The Paris City Council recognized 18 first responders from Paris EMS, Fire, and Police Department during their Tuesday, Nov. 12 special meeting. The employees were previously awarded CPR Save tokens for the successful use of CPR on three recent emergency calls. Paris EMS awards the tokens when the first responders successfully resuscitate a cardiac arrest patient who can leave the hospital with no neurological deficits from the incident.
“Not every patient can be resuscitated with CPR and other measures. Those that do survive often have some lasting effects related to their nervous system.” EMS Asst. Chief Jason Dyess said. “It is a notable event when all the patient care pieces, including staff and equipment, align, and the person checks out of the hospital with no decrease to their ability to control their body’s actions and senses.”
Paris EMS paramedics can apply CPR, rapid defibrillation, oxygen administration, IV and intraosseous circulation system access, medications, airway management, and other advanced cardiac care methods while working with cardiac arrest patients. Paris EMS equips each of its eight MICU ambulances to provide care similar to what might be found in a hospital Intensive Care Unit.
In each of the three recent incidents related to the CPR Save awards, first responders found the patients to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic upon arrival. The patients each experienced a return of spontaneous circulation thanks to the City of Paris EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, and police officers applying their skills, training, and available equipment and were transported to the emergency department.
Those recognized at the Paris City Council meeting were Paris EMS Paramedic Captains Justin Allen and Elijah Hubbard, Paramedics Alan Garcia, Georgianna Middleton, Brandi Skidmore, Tanner Smith, and EMT Trevor Gilliam. From the Paris Fire Department EMTs: Captain James Dority, Driver-Engineers Dustin Huff, Toby Keenum, and Josh May, and Firefighters Kobe Dixon, Brian Ford, Colton Hale, Greg Janes, Caleb Michael, Spur Norwood, and Paris Police Lt. Brian Ramirez.
Photo: Councilman Mickey Ellis, Councilwoman Shatara Moore, Mayor Mihir Pankaj, Lt. Brian Ramirez, Elijah Hubbard, Tanner Smith, Georgianna Middleton, Brian Ford, Kobe Dixon, James Dority, Josh Allen, Alan Garcia, Trevor Gilliam, Brandi Skidmore, Dustin Huff, Colton Hale, Councilwomen Alix Putnam, and Rebecca Norment
