Ceremonies Friday recognize lifesaving efforts

Public Information Officer Lieutenant Jeremy Robshaw informed local Historic City News reporters that on Friday afternoon, a special recognition ceremony will be held to honor the combined efforts of bystanders, 911 dispatchers, St Johns County Firefighters and Paramedics.

The St Johns County Fire Rescue ceremony Friday will focus on several recent medical emergencies where patients were brought back to life after being found in cardiac arrest.

“The Fire-Rescue Department has consistently been at the forefront of emergency medicine,” Robshaw told Historic City News. “Through our Emergency Medical Services program, we have recently seen a significant improvement in patient outcomes after experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in St Johns County.”

The ceremony will bring together several crews and patients who have recently been cardiac arrest victims. For the first time since the incident, the patients will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the rescuers who responded to their emergency; recognizing the bystanders and rescuers for the efforts they made in saving a life.

If you plan to go, the recognition ceremony will be held on Friday, December 7, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the St Johns County Commission Auditorium located at 500 San Sebastian View.

“The American Heart Association CPR-AED program, as well as recent advances in pre-hospital Advanced Life Support medical care, currently being put to use by St Johns County Paramedics, have enhanced the quality and success of community based care,” Robshaw said.

St Johns County Fire Rescue will also recognize “Firefighter of the Year” and “Paramedic of the Year” for 2012, issue several department commendations, department promotions and introduce department new hires during the ceremony; expected to last about an hour.