Hamilton Healthcare System's EMS personnel receive Lifesaving Awards

National EMS Week was May 16th thru the 22nd. In conjunction with celebrating this week of EMS and First Responders, Care-Flite and the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) hold “Great First Responders” award ceremonies. At their 14th annual ceremony in September 2020, DFWHC and CareFlite recognized several local Hamilton EMS personnel, including two based in San Saba, for the Great First Responder Award.

Not only were Captain-Paramedic Jeff Burks and Lieutenant-Paramedic Erik Testerman of the San Saba County-based EMS units from Hamilton Healthcare System honored at the 2020’s Great First Responder Award Ceremony in Grand Prairie, but they also received LifeSaving Awards at the annual EMS Week Banquet held at the San Saba County EMS station. Captain

Captain Jeff Burks attended and performed lifesaving procedures on a 70-year-old female who had suffered cardiac arrest. He and his crew were able to restore a heartbeat and transported the patient to a Waco hospital and received surgical intervention. The patient was discharged and recovered fully.

In addition, Lieutenant Erik Testerman assisted in performing lifesaving interventions on a pediatric patient struck at high speed by an 18-wheel tractor-trailer. This patient received many medications and transfused blood while being transported to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth and survived the injuries. Lieutenant Testerman also provided lifesaving interventions on an adult male who had suffered a point-blank shotgun blast to the abdomen. This patient was transported to a Waco trauma center, underwent surgical care, and survived his injuries being discharged home, and made a full recovery.

Along with crew recognition at this year’s annual EMS Week Banquet, Hamilton EMS sponsored a “homemade ice cream” making contest judged by both the San Saba County and Mills County Judges, along with the San Saba County Justice of the Peace. After the Awards Ceremony, eight different contestants battled it out for first, second, and third place ice prizes. EMS, Police and Sheriff’s Departments, and local volunteer fire departments all participated in the contest.

Hamilton EMS Director Patrick Cobb stated, “we host an annual banquet during EMS Week as an opportunity to meet and see everyone we work with and spend a few moments of peaceful and happy time together on a good day. People call 911 on often the worst day of their life and unfortunately, we all come together during those stressful moments. This is a rare opportunity to push those moments back…if even for just a few minutes.”

EMS Lieutenant-Paramedic Chyanne Brake won 1st place with her homemade Coffee Ice Cream. EMT Colten Collins won $250 for his 2nd place Strawberry Ice Cream, and Wally Killman, with San Saba VFD, took 3rd place with his Homemade Vanilla and Heath Ice Cream. This event was well-attended by San Saba city and county employees, as well as San Saba County VFD and Hamilton EMS personnel.

The “Homemade Ice Cream” contest was also the perfect setting for the lifesaving awards presentation…ice cream can bring smiles to people’s faces, but in turn, so can lifesaving events! Kudos to Captain Burks and Lieutenant Testerman - you both have brought smiles to our faces and pride to our hearts. The communities of San Saba and Goldthwaite are glad to have you both, as well as all other dedicated and heroic Hamilton EMS (San Saba and Mills Counties) team members meeting our emergency healthcare needs.