The Greater Wenatchee EMS Council (GWEMS Council) Honors EMS Award Recipients and Encourages Everyone to Be Prepared to Save a Life
Wenatchee, WA – On Thursday, June 30th, 2022 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Providers from a variety of EMS agencies gathered in Pybus Market, Wenatchee, WA for the annual EMS awards presentation. Greater Wenatchee EMS Council and Dr. Lance Jobe, EMS Medical Director for Chelan/Douglas Counties presented the awards.
Five EMS providers received clinical excellence awards in recognition of their superior patient care skills, for being an effective advocate for patients and their families, for working with peers to foster a positive work environment, and demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families, and other medical professionals.
- Mike Pirotto, a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue, received the 2021 Volunteer EMT of the Year Award for clinical excellence who shows superior patient care, is an effective advocate for patients and their families, works with peers to foster a positive work environment, and demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families, and other medical professionals.
- Leilani DiPaula, a Emergency Medical Technician with Ballard Ambulance was awarded the EMT of the Year Award for clinical excellence who shows superior patient care, is an effective advocate for patients and their families, works with peers to foster a positive work environment, and demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families, and other medical professionals.
- Austin Diamond, a Paramedic with Lake Chelan EMS, received the 2021 Paramedic of the Year Award for clinical excellence who shows superior patient care, is an effective advocate for patients and their families, works with peers to foster a positive work environment, and demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families, and other medical professionals.
- Mike Battis, a Paramedic and Manager with Ballard Ambulance, was honored with the 2021 Leader of the Year Award for his exemplary EMS leadership through noteworthy contribution to local EMS, who is an advocate for patients and community, who actively works with other agencies to foster a positive teamwork approach.
- Yvonne Kennedy, a EMT with Lifeline Ambulance, received the Darrel C. Kirking 2021 EMS Educator of the Year Award. For her efforts in brining high quality education and training to the providers of the Greater Wenatchee area.
- EMS Agency awards was presented to:
- Chelan Fire Department (CCFD#7) received the 2021 Best BLS Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skills of the Year Award having outperformed all other EMS agencies in Chelan/Douglas Counties during the High-Performance CPR skills testing completed by the GW EMS Council’s Quality Improvement Officer for both team and individual performance.
The GWEMS Council also recognized EMS providers from several agencies for their contribution in saving the life of a patient in 2021 who experienced an out of hospital cardiac arrest. Those receiving a Lifesaving Award for a successful resuscitation in 2021 include:
Ballard Ambulance-Hayes Clawson, Dan Craig, Leilani DiPaula, Mike Battis, Shawn Ballard, Tyler Nikols, Erin Adams, Baxter Ceci,l Christian Soper, Erin Adams, Jacob Ward
CCFD#1-Terry Mathews, Luke Nichols, Jesse Stone, Matt Rise, Mitch Marcusson Peter Rigelman, Blake Larson, Lyle Stewart, Leon Furan, Hugo Santana, Clint Webley, Austin Clemens, Jeremy Anger, John Gutierrez-Zamora, Blake Larson, Trystan Daniels, John Gutierrez-Zamora, Jon Brown, Jerry Lopez, Cody Martinez, Josh Barnes, Donnie Etherington, Robert Johnson, Jacob Potent, Peter Rigelman, Blake Larson, Chris Paul, Clint Webley, Matt Rise, Mitchell Marcusson, Jesse Stone, Jon Riley, Elijah Barber
Lifeline Ambulance-Julia Anderson, Kyle Holborn, Aaron Jacobs, Chris Horton, Jonah Dobbs-Shill, Alexander Scott, Caden Bryant, Chris Horton, Maxwell Milburn, Chris Horton, Dale Smith, Tanner Randall-Gosselin, Brett Minor David Gettman, Jonah Dobbs-Schill, Raymond Salazar
DCFD#2-Jordan Givens, William Turner, Cole Clark, Herb King, Jacob Toevs, Elijah Weber, Jordan Givens, Josh Barnes, Tony Alabastro, Cole Clark, William Turner, Jacob Toeys, Elijah Weber, John Glenn, Herb King, Donn Etherington, Robert Johnson, Jacob Potent, Shane Flatness, Jason Koster, Kevin Weed, John Glenn, Herb King, Donn Etherington, Robert Johnson, Jacob Potent, Shane Flatness, Jason Koster, Kevin Weed
