Leon W. Hayes Award for Excellence in EMS

Lauren Hontz (present)

Brayden Mitchell (present)

Kenneth Watson (present)

C.J. and Carlee Cooksey (present)

Across Maryland, health care professionals are providing emergency medical services for children 24 hours a day, every day of every year, making the commitment to education, equipment, communications, and pediatric specialty centers.

The top priority in the EMS for Children Program is to prevent injuries before they happen and to teach children and youth how to respond when they see or hear an emergency take place. This is the eleventh year that the Maryland EMS for Children’s Program is recognizing children and youth from across Maryland who have learned about prevention and how to act when they see someone in trouble.

Our first awardee is Lauren Hontz, who, at nine years old suffered a devastating loss when her home was destroyed by a fire. [Invite Lauren to the podium.] She found herself and her family without some of the basic comforts that we all take for granted. So, Lauren and her family came up with an idea to help families whose lives have been disrupted by a disaster: why not collect simple, everyday items and package them to be ready for distribution when disaster strikes. Lauren’s Luggage took off and now Lauren and her family help others by providing blankets, toothbrushes, stuffed animals, and other items that can bring some small comfort to those in need. Thank you Lauren.

Next, we invite Brayden Mitchell up to receive his award. On February 17, 2013, just after midnight, Brayden, then 7 years old, made a frantic phone call to 9-1-1 call because his mother was having extreme difficulty breathing. Although he was very concerned for her well-being, and no other adults were home at the time, Brayden was able to stay calm and provide the dispatcher with all the required information in order to get units to the location quickly. Brayden was also awarded the Queen Anne’s Department of Emergency Services Civilian Citation of Merit in 2013. Braydon, thank you.

Kenneth Watson, please come up to the podium. On August 28, 2013, 6-year-old Kenny called 9-1-1 for his mother who was having a significant seizure that left her unable to communicate or call for assistance. He was extremely knowledgeable of his mother’s medical history, providing the dispatcher with important information for getting help to her quickly. Kenny also followed pre-arrival instructions that prevented his mother from suffering further injury to herself until EMS arrived. Excellent job, Kenny, thank you.

Next, we’d like C.J. and Carlee Cooksey, who are brother and sister, to receive their awards. C.J. who is 14 and Carlee, 10, have volunteered much of their time at the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad helping with daily duties like cleaning the station and with emergency drills, including playing patients. C.J. recently took the new high-performance CPR class, successfully passing the test and the modules to show that he can successfully perform CPR in an emergency. Carlee also took the class, and, when she’s old enough, will take the certification test for her CPR card. These two are true assets to the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad. Thank you C.J. and Carlee.

We thank these five young Maryland citizens who have practiced the right care when it counts and are champions in their communities. In addition, we want to take a moment to thank all the professionals in education, fire, and EMS who teach safe practices all year long and are role models for Maryland’s children.  

Maryland Star of Life

·      New Market Volunteer Fire Company

·      United Steam Engine Company #3

·      Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company

·      Walkersville Volunteer Rescue

·      Fort Detrick Fire and Emergency Services

·      Independent Hose Company

·      Citizens Truck Company

·      Spring Ridge Fire Station

·      Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department  

·      Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services

·      Frederick County Advanced Technical Rescue Team

·      Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services

·      Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services

This year’s Star of Life Award is being given to the crews that conducted an extraordinary rescue at a construction site. On the 24^th of September, 2013, an excavation crew was working to relocate a water main in Frederick County when a call to 9-1-1 came in reporting that someone was pinned in a trench between two pipes and the trench was rapidly filling with water. By the time rescue personnel arrived, ballast had washed around the patient to his waist from the bottom of the trench. Water continued to fill the trench, and despite excavation efforts, reached the patient’s chin. He was in and out of consciousness and hypothermic and needed a self-contained breathing apparatus to protect his airway from the rising water.

