Council honors local emergency service responders

BY DAN KEGLEY
Staff

A Smyth County emergency services agency, its medical director, and a hospital nurse have received honors from the Southwest Virginia Emergency Services Council.
Chilhowie Fire Department received the council’s 2011 Outstanding EMS Agency award. The fire fighting and emergency medical services agency responds to more than 1,000 calls each year, maintains high personnel and training standards, and has developed multiple specialty rescue teams, the council said.
“Chilhowie Fire Department is well-known throughout the region for their professionalism and commitment to quality service,” Council Director Gregory Woods said in a release. “Their commitment and dedication to serving their community certainly justifies their receipt of this award.”
“I appreciate that,” CFD Chief David Haynes said in response to Woods’ statement. “Everybody here is committed. We’ve lost several members lately to retirement and people step up. The calls get answered. It’s everybody stepping up and saying yeah, I’ll take on a little more.”
According to Haynes, CFD is characterized by a pervasive can-do attitude.
“A lot of organizations look at requirements that come down and look for a way not to do it,” he said. “We look for a way to do it. We readily take on whatever comes down the pike. I could sit at my desk and say here’s 10 reasons we should not do something. That’s easier than saying why we should do it.”
The department’s can-do spirit extends beyond providing fire and EMS services, according to Haynes.
“I don’t think we’re bound by traditional fire department roles,” he said. CFD’s members do not believe “a fire department is expected to do this and that’s all we do.” As an example, he said the department offers child safety seat inspections, usually a police department service. Inspectors must take week-long training, then maintain their certification.
One member is taking month-long training in fire inspection, Haynes said. “We could say we’re too small. We figure out ways to do something, not ways not to do it.”
CFD’s medical director, Chilhowie physician Dr. Wayne Reynolds, received the Outstanding EMS Physician award for his work as a volunteer and medical director of a licensed EMS agency. Reynolds provides medical oversight of CFD that includes weekly call sheet reviews, and ran approximately 11 percent of the department’s calls in 2010. He insures members participate in ongoing training and professional development activities, the council said.
“Dr. Reynolds is a very active and conscientious medical director,” Woods said. “He has developed great processes to insure high quality patient care and takes a hands-on approach which is admirable.”
Reynolds was unavailable this week for comment. Haynes said no one outside the department “knows what he does for us. If Dr. Reynolds leaves, I’m going to retire, too, because I don’t want to have to try to find his replacement.”
Shannon Fullen-Roberts, a registered nurse at Smyth County Community Hospital, received the Nurse with Outstanding Contribution to EMS award for her efforts regionally and within Smyth County to support EMS agencies and providers, the council said. Her work includes advocating for the provision of needed diagnostic equipment, coordinating EMS collaboration and recognition efforts, supporting education initiatives, and serving on numerous regional EMS planning committees.
“Shannon has been an active advocate of emergency medical services throughout her career,” Woods said. “She is willing to do whatever it takes to promote and support EMS agencies and providers.”
“I have always tried to encourage and support EMS people, whether it’s a question they have or a supply they need, anything to help them take care of patients,” Fullen-Roberts said. “I can’t always give it to them, but I have contacts they don’t have so I try to use that.”
Fullen-Roberts said she was “surprised and honored” by the EMS Council honor award and doesn’t know who nominated her.
Regionally, 10 awards, including a $1,000 scholarship to a high school senior entering college this fall, were presented at a banquet held Aug. 18 at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.
“These individuals and agencies have made extraordinary contributions to their communities and have touched the lives of citizens throughout our region,” Woods said. “Their efforts have saved countless lives and had local, regional, and state impact.”

dkegley@wythenews.com