AMH EMS personnel honored for saving lives

Alton Memorial Hospital's emergency services team held a picnic at its Bethalto location May 23 in celebration of National EMS Week. Calvary Baptist Church in Alton supplied the food. Life Saving Awards were also given out for three calls in recent months.

• AMH squad leader/paramedic Mike Mulrean, EMT Nick Clark and the Wood River Fire Department were honored for their efforts in saving a patient in cardiac arrest in January.

• AMH paramedic Aaron Darr, EMT Zach Botterbush and the East Alton Fire Department were honored for their efforts in saving a patient in cardiac arrest in March.

• AMH EMT Nicole Larson, AMH paramedic Travis Bryson and the Bethalto Fire Department saved a patient in December.

"Great work by everyone," says Jason Bowman, AMH EMS manager. "All of our EMTs and paramedics do a fantastic job in a lot of tough situations."

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), in partnership with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), announced the EMS Week theme for 2019 as EMS STRONG: BEYOND THE CALL.

"Emergency medical service professionals are dedicated to delivering superb medical care" says ACEP president Vidor Friedman, MD, FACEP. "During EMS Week, and through the year, we are proud to recognize EMS and fire professionals who fearlessly and tirelessly serve their communities and help patients and their families every day."

"The care that EMS professionals provide in their communities is much broader than traditional emergent first response and transport," says NAEMT president Matt Zavadsky. "EMS is providing emergent, urgent and preventive care to patients as an integrated component of their community's health care system. EMTs and paramedics provide an expanded menu of services, including community paramedicine, injury and illness prevention training, and CPR and bleeding control training. This year's theme truly reflects our evolving role as health care providers beyond the 911 response."