Pinellas 2017 EMS Professionals of the Year Announced

CLEARWATER, FL – Pinellas County recently honored the county’s best when it comes to providing medical services when seconds count.

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners recently named this year’s Emergency Medical Services Professionals of the Year. The awards are given each year in May in honor of Emergency Medical Services Week, locally recognizing the EMS professionals working for Pinellas County’s emergency medical services system.

David Sims was awarded the Paramedic of the Year award. After almost nine years at Sunstar Paramedics, Sims worked his way up from paramedic to an assistant supervisor and field training officer. According to the county, Sims is known for going beyond what is required of him with each patient.

“I like to follow up with the patents to make sure I did the right treatment and made the right decisions for them,” Sims said.

Sunstar EMT Reilly Nolan was named Emergency Medical Technician of the Year. Nolan participates in the Sustar safety officer program, where he teaches and promotes safety procedures to emergency crews so they can stay safe while focusing on helping patients.

“I like to think that I’m that safety net so my crews can go out there and do a good job and give our residents the best patient care possible knowing they have someone watching their back keeping them safe from all the things they might not even think of at the time,” Nolan said.

Pinellas county 911 telecommunicator Richard Sherman was named the Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the Year. Sherman is a paramedic assistant supervisor at Sunstar.

While handling his duties in Pinellas County during Tropical Storm Hermine, the 19-year Sunstar employee received an unexpected call from a Pasco County hospital. The powerless building had been struck by lightning and needed evacuation. Sherman successfully coordinated Pinellas County’s role in the evacuation during a seven-hour period.

“We transported 30 patients from Pinellas County, they all came home safely and it was a successful night,” Sherman said.

The award recipients each received a certificate and a cash award from the Pinellas Federal Credit Union.

Image and video via pcctv YouTube channel