Local emergency squads to receive honors at ceremonies

NEW BREMEN - The Grand Lake area will be well represented at the 14th annual Star of Life award ceremonies May 16 in Columbus.

The New Bremen Emergency Squad will be honored as top volunteer agency in the state with the Celina unit of Mercer County Emergency Medical Services tabbed for recognition in Region III.

Each year the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians recognizes the dedication of those who provide day-to-day lifesaving services on the medical "front line." The award ceremony is the premier event during EMS Week.

Along with a nomination letter outlining what the squad does during the year, New Bremen EMS Administrator Linda Emmans cited three runs that involved emergency medical service members and bystanders who had been taught through the department's CPR and AED training.

The first occurred June 4 when New Bremen resident Max Cotterman suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at his home. His wife and son as well as two neighbors performed CPR until the squad arrived with an automated external defibrillator (AED) on board. Twenty-five shocks were delivered to Cotterman en route and at the hospital. He survived the ordeal.

The second run occurred 10 days later when local farmer James Lampert fell from a haymow to the concrete floor below, breaking his neck. Two high school students employed at the farm ignored his pleas to be moved. The nomination states the squad members took the correct action to prevent further damage that could have resulted in paralysis or death.

The third run took place on the Fourth of July when Robert Garbig of Piqua suffered a heart attack at the intersection of state Route 364 and Minster-Fort Recovery Road. He had pulled a trailer holding Wave Runners away from his burning car and then collapsed. Minster firefighters administered CPR before squad members arrived to continue the lifesaving process.

Star of Life representative Laura Lehman said the nomination committee was impressed with each of New Bremen's three nominations to a point they could not pick one above the others.

The Celina squad earned its fourth Star of Life award for a dramatic water rescue on Feb. 28, 2011, in the vicinity of state Routes 49 and 29. Fort Recovery resident Roxanne Romack was driving in the area when swift-moving flood water carried her car into deep water. Only the top was visible when rescuers arrived.

Romack was not breathing when she was pulled from the water but rescue efforts were successful. Emergency room doctors at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater nominated those responsible for saving her life - squad members Lt. Jon Schumm, Lt. Bob Schulte, Lt. Chris Cline, Chief Doug Wolters, Adam Schroyer and Steve Wurster and sheriff's dispatcher Kandi Baucher.

Wolters also credited firefighters from the Chattanooga and the Southwest Mercer Fire District with providing needed manpower and lighting at the scene.

Romack, who reportedly suffered no lingering effects from the ordeal, is expected to be part of the delegation.

The case is to be part of a trauma symposium May 11 at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., according to Wolters.