Crews used pumps to slow the rising water while the excavation company increased the opening at the end of the trench to allow more water to run away from the patient. Ground pads were placed around the trench to support the technical rescue teams. Once a shoring system was in place, providers were able to assess and treat the patient and begin extrication. Although one leg was freed, he was losing blood rapidly from the other still pinned below the knee, requiring the placement of a tourniquet. After three hours of rescue efforts, crews were finally able to separate the pipes crushing his leg. He was transported to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center for treatment.

The patient had suffered significant blood loss from a venous bleed and acute respiratory failure, but incredibly was able to be discharged 15 days after the incident.

The personnel involved in this rescue put their own lives in danger to save this individual. We applaud the amazing job each and every one did in saving this man’s life.

Maryland EMS Citizen Award

·      William Kenney

·      Alexander Ketner

·      Robert Lowmiller

William Kenney, Alexander Ketner, and Robert Lowmiller were riding their school bus on March 15, 2013, when it was involved in a serious crash with a motor vehicle. Mr. Kenney, who was 17 at the time, was a fire/rescue EMS student and rescue squad volunteer, and he did not hesitate to act. He took action to ensure the safety of his fellow students and the bus driver, assessing for injuries. He gathered the first aid kit from the bus and attempted to aid the driver of the vehicle, who had been ejected during the collision. Mr. Ketner called 9-1-1, explaining the situation and staying on the line until help arrived. Mr. Lowmiller remained on the bus, calming his fellow students and keeping them safe.

These three young individuals displayed bravery, critical thinking, quick response, compassion, caring, and heroism. I’m pleased to also note that Mr. Kenney has since gone on to become a Maryland EMT.

MIEMSS Director’s Award for Excellence in EMS

·      Jeremy Chism, EMT-IVT

On December 5, 2013, a call was dispatched to police and EMS for a possible domestic dispute. EMT-IVT Jeremy Chism, a member of the Valley Lee Fire Department and Rescue Squad responded from his nearby home, finding an injured woman lying in the middle of the street. From a distance, it appeared that she had possibly fallen from a vehicle. However, as EMT Chism got closer, he recognized that the patient had suffered a laceration to her neck and was bleeding profusely, virtually incoherent. He placed light pressure over her wound, positioning her head in such a way to stop the bleeding and enabling her to breathe without restriction while awaiting the arrival of ground transportation since bad weather prevented a medevac from being dispatched.

EMT Chism maintained this position the entire ride to St. Mary’s Hospital (MedStar) where she required immediate life-saving intervention and stabilization. There is no doubt his quick action and tenacity directly saved this patient’s life. She was released from the hospital about a week and half later.

Outstanding EMS Program Award

·      Maryland State  Police Aviation Command AW-139 Helicopter Transition Program

The mission of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command is to protect and improve the quality of life through the airborne delivery of emergency medical, law enforcement, search/rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment services to the citizens of Maryland and its neighbors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In February 2013 a group of dedicated individuals formed the AW-139 Transition Program to implement the strategies of the Aviation Command Helicopter Technical Procurement Team in order to produce the safest, most modern, and efficient medevac program in the United States. This team formalized and implemented computerized risk matrix; adopted FAA Part 135 guidelines for weather and en-route decision point, scenario-based crew training and evaluation; provided certification training for SYSCOM personnel, and completed new aircraft safety training modules.

So far, helicopter Sections at Frederick, Easton, Salisbury, and St. Mary's have been successfully transitioned to the AW-139s with three Sections to be completed by fall 2014.

EMD Provider of the Year Award

·      Michael Munshaur, ECS

On April 21, 2013, Emergency Communications Supervisor Michael Munshaur received a 9-1-1 call that would truly test him. A panicked mother called EMS to get help for her two-year old son who was pinned underneath a tractor in a creek. He was in cardiac arrest.

