June 21 at 10:30 a.m.
Earlier this year, there was a structure fire with a collapsed roof that required the teamwork of the City of Van Alstyne, its fire department, police department, public works, Grayson County Emergency Management, Denison Fire Department, DPS and others. As a result of their joint efforts, multiple patients were treated and transported. This incident had the potential for tragic results, but the teamwork present that day saved at least one life. Those involved have been officially named “Great First Responders” for 2012.
The awards will be presented at the Van Alstyne Fire Department, 280 N. Preston on June 21st at 10:30 a.m. by CareFlite President & CEO James C. Swartz.
Those being honored are among 75 first responders from central Texas and south Oklahoma to receive Great First Responder Awards this year. The prestigious award program is co-sponsored by CareFlite and the Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council to honor those on the front line of the emergency care who demonstrate extraordinary dedication and excellent service.
From large urban departments to small rural, volunteer fire departments, first responders answer the call day and night from anyone needing help. They face situations that most people cannot imagine in the service of helping others.
Great First Responders are chosen by their peers and represent service above self. Award winners have demonstrated a commitment to EMS by length of service as a volunteer, going beyond the call of duty, exhibiting heroism or provided extraordinary service to a patient or community.
“We are proud to recognize our Great First Responders,” said Jim Swartz, president of CareFlite. “It takes a special amount of character to go into this line of work, and the greatest ones deserve our thanks.”
This year’s keynote speaker at the formal awards ceremony at the Arlington Convention Center was Rear Admiral James Eckelberger (US Navy Retired) who spoke on the topic of integrating first responders into our anti-terrorism efforts as the eyes and ears of Homeland Security.
Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council President W. Stephen Love has strongly supported the awards program to thank to the first responder community for their incredible efforts on behalf of patients.
About CareFlite
Established in 1979, CareFlite is the oldest joint use air medical transportation service in the nation It is the only, fully-integrated medical transport company serving North Texas.
CareFlite’s helicopter EMS responds to requests from hospitals, fire departments, EMS agencies and law enforcement within a service area of more than 100 counties in a 150-mile radius of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex containing more than 5.8 million people.
CareFlite operates fixed wing air ambulance in a 500 mile radius of the DFW Airport.
CareFlite’s ground ambulance/911 EMS service includes 911/EMS service in Balch Springs, Ellis County ESD #5, Southeast Dallas County, Hill County and Johnson County. Other ground ambulance services are offered in Collin, Denton, Dallas, Palo Pinto, Parker and Tarrant counties.
CareFlite’s membership program protects families against out of pocket costs for air and/or ground ambulance transports operated by CareFlite, Air Life in San Antonio and Halo Flight in Corpus Christi. More than 100,000 people in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma are Members of CareFlite’s Caring-Heart Membership Program.
CareFlite has transported over 600,000 patients since its founding in 1979. More than 50,000 patients will have been transported this year by the end of December.
Other services include an outstanding continuing education program and the annual CareFlite Emergency Care Update Conference at the Arlington Convention Center. First held in 1983, the ECU is believed to be the oldest first responder conference in the United States. It is open to first responders and health care professionals. CareFlite also offers a medical service bicycle team and a mounted medical team for community events.
CareFlite, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is sponsored by Baylor Healthcare, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health and Hospital and Texas Health Resources.
For more information on the Great First Responder Program, visit www.careflite.org.