Regional EMS council honors this year’s best

They go about their business with little or no fanfare, but on May 14 emergency medical services personnel from Lycoming, Tioga and Sullivan counties gathered in the Genetti Hotel grand ballroom to receive a well-deserved "thank-you."

The LTS Regional EMS Council's annual recognition banquet honors the top emergency medical services workers from each county, said Wendy Hastings, the council's acting director.

Among the first awards presented was one to a young man responsible for directing emergency responders to a woman who had collapsed in her bathroom. The award was presented early in the evening because the young man had to leave.

It was past his bedtime.

The young man was 4-year-old Chaz Neidig and the woman he helped was his mother Jennifer. Chaz was only 3 last March when Jennifer Neidig collapsed in their Wolf Township home. Chaz had been taught to call 911 in the event of an emergency and he did just that.

He was able to connect with emergency dispatcher Scott Konkle, who, through a series of questions and assistance from other dispatchers, was able to pinpoint the source of the emergency. Emergency crews arrived at the home within 11 minutes of the call being placed.

According to Hastings, Chaz was able to give Konkle his father Matthew's name and where he worked so other dispatchers could call him and let him know what was happening.

"For a child of this age, it is truly a remarkable accomplishment," Hastings said.

Konkle was honored as Lycoming County dispatcher of the year and was united with Chaz at the podium for the presentation of their awards.

In addition to Neidig and Konkle, Lycoming County award recipients were:

Jody Ulrich - First Responder of the Year.

Chad Ludwig - EMT of the Year.

Tamara Jones - Paramedic of the Year.

Randy Snyder - EMS Instructor of the Year.

Dr. David Kahler - Emergency Physician of the Year.

Dana Bertin - Volunteer of the Year.

Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Co. Ambulance - Ambulance Service of the Year.

Tioga County awards were presented to:

Perley Bowen - EMT of the Year.

Tammy Kendrick - Dispatcher of the Year.

Bob Gee - Paramedic of the Year.

Lisa Rice - EMS Instructor of the Year.

John Andrus - Rescue Technician of the Year.

Lee Strange - ER Nurse of the Year.

Mansfield Firemen's Ambulance - Ambulance Service of the year.

Sullivan County awards were presented to:

Trevor Miller - EMT of the Year.

Lee Hayes and Charlie Gardner - Volunteers of the Year.

Joshua Fitzgerald - Rescue Technician of the Year.

Paula Miller - Instructor of the Year.

Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Co. Ambulance also received the regional ambulance of the year award and LTS Regional Medical Director Dr. Gregory Frailey was presented the Kline A. Dewire Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award.

The latter award was presented by Timothy Shumbat, who last year was the first recipient of the award, named after a paramedic, firefighter and instructor who died on Dec. 17, 2007.

Shumbat praised Frailey for having the passion, vision and wisdom personified by DeWire.

He added that Frailey "moved (the regional EMS system) light years ahead with his vision for us to be a top notch EMS system."

Keynote speaker Dr. Everitt Binns, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council, echoed those words, telling those in attendance that the LTS EMS system, with its first-rate leadership and strong history of voluntarism, is one to be proud of.

"Your region is tremendous," Binns said. "Be very proud of where you come from."

Included in Binns' presentation was a good-natured send-off of recently retired EMS council director Gary Hutchinson. Binns presented Hutchinson with a clown nose, rubber chicken and a pair of Homer Simpson boxer shorts bearing the words "Hottie" before seriously presenting him with a clock and wishes for a happy retirement.

Binns urged those in attendance to be passionate about the work they do, to think positively and never give up.

Tioga County Commissioner and award presenter Mark Hamilton said that while only a select few actually received awards, every person in emergency medical services deserves to be recognized for their service.

"I wish everybody could be standing up here to be recognized for their accomplishments," Hamilton said. "The EMS community is one of the most important things we as commissioners govern over. It really does have the ability to touch the lives of every person who lives in each of our counties."

Lycoming County commissioner Rebecca A. Burke said elected officials come and go, but the foundation of a community rests on those who serve.

The LTS EMS Council is one of 16 regional council contracted through the state Department of Health's Bureau of Emergency medical Services to oversee and manage emergency medical services in the three-county region, according to Hastings.

The council is responsible for ambulance licensing, data collection, quality assurance, training and certification, continuing education and public education, she said.