On August 19th, Sierra Medical Services Alliance, known better as SEMSA, honored nineteen deserving recipients from three separate local agencies, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, CHP Air Operations and SEMSA Air 1.
According to SEMSA the award recipients distinguished themselves in the performance of outstanding service and lifesaving measures during the multi-agency search and rescue response on May 29th, at Eagle Lake, saying, “Their extensive efforts, keen judgment, and professionalism contributed to the successful treatment and positive outcome of the patient.”
The Community Life Saver Award was established to recognize extraordinary efforts by fellow first responders, their agencies and members of the community, which have a profound impact on the positive and successful outcome of a patient.
The award recognizes the coordinated response of the California Highway Patrol Air Operations H-14, Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Lassen County Search and Rescue, Lassen County Emergency Communications Center, and SEMSA Air 1 flight crew.
Award Recipients
California Highway Patrol Air Operations – Officer Steve Weyand, Officer Daniel Gallagher and Officer Michael Chaffant.
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office – Captain Dustin Russell, Sergeant Laura Johnson, Deputy Kurtis Becker, Search and Rescue Travis Stading, Search and Rescue Mike McGarva, Deputy Jim Uptegrove, Deputy Rob Gratriex, Detective Meghan Lee, Sergeant Bryan Sullivan, Captain Mike Carney, Search and Rescue Bob McGarva, Dispatcher Angela Lewis and Dispatcher Tracy Mattern.
SEMSA Air 1 – Flight Nurse Maggie Robinson, Flight Paramedic Michael Castro and Pilot John Latham.
The honorees are being celebrated for their remarkable teamwork and dedication in rescuing a 75-year-old male boater who went missing at Eagle Lake on May 29th.
The ordeal began on the evening of May 28th, when the Lassen County Sheriff’s dispatch received a call for the missing boater. The extensive 17-hour search operation was marked by a relentless and coordinated effort among various agencies.
CHP H-14, with its aerial surveillance capabilities, located the unoccupied boat and provided crucial coordinates to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office. This allowed the Sheriff’s team to search the shoreline effectively.
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office personnel, including both Patrol and Search and Rescue divisions, successfully located the missing boater in the water near the shoreline and were able to retrieve him.
The immediate response from LCSO officers, combined with the prompt arrival of SEMSA Air 1, was critical. First aid was administered on-site, and the patient was swiftly transported to Renown Medical Center in Reno, NV by SEMSA Air 1.
Upon arrival at Renown Medical Center, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Thanks to the swift and expert intervention of hospital staff, the patient was revived and, after a brief stay in the ICU, was discharged home, a truly remarkable and successful outcome.
All responders were also recognized by Northern California EMS, with an exemplary service award.
