HAGERSTOWN, MD (April 2, 2025) – The Washington County Division of Emergency Services (DES) proudly recognizes the heroic efforts of local first responders through the prestigious Life Savers Award. This award honors those who demonstrate exceptional skill and teamwork in successfully resuscitating patients suffering from cardiac arrest.
One particularly remarkable incident took place on October 10, 2024, showcasing the critical importance of collaboration between multiple agencies. That day, Thomas Mellott suffered a sudden cardiac event while working with his best friend, Alvin Shives, in Needmore, Pennsylvania. Mr. Shives immediately began performing CPR, sustaining his friend for approximately 12 minutes until emergency responders arrived. The Needmore Volunteer Fire Company took over care, placing Mr. Mellott on an AED monitor, while LifeNet Air Medical was dispatched for transport.
In addition to the Needmore Volunteer Fire Department members (Joshua, Bradley, Brian, David, and Tony), Washington County units including EMS Supervisor Captain Lauren Hopkins, Ambulance 591 EMTs Mary Barnhart and Alex Seburn, as well as Paramedic 491 team members Paramedic Kaitlyn Cline and EMT Robert Myerly arrived to assist with advanced care and medication administration. Once stabilized, Mr. Mellott was flown to Meritus Medical Center by Life Net 81 crew members Michael and Kristopher, where he underwent emergency cardiac catheterization. He was later transferred to Hershey Medical Center, where he received an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD). Today, Mr. Mellott is doing well and attended the Life Savers Award ceremony to personally express his gratitude to the first responders who saved his life.
“This incident is a testament to the outstanding working relationship we have with our neighboring counties and emergency medical teams,” said Casey McKnight, EMS Supervisor for DES. “The coordinated response between multiple agencies, the immediate CPR efforts of Mr. Shives, and the skillful intervention of paramedics and air medical teams ensured that Mr. Mellott had the best possible chance of survival. This is exactly why we train and prepare for these situations.”
The Life Savers Award ceremony also acknowledged the outstanding work of first responders in several additional cardiac arrest cases throughout 2024:
- January 20 – Paramedic James Grove, EMT Timothy Necessory, and Lieutenant Brandon Neuenschwander from Community Rescue Service Medic 754 successfully revived a patient who collapsed while unloading a truck.
- April 30 – Captain Justin Ruppenthal, Paramedic Rachael Moran, EMT Christopher Nauman, and Sarah Milburn from Community Rescue Service Medic 755 utilized defibrillation and CPR to save an unresponsive female patient.
- September 6 – Paramedic Rachel Buck, EMT Sarah Nichols, and Captain Dennis Browne from Community Rescue Service Medic 752 applied dual sequential defibrillation, a technique recently adopted in Maryland EMS protocols, to resuscitate a cardiac arrest patient.
- September 22 – Captain Justin Ruppenthal, Paramedic Kurtis Meunier, FF/EMT John Sharpe, and Paramedic Meaghan Jackson from Halfway EMS Medic 268 used advanced defibrillation techniques to restore a pulse in a patient who became unresponsive in a vehicle.
- September 27 – Captain Casey McKnight and Deputy Director Dave Chisholm from the Division of Emergency Services EMS 1811 provided critical care to a patient in cardiac arrest, ultimately restoring a pulse and facilitating a successful recovery.
- November 11 – Paramedic Leah Keefer, Paramedic Donald Lehman, EMT Betty Buskirk, EMTPeter Mitchell, and FF/Paramedic Zach Robinson from Hancock Medic 592 and Division of Emergency Services EMS 1811 successfully revived a patient in Hancock after multiple rounds of CPR and defibrillation.
These incidents highlight the profound impact of skilled emergency medical responders and the importance of continued advancements in life-saving protocols. The Washington County Division of Emergency Services is incredibly proud of these professionals and their unwavering commitment to the health and safety of the community.
For more information about the Life Savers Award and the life-saving work of our EMS teams, please contact the Washington County’s Public Relations & Marketing Department at [email protected].
