Jason Henry, a Fire Captain Paramedic with Rural Metro Fire in Tempe, Arizona, exemplifies leadership and honor in every aspect of his role, values he strives to instill in the crews he leads. These qualities were on full display in March 2023, when Captain Henry and his crew responded to a life-threatening situation that showcased their teamwork and dedication to saving lives.

While driving on a rural road, Captain Henry witnessed a vehicle swerving erratically toward his fire engine, just before the driver lost control and crashed into a soft soil field. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Captain Henry immediately requested that firefighter and EMT Antoine Berenger assess the patient, who had suffered cardiac arrest and was in dire need of medical attention.

After the assessment, Captain Henry and his crew swiftly removed the patient from the vehicle and placed them on solid ground. There, Antoine and new paramedic Brendan McCormack began administering CPR and other critical interventions. Thanks to their quick actions, the team successfully revived the patient, ultimately saving their life.

What makes this event even more remarkable is that Antoine and his crewmates were not originally scheduled to be in the area. They had stepped in to cover the shift, yet their ability to immediately come together and work seamlessly under pressure is a testament to their professionalism and dedication to patient care. Captain Henry’s leadership was crucial in coordinating this lifesaving effort, showcasing his commitment to his team and the community he serves.

Antoine Berenger is a true hero. In March 2023, he, together with his crewmates, saved a patient, who, while suffering cardiac arrest, drove erratically towards the firefighters’ engine in the oncoming lane of a rural road just before crashing their vehicle into a soft soil field.

Following orders from his leader, Captain Jason Henry, Antoine quickly assessed the patient before he and his crewmates removed the patient from the vehicle and then placed the individual on the hard, dry ground near the field. Antoine and his crewmate, new paramedic, Brendan McCormack, then began administering CPR and other critical interventions, ultimately saving the patient’s life.

Remarkably, Antoine and his crewmates weren’t originally scheduled to be in the area—they had stepped in to cover a shift. Their swift, coordinated response in a moment of crisis exemplifies their teamwork and commitment to patient care.

During a mountain rescue call, Jay Shintaku responded to an emergency where a person had been thrown from a horse and suffered a severe, uncontrolled head bleed after hitting a rock.

Upon arriving at the scene via the sheriff’s department’s helicopter, Jay quickly began administering treatment and realized the severity of the patient’s condition. He convinced the pilot to fly directly to the trauma center due to the urgent nature of the situation. The patient was at risk of bleeding out and had multiple fractured vertebrae, making any delay in transport or transfer of helicopters potentially fatal.

 Thanks to Jay’s swift and persuasive action, the patient received timely medical attention and survived the ordeal, with the hope of one day riding horses again.