ADVERTISEMENT
Eighty-Seven EMS Professionals Honored with Stars of Life Awards
SACRAMENTO, CA—On March 8, 2023, 87 paramedics, EMTs, emergency medical dispatchers and other ambulance personnel from across California gathered to be recognized as Stars of Life. The award is reserved for individuals who have exhibited superior performance throughout their careers or who through a single lifesaving event have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
“In a field where saving lives is often an everyday occurrence, the Star of Life award honors only the best of the best in the EMS field. This speaks volumes of the quality and commitment of the individuals who win this award,” said California Ambulance Association (CAA) President Jimmy Pierson. “California should be proud to have 87 Stars of Life award recipients serving communities across the state.”
Stars of Life celebrations began with a breakfast and welcome address at the Sheraton Grand featuring keynote remarks from Mike Taigman on real-time stress management and longevity. Activities continued at the California State Capitol where Stars of Life honorees and CAA and labor representatives joined Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez for a press conference calling on the State of California to recognize the contributions of EMS professionals by increasing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for ambulance first responders.
Attendees returned to the Sheraton Grand for panels on “Women in EMS” and “Leading from the Middle,” culminating with a reception and awards dinner with special guest Assemblymember Rodriguez.
Those honored included:
Michael Davis. Davis started his career at American Ambulance in 1983 as an EMT. In 1987 he became a paramedic and has served Fresno County and surrounding communities since then. Davis has served as a field training officer and a paramedic preceptor, but his most significant accomplishment has been working as a paramedic field supervisor for over 20 years. With his legacy of service, Davis is a resource for new paramedics and EMTs.
Roesli “Roos” Antonis. Antonis has served Alameda County as a dedicated and experienced paramedic since 1990. Over more than three decades, Antonis has demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication to providing high-quality emergency care to anyone in need and has earned a reputation as a respected leader and mentor in the EMS community.
Other Stars of Life recipients were celebrated for specific acts of extraordinary service, including:
Renard Sagun and Lisa Scates. Sagun and Scates responded to a call on November 15, 2022, after 75 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s recruits were struck by a vehicle traveling in the wrong lane. First on the scene, they heroically triaged the area and transported the most critical patient. Sagun started his career with Falck in 2017 running private transports, and since 2018 has served the L.A. County area of Lakewood in its 9-1-1 system. Scates became an EMT in 2018 after a life-changing event, ultimately deciding to make a career change.
Justin Williams. Williams was dispatched to a respiratory distress call and upon arrival, found a female in severe respiratory distress who was 40 weeks pregnant and in active labor. The patient started to decompensate and stopped breathing. Williams immediately provided airway and ventilation support and transported her to the hospital. During transport, he was delayed by a train, but due to his calm demeanor, quick and decisive actions, and early heads-up to the hospital, when the patient arrived at the hospital, staff was able to immediately intubate and perform an emergency C-section. The patient and baby were discharged a couple of days later.
Chalyssa David. During a routine interfacility transport, David was managing a 34-week pregnant female patient in active labor. David was the only provider in the back of the ambulance with the mother; as per the sending facility, birth was not imminent. However, the patient’s active labor rapidly progressed, and the patient began delivering the baby in the back of the ambulance. Upon delivery, the umbilical cord was found to be wrapped around the baby’s neck two times. The baby was blue and not breathing. David quickly and successfully unwrapped the umbilical cord and provided immediate resuscitation measures. She then safely oversaw the completion of the transport of the mother and baby. Upon follow-up the baby is doing fine with no deficits.