ECS Munshaur stayed on the phone, obtaining location information through Phase II technology, and was able to immediately start the appropriate resources to the incident site, saving critical time. He continued to stay on the phone and help the family apply cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The young patient was seriously injured, but fully recovered thanks in large part to ECS Munshaur’s calm demeanor and professionalism. According to his family, he is now a healthy, happy three-year-old.

[The patient’s family will be attending and may want to come up at this point to thank ECS Munshaur].

EMS Provider of the Year Award

·      Francis Allen Griffin IV, EMT

Francis Allen Griffin IV is an EMS Captain at the Benedict Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Inc where he has been for the past 11 years. He was selected as EMS Provider of the Year for demonstrating outstanding merit in his position. Capt. Griffin is in charge of training, supplies, maintenance, and various daily operations, he keeps the public up-to-date by posting stories on the BVFD website, he trains others on the eMEDS^® reporting tool, and is well respected and appreciated in his community for his compassion and professionalism.

According to his nomination form, EMT Griffin has taken over 50 continuing education courses and has received more than eight awards for his work. Congratulations, EMT Griffin, on your selection as EMS Provider of the Year.

Maryland EMS for Children Award

·      Joseph L. Wright, MD, MPH, FAAP

Dr. Joseph Wright is being recognized for his decades of commitment to the emergency care of children in Maryland. Until early 2014 Dr. Wright was the Associate Medical Director for Children at MIEMSS and a member of the pediatric emergency medicine division at Children’s National Health System. Dr. Wright has shared his knowledge through state and regional EMS conferences across Maryland, serving as liaison for EMSC interagency collaborations, serving on several research projects and delivering expert testimony before the Maryland Legislature and Congress to promote injury prevention for children and youth.

Dr. Wright has received recognition for his advocacy work throughout his career, including the Shining Star award from the Los Angeles-based Starlight Foundation for outstanding community service and has been inducted into Delta Omega, the nation’s public health honor society. He has published over 80 articles in professional peer-reviewed journals and served as the guest editor for Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

In April of this year, Howard University announced that Dr. Wright will chair its Department of Pediatrics, beginning next month. We thank Dr. Wright for his dedication to the children and youth of Maryland and wish him well in his new endeavor.

Maryland EMS for Geriatrics Award

·      Riderwood Retirement Community

Riderwood Retirement Community is presented the EMS-G award for its dedicated team of professionals that serve the emergency care needs for over 2,500 residents. Riderwood ensures that their team of 45 employees, most of who are EMTs and paramedics, respond to the average 150 medical assistance calls per month with extensive knowledge and compassion. Recertification training for providers is even provided on the community grounds.

Beyond emergency services, Riderwood’s Security and EMS Teams are involved in other endeavors that contribute to the wellness and comfort of residents and their families including free blood pressure screening, daily latch checks throughout the campus, and an ambulance service to and from local health care facilities.

According to their nomination form, Dr. Eugenio Machado, Medical Director of Riderwood, has noted that campus providers are well-educated about MIEMSS protocols, their knowledge of clinical acumen is impressive, and their resident care is unparalleled.

Thank you, Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Fowler, for your commitment to emergency medical services for the specialized population you serve.

Leon W. Hayes Award for Excellence in EMS

·      Shari Donoway, Paramedic

Shari Donoway is a career paramedic with the Delmar Volunteer Fire Department, a role she has held since the career program was created. Prior to her career service, she was a volunteer with the department. Shari also works part time with many other companies on the Eastern Shore and serves on the Peninsula Regional Medical Center Advisory Board. Paramedic Donoway is an instructor with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and the American Heart Association as well as a paramedic preceptor with WorWic Community College.

She is a consummate professional, a terrific instructor, and a passionate provider and has given her life to providing EMS care to her Eastern Shore community.

Paramedic Donoway exemplifies EMS provider service at the highest level, and we congratulate her on her stellar career. 

To see a video of Paramedic Shari Donoway receiving her award go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jt80aGL4KQ&list=UUlvKjv3kmDNUTS-hRL5mxnw&feature=share