Henry Barsh is being honored as a 2024 Star of Life for his quick actions in recognizing symptoms of a stroke, which directly led to saving the life of a mother of three. Henry and his partner arrived on scene of a 911 call where the patient reported pain in her left arm which was the result, she said, of an assault the previous night. Through a quick assessment, Henry recognized the true nature of her pain—left-side weakness nearing paralysis, hallmarks of an active stroke.

Henry immediately placed a C-collar on the patient and called a rapid-trauma alert. He suspected possible spinal damage as the underlying cause of the stroke and began doing everything to support the patient’s shallow breathing and reduce her motion. Upon arrival at the healthcare facility, the patient was immediately brought into the trauma bay, where she was assessed and received imaging that showed multiple cervical fractures with transection of the left vertebral artery. The hospital staff commended Henry on his immediate life-saving actions.

Last Christmas Eve, Keviette Potts and her partner witnessed a man gunned down on a city street. The shooter fled, so Keviette and her partner carefully approached the patient, ferried him to their ambulance, and began treatment. The patient had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, some of which were life-threatening. One bullet had pierced the patient’s liver and lungs. Keviette and her partner rushed the man to a hospital and had him in the trauma team’s hands within 15 minutes. Due to the care and urgency that Keviette demonstrated, the man survived.

Known for her dedication and perseverance, Keviette is a highly respected Field Training Officer whose colleagues call her “an encyclopedia of EMS.” Keviette is also a volunteer Firefighter. She is the first woman in her volunteer department to complete a term as a Fire Officer, to serve as vice president and sit on the department’s board of directors. 

John has 25 years of experience in EMS, having served in a variety of field and non-field roles including paramedic, dispatching, education and regulatory services. He currently holds a Master’s degree in Public Safety Leadership and is working on his Ph.D. in Emergency Management. While working as an Assistant Professor in the EMS program at the College of Southern Maryland, John has continued to work as a paramedic at American Medical Response in Washington, D.C. John’s dedication to providing a positive impact on patient care is evident as he readily assists and mentors other field providers.”

Dallas became an EMT in August 2009 after losing a close family member in a motor vehicle crash. She felt helpless after her loss, so she decided to become an EMT and thought it would be a great way to help others. Dallas was hired by AMR Massachusetts in July 2010 where she gained experience running both IFT and 911 calls. Dallas transferred to the D.C. operation in 2012 after moving to the area and obtaining her National Registry EMT certification.While working at AMR, Dallas became interested in various aspects of EMS, so she applied to a local community hospital in southern Maryland. Dallas is in a dual position at the hospital, holding job titles of Hyperbaric Safety Director and Hyperbaric Chamber Technologist. Dallas hopes to further her career in EMS, so she is attending paramedic school at the College of Southern Maryland and is in her second semester. Dallas is a highly motivated individual and has hopes of obtaining an Associate’s Degree in EMS within two years. Since 2012, Dallas has been an active member of AMR’s Emergency Response Team and looks forward to being deployed as needed.”

Josh is being honored as a Star of Life for his continued commitment to public service, as well as his bravery and dedication as an EMT.

Josh has the skills, mindset, and tenacity to handle emergency scenarios that require the ability to make quick decisions. His actions proved this when he assisted a fellow AMR ambulance crew after he noticed them stopped on the Interstate. The crew was on a 911 call with a distressed patient who became violent and combative in route to the hospital. Josh acted quickly to aid the crew and assisted in controlling the situation until police arrived. Josh’s actions helped to prevent any further injury to the crew and patient.

Josh has been with AMR working within the DC 911 system since it began two years prior, joining to get more fast-paced emergency experience. Josh is one who enjoys his work and continues every day to pursue his career in public safety.