Lake Chelan EMS-Rachel McCall, Christina Eickmeyer, Austin Diamond, Kurt MIddleton, Jared Eygabroad, Austin Diamond, Kurt Middleton, Jared Eygabroad, Tom Smith, Raynor Baker, Mistaya Johnston, Austin Diamond, Scott McBride, Kurt Middleton
CCFD#7-Brandon Asher, Troy Keene, Stephanie Preheim, Shawn Sherman, John Steiner Greg Simpson, Brandon Asher, Troy Keene, Shawn Sherman, Brittany Addison
CCFD#5-Mike Knott, Aaron Richmond, Karen Sargent, Chris Willoughby, Beau Alanis, Cody Amsden, Nick Glenn, Aaron Richmond, Karen Sargeant, Chris Willoughby,
Cascade EMS- Chris Hanson, Josh Phillips, Madison McPhee, Zach Robinson, Mike Ing-Moddy, Ryan Swan, Amanda Werdell, Whitney Woodward
CCFD#3-Danny Bachelor, Amanda Werdell, Simon Keyeser, Kory Musilek, Madison Tibbits
CCFD#6- Robert Turner
Ballard Ambulance-
During the awards ceremony, Dr. Jobe also presented statistical information regarding the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Chelan/Douglas as compared to state and national outcomes and discussed opportunities for improvement.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death among adults in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 300,000 OHCA events occur each year in the United States. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating, and death quickly follows if a normal heart beat is not started again within minutes.
In the first few minutes following OHCA, swift implementation of five critical actions, known as the “chain of survival”, can substantially increase the chances of survival.
1) Early or rapid activation of EMS by calling 911,
2) Early initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),
3) Early defibrillation or application and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED),
4) Early access to advanced life support by EMS providers, and
5) Early post-resuscitative care.
The first two can be initiated by anyone, and the 3rd if an AED is available.
Survival rates vary widely across the United States. The likelihood of surviving an OHCA is about 10% according to America Heart Association. In 2011, EMS agencies throughout Chelan and most of Douglas counties, instituted a new approach to resuscitation, which utilizes a precisely choreographed approach to minimize interruptions in compressions while emphasizing the importance of the basic concepts of chest compressions. We believe this has significantly improved survival from OHCA in Chelan and Douglas Counties. This approach is most effective when at least 6-10 EMT’s are able to respond to the 911 call.
In 2021, in Chelan/Douglas Counties, the survival rate for persons with a witnessed arrest and shockable rhythm was 41%, this is higher than the national average of 10%. The second link in the chain of survival is early CPR. In 2021, citizens-initiated CPR in Chelan/Douglas Counties 69% of the time. This is the highest bystander CPR rate in Washington State for FY 2021, and this is higher than the national average of 47% in FY 2021. Citizens play an important role in survival of early CPR.
To improve the survival for patients suffering an OHCA in Chelan/Douglas Counties, the GWEMS Council is encouraging everyone living or working in Chelan/Douglas Counties to learn how to perform CPR by the end of the year. This can be accomplished by taking a formal CPR class or watching a video on the reliable website like the American Heart Association (www.heart.org ). During recent years, changes in the CPR guidelines, including the adoption of hand-only CPR has been proven effective and important. Anyone who hasn’t taken a class recently is encouraged to take another class.
Early defibrillation provided by the application and use of an AED is another critical link in the chain of survival. Therefore, the GWEMS Council is encouraging larger businesses to consider purchasing an AED that could be used to help save the life of someone suffering an OHCA. Businesses who own or purchase an AED are required, under RCW 70.54, to notify the local EMS system of the existence of the AED and its location. For more information about the Public Access Defibrillation program, including how to register or obtain medical oversight of an AED, contact The Greater Wenatchee EMS Council at gwemscouncil@gmail.com.
