Greenlawn Fire Department Rescue Squad Named EMS Service Of The Year

Greenlawn FD Rescue Squad Stands Out Among Hundreds of Departments Across the Nation as Recipient
of National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) Volunteer EMS Service Of The Year

 The Greenlawn Fire Department Rescue Squad has received the prestigious 2017 Volunteer EMS Service Of The Year Award from the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). Given annually, this national award is sponsored by Zoll Medical Corporation and recognizes EMS Departments for their outstanding contributions to the EMS profession as well as the patients they serve. Greenlawn Fire Department Rescue Squad was selected as recipient of this award from hundreds of applicants hailing from all areas of the United States. 

The NAEMT 2017 Volunteer EMS Service Of The Year Award was presented to the Greenlawn Fire Department Rescue Squad at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada during EMS World Expo’s opening ceremony. The Greenlawn Fire Department Rescue Squad was represented by Greenlawn Fire Department Chief Peter Miller, Chaplin/EMT John McKenna and Greenlawn Fire District Commissioner and Ex-Chief of Greenlawn Fire Department Scott Dalrymple.

During the ceremony, The Greenlawn Fire Department Rescue Squad was cited for ‘dedication to the community, promotion of health and well-being, and the advances in the emergency medical services it brings to the Greenlawn community.’ 

McKenna, a 45-year Department member and an EMT for 40 years, commented, “It’s a pleasure to accept this NAEMT award on behalf of all our brothers and sisters in the Greenlawn Fire Department. We are very proud of each of them and of all the ways in which they demonstrate their skills and compassion for every patient.” 

The fact that our men and women were recognized above all other EMS units across the country is a humbling experience,” Chairman of the Board Commissioner Doug Tewksbury said, “but one they richly deserve for their unwavering dedication to the Greenlawn community.” 

Michael Bellis, Chief of the Department, added, “We continually stress education and regular training while implementing program innovations. For example, we recently acquired a Lifenet system to transmit 12 lead EKGs directly to the hospital in order to decrease door-to-balloon times in cardiac emergencies.”

The new system is a pilot project within Suffolk County that enables EMTs to transmit EKGs directly to the hospital’s cardiologists so the hospital can mobilize the interventional team much quicker and get the patient the necessary treatment as quickly as possible.

Nominees for the Volunteer EMS Service of the Year Award are scored on the following seven criteria:

• Advances in EMS education and training in the agency
• Innovations in pre-hospital care and protocol development implemented by the agency
• Medical community involvement with the agency
• EMS system/program upgrades implemented by the agency
• Worker safety and well-being programs implemented by the agency
• Injury- and illness-prevention projects implemented by the agency
• Public-education project sponsorships the agency is involved with

The Greenlawn Fire Department serves a population of 25,000 with 38 volunteer EMTs and three paramedics. Its Rescue Squad handles approximately 2,300 calls annually and does not bill for any of its services.