Star of Life Awards 2009

The Stars of Life Celebration is an annual Nationwide Celebration that publicly recognizes and celebrates the achievements of all those individuals working in the EMS industry. The program honors outstanding individuals as a thank you for their service to the sick and injured throughout the country. EMS Providers are encouraged to select outstanding employees and allow them to share in the celebration of their achievements. At Cataldo Ambulance Service, nominations are submitted by peers and management. This year Cataldo Ambulance Service is proud to present the 2009 Stars of Life Award to Ronald Taylor and John O’Connor for their outstanding service.

Ronald Taylor has been with Cataldo Ambulance Service since 1995. Ron’s nomination comes not for a single event but rather for his continuous dedication, compassion and excellent performance as a dispatcher and Supervisor in Cataldo’s Communication Center for over 13 years. Ron is an exceptional asset to the operation of our company as he continually gives his best effort and ability in a wide variety of situations and incidents. Ronald consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty on a shift to shift basis. He is known to keep a maintained, calm and   professional atmosphere in an often difficult and stressful profession.

Ron is well respected by management and co-workers. He always has the company’s best interest at hand while providing optimum delivery of care to his patients due to diligent preparation and execution of his responsibilities. Ron’s compassion for patients is equivalent to his compassion for the employees he oversees. When dispatching a crew to a potentially dangerous call Dispatcher Taylor always makes sure the crew has adequate resources and remains safe as they arrive on scene. As described by his peers, “Ronald is a valued resource during his shift. He has the ability to empathize with anyone, a co-worker, subordinate, patient or caller. He portrays the type of person that I would want a family member to call in an emergency.”  Ron Taylor has consistently given his all to this company, its patients and employees past and present. Ron’s selflessness and generosity help Cataldo Ambulance Service to provide exceptional pre-hospital care within our service area. Ron Taylor’s leadership and compassion are recognized by his peers and management alike at Cataldo Ambulance Service.

John O’Connor has been with Cataldo Ambulance Service since 2005. John is recognized as a Star of Life and selected based on his exemplary skills as a first responder and dispatcher. John is described as a compassionate individual who is extremely dedicated to public safety. Consistently recognized as a model employee at Cataldo Ambulance Service, John is also involved with Public Safety at a local college as his full time profession. John is consistently looking to improve his training and qualifications as he picks up shifts in Cataldo’s dispatch center or on the road as an EMT. When EMD training was offered, John took personal time at his full time job to attend training necessary to become certified. John is commended on his professional and empathetic nature which was highlighted during a recent incident in which he successfully used his EMD training.

On February 4, 2009 Dispatcher O’Connor remained calm and professional as he turned a very hysterical caller into a First Responder. As John followed protocols specifically outlined in his EMD training, he was able to coach the frantic caller and keep her calm as she followed his instructions to provide life saving techniques until Paramedics arrived on scene. Due to John’s clear and composed direction throughout the call, the patient was revived and had a fighting chance of survival. The patient was transported and admitted to the ICU but is expected to make a full recovery. John’s professional and personal attributes are recognized and commended by his peers and management alike at Cataldo Ambulance Service.