Medina FD recognizes firefighters for life-saving actions
Provided photos: The following members of the Medina Fire Department were recognized during an awards program on Tuesday, from left: Joe Simmons, Adam Fisher, Lieutenant Jake Crooks, Bob Urtel, Tim Miller, Steve Long, Captain Mike Young and Chief Matt Jackson.
MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department normally presents in awards during a firemen’s ball in October. But that event may be cancelled this year.
Fire Chief Matt Jackson decided to present the awards on Tuesday afternoon.
“These past few months have definitely been something we will talk about in the future,” Jackson said about the Covid-19 pandemic. “They have been challenging times that we will share with our children and our grandchildren. But, through these challenging times, our team has worked together to adapt and overcome. To strengthen through adversity. And to persevere. I want to thank you all for your continued professionalism through this trying time. Through the mixed emotions we have all encountered, we have all continued to work hard with compassion and empathy. Everyone has been doing an outstanding job.”
Medina firefighters nominate members of the Fire Department for an award. Jackson presented the following awards and citations:
Medina firefighter/paramedic Steve Long, left, accepts a Meritorious Service Medal from Fire Chief Matt Jackson.
• Meritorious Service Medal: Firefighter/paramedic Steven Long was off duty on Feb. 10, 2020 when he arrived at an accident scene moments after the vehicle crash. The vehicle was approximately 150 feet off the road in a snow-covered field on its side.
Further complicating the scene were multiple downed powerlines and frigid conditions. While risking his personal safety and without personal protective equipment, Long began his scene and patient assessment.
Long found one conscious female outside the vehicle who was being helped by other bystanders. The female passenger advised Long that her husband was still trapped inside the vehicle and not responding. Seeing multiple child restraint seats, Long also needed to search for any possible children that were accompanying the couple. After finding no children in or around the vehicle, Long turned his attention towards the only other vehicle occupant, Chief Jackson said on Tuesday during the awards presentation.
Long began his assessment of the awake, but non-responsive driver as chief officers from the Wolcottsville and Rapids Fire Departments arrived. Long continued all patient care while fire crews used hydraulic tools to cut and gain more access to the patient. Once extrication was complete, Long gave his report to the Mercy Flight crew and the patient was airlifted to ECMC. Accolades for Long’s actions at this scene were received from not only the Wolcottsville Fire Chief, but also from family members of the patients, Jackson said.
Medina firefighter Joe Simmons, left, receives a Silver Lifesaving Medal from Chief Matt Jackson.
• Silver Lifesaving Medal: In the early evening of June 5, 2020, the Village of Medina Fire Department was dispatched to a reported pool drowning, with updates from Medina Police Officer Jake Reeves advising that CPR was in progress on a 16-month-old child.
Firefighter/paramedic Joe Simmons was the first paramedic on scene and immediately recognized the severity of the incident. Simmons quickly guided Officer Reeves to place the patient in the ambulance and he initiated ALS protocols including intubation while other crew members continued performing CPR.
Although there were six other firefighters directly involved with patient care, Simmons was the lead paramedic and was responsible for coordinating a well-executed effort to revive the child, Jackson said.
After more than seven minutes of CPR and other lifesaving actions, Simmons and his team were able to revive the patient and achieve ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation). With the patient stabilized, the patient was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital where the patient received further lifesaving actions before being transferred by Mercy Flight to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
The patient was able to make a full recovery and was discharged home six days later.
“Simmons’ attitude and skills were of the highest quality throughout the duration of this incident,” Jackson said. “His calm demeanor and ability to coordinate patient care under dire circumstances directly contributed to this young life being saved.”
The following also received a Unit Commendation: Captain Mike Young, Lieutenant Jake Crooks, firefighter/paramedic Adam Fisher, firefighter/paramedic Bob Urtel, firefighter/EMT Tim Miller and firefighter/paramedic Steve Long.
• Longevity ribbon for 10 years of service: Lieutenant Steve Cooley.
• BLS ribbon and Fire Academy completion ribbon: Tyler Harrington.
Chief Jackson praised the firefighters for their dedication to the job.
“Every day, the members of this department make life-or-death decisions and provide outstanding care to residents and visitors to the Village of Medina and entire West Battalion of Orleans County,” Jackson said. “Our awards are nominated by fellow firefighters or officers and the recipients receive these awards for acts performed that involve extreme bravery, teamwork or exceptional lifesaving efforts.”
