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Hamilton County paramedics are recognized for their service, including responders to the Woodmore Elementary crash
From heart attacks to bus wrecks, Hamilton County’s paramedics handle medical emergencies constantly on the worst days of their patients’ lives, and on Saturday they were recognized for another year of service.
An afternoon awards ceremony was hosted by Hamilton County Medical Emergency Services in a small park on Shallowford Road. Paramedics and their families socialized while administrators doled out hard-earned plaques, ribbons and bars to wear on their uniforms.
In addition to 2016 Paramedic of the Year and Medical Call of the Year, special recognition was paid to the first responders at the Woodmore Elementary School bus crash in November that killed six children and injured dozens.
“That’s something none of us ever want to encounter,” said Deputy Chief John Combes. “But they called for the appropriate help and the place was flooded by EMS.”
In all, 32 people received nods for their work in the aftermath of the crash, which department administrators said was far and away the most significant trauma call of the year.