ITHACA, NY (WHCU) – Local emergency medical services personnel have been honored.

The Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response (TCDoER) recently held its 2nd annual EMS Awards to recognize outstanding service and contributions in the community.

The Tim Bangs Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Susan Flynn, who TCDoER says served most of her adult life in EMS with Bangs Ambulance. Additionally, Flynn has donated her personal time at blood pressure clinics and served on the CNY EMS Regional Council and NYS EMS Council.

The EMS Award of Excellence was given to Joel Cadbury for more than 20 years of service to the EMS community. Cadbury has worked for two paid and one volunteer agency in the county and others in New York. TCDoER says “not a day goes by that Joel can’t be found in the back of an ambulance or in a classroom molding the minds of future EMS providers.”

The EMS Crew of the Year Award was given to Groton Fire & Ambulance for quick actions taken last summer to save a patient who had gone into cardiac arrest. That individual was later discharged from the hospital and returned to a normal life.

The EMS Agency of the Year Award was given to Enfield Rescue, which has 16 certified all-volunteer providers, including the only certified Spanish-speaking translator in Tompkins County.  Two students are testing this month to join Enfield Rescue. Last year, Enfield continued to be active with the NYS Volunteer Ambulance Association, the National Association of EMT’s, and the CNY EMS Regional Council.

The ALS Provider of the Year Award was given to Frank “Nick” Domster, who has 19 years of EMS service under his belt and responded to more than 800 calls in 2023. TCDoER says Domster has dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to Bangs Ambulance and his community.

The BLS Provider of the Year Award was given to Steve Foote, who has nearly 50 years of EMS service with the McLean Fire Department. Foote, who is an Advanced Life Support EMT, is being nominated for his work with as a Basic Life Support EMT. Foote answered 80% of the EMS calls for his home agency in 2023.

Members of the Steering Committee, comprised of Tompkins County Administration, the Legislature, TCDoER, the Council of Governments, and community partners were also recognized for their efforts to launch the county’s Rapid Medical Response pilot program.