Mount St. Mary's Hospital's EmStar emergency department to hold 10th annual salute to local EMS personnel

The EmStar Emergency Department of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will recognize local emergency medical service professionals at an award's dinner on Tuesday, May 21, at the Niagara Falls Country Club. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Mount St. Mary's Hospital and the BEA Group, the group of physicians that staff the hospital's EmStar Emergency Department, the dinner is being held in conjunction with the hospital's recognition of national EMS Week. Dr. Lloyd Brown W. Brown, chief of the department of emergency medicine/EmStar, is the organizer of the event to salute EMS excellence. Diana Volkman, BSN, of the New York State Department of Health's Western Region Office of Health Emergency Preparedness, will be the guest speaker.

"The initial treatment provided by the EMS professionals is extremely important and often life-saving," Brown said. "We are proud to be associated with the EMS teams that provide the first-responder care to individuals before they are in our care." 

"This is an opportunity for us to say 'thank you' to these dedicated professionals and community volunteers," said Judith A. Maness, president and CEO of Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center. "We appreciate their service and want to draw attention to their excellence."

Jonathan Schultz, Niagara County director of emergency services and fire coordinator, will address the group.

Awards to be presented include:

Special Recognition

David Slusser, EMT

Rural/Metro Medical Services

David is always professional and courteous with his patients, their families and the EmStar staff members. When David arrives with a patient, EmStar staff can be sure that the patient has received the best possible care in the pre-hospital arena.

BEST SAVE

Dennis Osborne, AEMT-CC, and Kelsey Wielgosz, EMT-B, Tri-Community Ambulance Service and Jim Lines, Sanborn Volunteer Fire Company

For efforts in saving a potential heart attack victim who was found unresponsive. A shock was delivered resulting in a return of pulse and respirations. ALS established and the patient was transported by Tri-Community to EmStar where he was administered thrombolytics and transferred for further treatment.

BEST SAVE

Ed Rivers, paramedic; Patrick Hall, EMT; and William Kerr, EMT, Rural/Metro Medical Services; Capt. Joe Eddy, EMT; Deputy Chief Richard Silvaroli; FF Robert Wilkinson; FF Mark Wright, EMT; Frontier Volunteer Fire Co.; and Deputy Sean Frury, Niagara County Sheriff's Department

For assisting an 89-year-old victim by applying respirations via bag valve, CPR compressions and AED. ALS measures were administered and a detectable heart rhythm began. Patient transported to EmStar and recovered.

BEST SAVE

Firefighter Mike Uhrich, Frontier Volunteer Fire Co.

For assistance to a 33-year-old male not breathing - possible cardiac arrest. Firefighter/EMT Mike Uhrich found the male lying on the floor in respiratory arrest. After several minutes of oxygen therapy, the patient regained respirations and was moved to Rural/Metro for transport to EmStar for further treatment.

BEST SAVE

Eric Weber, EMT-CC, and Matt Dysard, EMT-B, Rural/Metro Medical Services, and Cambria Fire Department

For response to a call for a child having a seizure on a school bus who shortly thereafter went unresponsive. Bystanders had begun CPR. The patient was not breathing and had no response to stimuli. Cardiac monitoring was started immediately and full advanced life support was initiated en route to EmStar. The child's condition continued to improve throughout transport and upon arrival was showing signs of full recovery.

SERVICE RECOGNITION

US Coast Guard - Youngstown

In recognition and appreciation of its role in maintaining maritime safety, and enforcing security and safety on our waterways.