First Responders Day at Dominion
Better to be prepared without an opportunity, than to be unprepared with an opportunity. This statement best describes every First Responder that’s ever worn a uniform and has accepted the challenge of always being ready to respond to life or death emergencies. On Tuesday, November 21st, 2023 at approximately 3:53 pm, an employee at the VC Summers Nuclear Facility fell in the stairwell with a cardiac emergency. “We always prepare for moments that we hope never happen,” Tim Martin, Fairfield County EMS Director. When the call came in about an emergency at the facility Captain Ahmed Lake, Lt. Randy Crain and EMT Erin King did what they have trained their entire career for.
When an employee at the facility fell and was found by a co-worker in the stairwell, First Responders responded. “The crew at VC Summer Nuclear facility responded to the incident along with our Fairfield County EMS team and brought the person back,” recounted EMS Deputy Director Samantha Larabee. “It’s not often that we get somebody that does get pulses back and who is able to talk to us and be discharged; that is the case here and we wanted to honor those that responded.” When recounting the events that occurred the week of Thanksgiving, Fairfield County EMS Lt. Randy Crain recalls the composure and the dedication to rely on the hours of training leading up to the incident that prepared everyone involved to react swiftly and appropriately. “What we walked into that day was not utter confusion and normally we walk into a group of people that don’t know what’s going on or worked up because they don’t know how to handle the situation, but the team that was here that day obviously took getting that training seriously and they practiced. And because of that, we had a positive patient outcome. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does work, it works!”
Fairfield County Firefighter Barkley Ramsey met the crew at the gate and swiftly led them to the location of the patient inside the facility. The Emergency Team at Dominion worked with Fairfield County EMS to bring the patient back and stabilize him. “We took the patient to Richland Memorial Hospital; they deserve a lot of credit as well for saving this man’s life,” Captain Ahmed Lake. Years of training and sacrifice led to the coordinated effort of Dominion Energy employees, a Fairfield County Firefighter, Fairfield County EMS and the doctors at Richland Memorial being the miracle this man needed to save his life. “We train once a year with Fairfield County EMS and Richland Memorial Hospital to ensure we are ready to respond collectively when an emergency occurs,” Robert Justice, Plant Manager at VC Summer Nuclear Facility at Dominion Energy.
Whether one is an EMT or a citizen, you never know if or when you will be called upon to save someone’s life. “I want to encourage people to take a CPR class because you never know when those skills will be needed and how you can help someone,” Captain Ahmed Lake. Being a First Responder is calling and a purpose. “I believe we all want to help people but sometimes we don’t know how to do it; this job gives us an avenue to use our skills to help people,” Lake responded. EMT Erin King knows the impact that being a First Responder has on someone’s life when it is most needed, “Most of the time it’s not about saving someone from a cardiac emergency; most days it’s about being there for someone that is in pain or having a mental health crisis and you get the opportunity to be the calm in their storm.”
Fairfield County EMS approached the administration at Dominion Energy about doing something to honor those that worked together to save this gentleman’s life. The response was let’s do something to honor all First Responders; the result was First Responders Appreciation Day at the VC Summer Nuclear Facility held on Wednesday, February 7th 2024. The crew that responded on that Tuesday, were awarded a medallion and Certificate of Appreciation for their efforts in just simply doing their job and what they were meant and trained to do.
Director Martin said it best, “I’m proud of them, just knowing everything they trained and prepared for, the facility here trains for, all of it came together at the right time to work the way it’s supposed to work!” You never know when you will be called on to be that miracle for someone, but it’s better to be prepared without an opportunity, than to be unprepared with an opportunity.
Job Well Done!
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