Honoring Local Life Savers

Saving a person’s life is the pinnacle of a first responder’s profession. They act in the moment, not concerned about recognition for their work, but those they have kept alive, or brought back to life, want to express their thanks. On Friday, May 22, Collier County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) held the biannual Phoenix Award ceremony to recognize those whose quick action in a crisis helped save a life, in a presentation at the Collier County South Regional Library.

Along with the paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and 911 dispatchers who participated in the rescues, one survivor, Lenora Savana, showed up to voice her gratitude.

“Today I have the incredible honor of standing before the courageous first responders who saved my life,” she said. “There are not enough words to express the weight of this healing moment, but I would like to try… One year ago this week, I went unconscious. I didn’t call for help. I couldn’t.”

Savana, 45, had an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism and suffered a cardiac arrest – the first of three – in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. “Because of the extraordinary precision of your skills and lifesaving techniques, I woke up with zero damage to my ribs, brain, lungs, and heart.”

She was reunited with the team she had never seen at the time of the incident, starting with EMT Emily Cancela and Tony Bevis, plus the rest of the team, with hugs all around. Savana’s near-death experience occurred in North Naples, but as Marco Island Fire-Rescue Dept. Chief Chris Byrne pointed out, all the first responder departments in Collier County work together.

“It’s always a team effort. This is just symbolic of how hard all the first responders in Collier County work together every day,” said Byrne. He attended the ceremony along with Marco’s newly appointed City Manager, Dr. Casey Lucius, city councilors Deb Henry and Bonita Schwan, Marco Island’s outgoing police chief Tracy Frazzano, and a number of Marco police officers and firefighters who were being honored.

“One of the most rewarding things in our job is being able to impact someone’s life,” said Frazzano. “I’m very proud of how these officers handled themselves during these difficult situations.”

In all, there were 18 honorees from the two Marco Island departments, nine police officers and nine firefighters. From the fire department, Capt. Chris Bowden, Firefighter Neean Burlison, Driver/Engineer Juan Cabezas, Firefighter Rebecca Eagels, Firefighter Steven Gaskill, Firefighter Hunter Kyzar, Capt. Pat O’Gorman, Firefighter Daniel Ring, and Firefighter Tony Santovenia.

From the MIPD, Police Officer Louis Balsamo, Police Officer Eduardo Barrios, Police Officer Michael Burns, Police Officer Jonathan Gray, Police Officer Douglas Hahn, Police Officer Melanie Lopez, Police Officer William Prigge, Sgt. Andrew Smith, and Police Officer Stephen Steigman. With duty calling, not all of those being honored could attend.

Two of the Marco Island incidents involved electrocutions, along with one younger person suffering cardiac arrest, said Byrne.

“These were very challenging cases with significant injuries. Our people had to call on all their training.”

Dr. James Augustine, EMS Medical Director, said that in the last six months, there had been 102 total cardiac arrests responded to. The survival rate in Collier County, he said, was 26 percent – and he was touting that number, as across the country, the nationwide average is just 10.5 percent. “In this county, we have better outcomes,” he said.

Augustine stressed that the single most important thing members of the public can do to be part of the “chain of survival” for cardiac arrest victims is to learn CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator). Local fire departments and EMS offer courses on a regular basis. On Marco Island, the fire-rescue department offers a free course on the third Thursday of every month, 9:00 AM at the fire station. To sign up, call 239-389-5040.

This Phoenix Awards ceremony was the last under the leadership of Collier EMS Chief Bruce Gastineau, who is retiring shortly. The ceremony was emceed by program coordinator Paul Passaretti, himself the honoree of double-digit lifesaving awards. The award ceremony took place during National EMS Week, from May 17 – 23.