operational Control Center) and CENCOM that a surgical team needed to be prepped for the incoming patient. Then, to add another layer of complication, the flight hit a few patches of turbulence caused by extreme winds. Through it all, Lance remained composed, fulfilling his duties and helping others at the same time.

In the end, the transport was a success. Lance’s direction saved the life of a little boy. Lance is a humble hero whose skill, talent, and experience represent the best of EMS.