Members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department at the 2015 Star of Life Awards in Nashville in May. Among those honored from Region 2 were Oak Ridge firefighters (starting at second from left) Marty Griffith, Eric Mocsari, Steven London, Duane Chase, and Thomas Giles. (Submitted photo)
NASHVILLE—The Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services, and University of Tennessee Lifestar have been honored for helping to save a cyclist after a medical emergency on Bethel Valley Road in March 2014.
Thomas Berg experienced a sudden medical emergency while on a bicycle ride on March 30, 2014, causing him to crash in the middle of Bethel Valley Road, a press release said.
David Smallwood was riding with Berg, and Smallwood called 911 and began CPR as soon as he saw the crash. Emergency crews from the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Anderson County EMS responded, and they found Berg in cardiac arrest, the release said.
Berg was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by UT Lifestar.
“Today, Mr. Berg has made a full recovery and is once again enjoying cycling,” the press release said.
The ORFD, Anderson County EMS, and UT Lifestar crews were honored by Tennessee Emergency Medical Services for Children at the Seventh Annual Star of Life Awards in Nashville at Rocketown on Thursday, May 14. The ceremony recognized EMS crews who are on the frontlines of emergency care, the press release said.
The ceremony reunited the EMS personnel on stage with the patient, Thomas Berg. Smallwood was also honored during the ceremony. Below are the recipients for Region 2:
Region 2—City of Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and UT Lifestar
- David Smallwood, Civilian Responder
- Battalion Chief Marty Griffith, EMT-P, RN
- Captain Eric Mocsari, EMT-P, RN
- Firefighter Engineer Steven London, EMT-P
- Firefighter Engineer Duane Chase, AEMT
- Firefighter Engineer Thomas Giles, AEMT
- Natalie Waddell, EMT-P
- Zachary Panter, EMT-P
- Flight Paramedic Terry Neal, EMT-P/CC
- Flight Nurse Gary Reams, EMT-P/CC, RN
- Jason Lewis, Pilot
- Tim King, EMT-P
- Fred Yahr, EMT-P
The 2015 Star of Life Awards Star Partners were Air Evac Lifeteam and Erlanger Children’s Hospital and Erlanger Health Systems.
The mission of the Tennessee Emergency Medical Services for Children Foundation, the host of the EMS Star of Life, is to ensure that every child in Tennessee receives the best pediatric emergency care in order to eliminate the effects of severe illness and injury, the press release said.
The Star of Life Awards are designed to honor Tennessee’s excellent prehospital providers for their lifesaving care.
The 2015 Star of Life Awards in Nashville in May honored David Smallwood, civilian responder; Battalion Chief Marty Griffith, EMT-P, RN; Captain Eric Mocsari, EMT-P, RN; Firefighter Engineer Steven London, EMT-P; Firefighter Engineer Duane Chase, AEMT; Firefighter Engineer Thomas Giles, AEMT; Natalie Waddell, EMT-P; Zachary Panter, EMT-P; Flight Paramedic Terry Neal, EMT-P/CC; Flight Nurse Gary Reams, EMT-P/CC, RN; Jason Lewis, pilot; Tim King, EMT-P; and Fred Yahr, EMT-P.
