West Roxbury Residents Honored at Boston EMS Awards Banquet

Six West Roxbury residents, Paul Savage, Mike Yaffe, Lisa Hines, Thomas Hooley, Thomas Finn, and Robert Stearns, were honored at the 23rd Annual Boston EMS Awards banquet last Friday.

EMT Savage was honored as the Telecommunicator of the Year and has worked for EMS for over 35 years. The award is presented annually to one department member, assigned to Dispatch Operations, who distinguishes themselves through exemplary performance.

Paramedic Yaffe was honored with the Hirsch Award for Excellence in Pre-Hospital Trauma Care. Yaffe was also awarded a 25 Years of Service Ribbon. The honor is awarded to a team of EMTs and/or Paramedics who have distinguished themselves through the delivery of exemplary pre-hospital trauma care resulting in the survival of the patient.

EMT Hines was awarded a Unit Citation and has worked for EMS for over 16 years. Earlier this year, a patient was struck by a motor vehicle and pulled under the car, pinning them there. Hines, transporting to the hospital from another call, heard the call, and responding within minutes, and began treating the young patient. The remainder of the units arrived, began treating and packaging the patient for transport. The father of the patient reached out to EMS after the incident to thank all of the crews involved for their quick response time and professional care.

EMT Hooley was awarded a Unit Citation and has worked for EMS over 5 years. This past spring, Hooley and Marc Steeves responded for a reported jumper. Upon arrival, Hooley and Steeves confirmed that there was a distraught patient on the ledge who was threatening to jump. Hooley and Steeves, along with an MIT Police Officer, were able to restrain the patient and pull her off the ledge to safety.

Paramedic Finn was awarded a Unit Citation and the Dr. Philip P. McGovern, Jr. Silver Spoon Award. He also received a 20 Years of Service Ribbon. The award is presented annually to any uniformed members of Boston EMS who assist with the successful field delivery of a baby in unusual or complicated circumstances. Earlier this year, Boston EMS personnel arrived on scene and were presented with the delivery of a premature baby in very critical condition, as well as the breech presentation of a second baby. While immediately calling for additional resources, the first arriving crews began treating the born baby, and assisted the mother in delivering the second baby.

EMT Stearns was honored with a 20 Years of Service Ribbon.