The National Emergency Medical Services Week is held each year during the month of May. To celebrate, the Yakima County Department of EMS along with the assistance of community members holds an “EMS Award Ceremony”. The ceremony closes EMS week with a celebration and a thank you to those agencies, men and women who serve our community each and every day. Volunteer firefighters make up over 60% of Yakima Valley’s EMS response. Men and women waiting for their pager to go off, calling them away from their families or jobs to medical calls, fires and more. Kids and family events are interrupted repeatedly as they sacrifice those events for us. The system would not be functional without the services of the local fire department volunteers, the full-time firefighters, ambulance crews, emergency rooms nurses and physicians, dispatchers, and so many more. On this day, we say thank you. Thank you for the commitment you’ve made to our community and thank you for providing excellent care.
2nd Annual EMS Awards Ceremony - May 15, 2011
 |
Opening Remarks - C. Hamilton welcome and introductions |
 |
Guest Speaker - Dr. Chris Schmelzer, YVMH ED |
 |
Guest Speaker - Dr. Linda Seaman, YCMS |
 |
Winner of the $500 Art Program Contest: Outlook Elementary, Judith Weden, Art Teacher |
 |
Runner-Up $250 Art Program Contest: Nob Hill Elementary, Mrs. Watson, Teacher |
| picture coming soon | Runner-Up $250 Art Program Contest: Lince Elementary, Susan Petterson, Principal |
 |
“Friend of EMS” Award to Andrew Dale, Security Guard at YVMH |
 |
“RN of Excellence” Award to Rachel Putnam, RN at YVMH |
 |
“Physician of the Year” Award to Dr. John Zambito, YRMC |
 |
“EMS Educator of the Year” Award to Brian Paul, EMS Office |
 |
“Dispatcher of the Year” Award to Bob Clark, YCFD #5 |
 |
“Volunteer of the Year” Award to Gary Jackson, Selah Fire Department |
 |
“EMT of the Year” Award to Alex Langbell, City of Yakima Fire Department |
 |
"Paramedic of the Year” Award to Jeff Davie, Advanced Life Systems |
 |
“Administrator of the Year” Award to Chief Aaron Markham, Sunnyside Fire Department |
 |
Medical Program Director Award I & II to Tom Watkins & Jerrod Zabik, American Medical Response Medical Program Director Award III & IV to Kevin Gaidos & Nick Henle, American Medical Response |
| no picture | Cardiac Arrest Save Award: April 1, 2011: AMR - Eric Fordahl, Trevor Quandt (YFD send for crew) |
 |
Cardiac Arrest Save Award: September 21, 2010: SSFD - Ryan Savage, Josh Roe, Mike Beckwith |
 |
Cardiac Arrest Save Award: March 21, 2011: EVFD and AMR Medic 10 - FF. Ryan Evers, LT. Keith Schrank, Chf George Spencer, CD; Mike Riel, Lt. Nick Henle, Trevor Lenseigne, Jori Derrey, Tony Fortier |
 |
Cardiac Arrest Save Award: January 11, 2011: YFD - Jeremy Rodriguez, Chad Williams, Beau Watson (ALS send for crew) |
 |
Cardiac Arrest Save Award: March, 2011: YFD, ALS – Jeremy Rodriquez, Chad Williams, Jameson McDougall and Donald Sharp |
 |
Hosts Candace Hamilton and Juan Acosta |
Special thanks to everyone who made the 2011 EMS Award Ceremony a success: Dr. Chris Schmelzer, Dr. Linda Seaman, Karen Jackson, Kim Bersing, American Medical Response, Advanced Life Systems, Chief David Willson, and Battalion Chief Tom Sevigny and Leslie Porter (photography).
