Archbishop John Carroll Assembly No. 2546

Lakeland, FL

1/26/2008

Pictured are SK George McCurdy, award recipient Paramedic George Bailey,  his son, and Director Harvey Craven.

See below for background of his award nomination.

Paramedic George Bailey was enjoying a day off when he received a call at home and was given the most dreaded news a parent can receive; his son had been involved in a serious accident while riding his ATV. His son had been riding his ATV in a field when he did not notice a steel wire running across the field. He struck the wire in throat area knocking him off the ATV.

 

PCEMS Paramedics are constantly performing life saving techniques on their shifts, but very rare is the occasion when a paramedic has to perform a life saving technique on a family member, his son.

 

He raced to the scene  to check on his son. Upon his arrival he met  with the ambulance crew that was at the side his son. The assessment of his son revealed that he had suffered a serious injury to his larynx. Swelling had begun and they feared that his airway would be seriously compromised. Intubation had to be done quickly to ensure the airway from closing down. The medic on scene had difficulty visualizing the larynx due to the swelling and trauma to the throat. George asked if he could have a try before another airway technique would be attempted. And, with the realization of knowing this had to be successful or grave circumstances could be the outcome, he successfully intubated his son.

 

The hospital’s staff consensus is that in all probability , George saved the life of his son. Again, the PCEMS medics do this on a daily basis, but the deftness of his skills and the ability to keep professionally calm, steady and focused while performing this life saving skill on his son is worthy of this Achievement Award. We all wish a complete recovery of his son.