Jackson County Paramedic Coty Peardon is known as an “A-team player” who always steps up to help out. Often, Coty volunteers before he is even asked. Coty has also been the recipient of many local, state, national, and departmental awards, commendations, and titles.

When Coty was 16, he joined an EMS scouting group called Venturing that offered camping, whitewater rafting, and ambulance ride-alongs. There, Coty learned the true merits of teamwork while finding his calling to help others, and a passion for EMS was born.

After graduating high school, Coty enrolled in Northwestern Technical College’s EMT-Intermediate/BS program, in Georgia’s prestigious EMS Region 1. During the yearlong EMT program, Coty worked full-time as a cardiac monitor technician, obtained his AHA BLS instructor certification, and still graduated with honors.

While continuing to work full-time as an EMT and attend Paramedic school, Coty made time to develop additional skills. Coty achieved his National Senior Firefighter, Fire Apparatus Operator, and Paramedic Rope Rescue certifications before graduating with honors and receiving the Excellence in Advanced Airway Award.

Coty hasn’t slowed down since joining the Acadian Ambulance team in November 2015. Within a few months, Coty obtained his Critical Care Certification, once again landing among the top in his class.

Coty is currently helping to revamp the new-hire process in Jackson County, establishing an Acadian Explorers Post, and creating an EMS competition. Coty is also actively pursuing his flight paramedic certification.

Acadian is proud to recognize Coty as our Louisiana/Mississippi Paramedic of the Year as well as an AAA Star of Life.

Tyler Niblett decided as a teenager that he had a mission in life to serve and to help others.

Tyler’s father, Craig, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when Tyler was 14, and died six weeks later after a very short and traumatic battle. Tyler remembers with fondness and gratitude some of the outstanding caregivers who had an impact on him during this difficult time. These health care providers helped Tyler understand and cope with what was going on around him, and they cared for his dad as if he were their only patient. Their passion and skill led Tyler to decide that he, too, would become a caregiver who would make the same impact in the lives of others.

At age 16, Tyler became an Explorer with Mobile Fire and Rescue, marking the beginning of his career in EMS.

In 2013, Tyler balanced his duties at the fire department with enlisting and training in the Army National Guard. Tyler also started a “Share the Road” fundraiser and organized a 12-week bowling league that raised money to help pay for a family friend’s medical expenses following an accident.

When Tyler graduated from high school, he was given the “Heart of a Servant” award, the highest honor given by his school in recognition of volunteer service to the community.

The day after finishing high school, Tyler left for basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Returning home, Tyler registered at Fortis College to obtain his EMT certification and returned to the Mobile Fire Department as a volunteer.

In 2015, Tyler completed his EMT course and passed NREMT on the first attempt. Tyler faced challenges finding a position because he was only 19, and many EMS organizations were unwilling to hire an EMT younger than 21. Tyler did not let this stop him—with drive, diligence, and quite a bit of that Tyler-charm everyone knows, he landed his first position with Newman’s Ambulance. Shortly afterward, Tyler joined Acadian.

Tyler will mark his two-year anniversary with Acadian in July 2017. Tyler is enrolled to begin Paramedic training at Acadian’s National EMS Academy and is a volunteer with the St. Elmo’s Fire Department.

Tyler serves his community with passion, whether at work, at home, or in volunteer service.

Acadian Ambulance Service is proud to recognize Tyler as a Star of Life as well as Acadian’s Louisiana/Mississippi EMT of the Year.

Allison Salamoni was chosen as Acadian’s 2016 EMT of the Year for the Louisiana/ Mississippi operations. Allison has been employed with Acadian since 2012 and is stationed in Plaquemine, Louisiana.

Allison received her EMT training through Acadian’s National EMS Academy. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University’s Fire and Emergency Training Institute, where she received firefighter and hazmat training which she put to use while working as a firefighter with the Port Allen Fire Department. Allison also graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor’s degree in General Studies and a minor in Family and Consumer Sciences.

In her first year with Acadian, Allison and her partner were dispatched to an older man’s house for a fall. They assumed they would just be helping the patient back up, and would then carry on with their day. Instead, they ended up walking into any patient’s worst nightmare. The patient lived alone, and his neighbor had not seen him get his mail in a few days and decided to check on him. The neighbor found him wedged between his bed and nightstand, and immediately called 911. The patient had been stuck there for three days, incapacitated, on the floor. Allison and her partner assessed the patient and found him to be severely dehydrated. Allison cleaned him up, and got him into the best position of comfort she could at the time. She and her partner began to transport and pushed through the morning rush-hour traffic of Baton Rouge. Allison say she will forever remember this call, as all she could think about was her own family as she cared for him. This is one of those calls that reminds her day-in and day-out of why she does this job.

Acadian can count on Allison to represent the team in the most professional manner. She has served as one of the Governmental Relations Coordinators for the Baton Rouge area. She has also been a champion for wellness and fitness and serves on the safety committee. She genuinely cares about her patients.

Allison is an avid runner and competes in marathons. Her other hobbies include strength training and cooking.

Sarah Young was selected as Acadian’s 2016 Paramedic of the Year for its Louisiana/Mississippi operations, and has been employed with Acadian since March of 2014. She is stationed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Born in Juneau, Alaska, Sarah later moved to Washington State and began her EMS career at a fire-based EMS service. She attended paramedic class in Idaho. When she travelled to Baton Rouge for her clinical ride time, she soon decided that she wanted to make Baton Rouge her home.

Sarah has an amazing attitude and is a great employee and clinician. She sets the tone of the day by leading by example. She is a great leader for her co-workers and is a mentor every day on the job. As a safety and wellness committee member, Sarah is also a strong advocate for EMS safety.

Sarah remembers her most memorable call, hands-down, as the first time that she delivered a baby. She says, “Sometimes we are unable to save our patients despite our best efforts, but with childbirth you get to be there as a life is just beginning. It is such an incredible feeling to help a mother bring her little one into this world. To be there for their first moments and then to see the joy come across the mother’s face as she sees her baby for the first time, is incredible and unforgettable.”

To Sarah, being a paramedic means having the honor to serve her community and to be able to assist those in need. She says, “It is not something I take lightly, because that moment is the scariest time for a patient, and we have the ability to assist them through it and treat them with our skill set. I treat each patient as if they were a family member of mine, because they deserve the same kindness and compassion that we show to our loved ones when they are in need.” Sarah loves that her job allows her to “work within a dynamic team of first responders and other medical personnel to have a positive outcome for our patient. We are stronger together.”

When not working, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, and loves being outdoors.