Each year during National EMS week, Lincoln Fire & Rescue honors those emergency medical services workers who daily devote their efforts to provide emergency responses to medical emergencies. While communities nationwide are honoring the 750,000 EMS providers with various activities, Lincoln Fire & Rescue and the 911 center recognizes those responsible for saving the lives of Lincoln citizens with the awarding of "Phoenix Award" certificates.

Since 1986 Lincoln Fire & Rescue has been recognizing firefighters who have participated in the efforts to save a life. Each member of a lifesaving team has received a certificate will call a Phoenix Award. The award is named after the mythical phoenix bird, a symbol of rebirth. The award is inscribed with the biblical verse from the old testament:

"And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm."

In our EMS system a "save" is defined as the crew assessing a patient who is in full cardiac or respiratory arrest (not breathing and/or no pulse.) The patient is treated, often with defibrillation, cardiac drugs and advanced airway procedures and transported to a hospital. To be counted as a "save" the patient then must recover and be subsequently release from the hospital.

The teamwork required to save a life is incredible. The even begins with someone recognizing the patient is having a medical emergency and activating the EMS system by calling 911. At the emergency communications center someone receives the call for help, asks specific questions to ascertain what the emergency is and dispatches the closest fire engine and ambulance. While the rescuers are en route, the call takers give whatever instructions are necessary to those on the scene to care for the patient until the responders arrive. The patient is treated and transported to the hospital where another highly skilled team takes over.

Individuals don't save lives, teamwork save lives. We're proud of our teams and today's award ceremony is to honor them.