posted September 12, 2024

Air Medical Team, Ground EMS Recognized for Exceptional Collaboration and Patient Care

CARTHAGE, NY – Sept. 12, 2024 – LifeNet of New York 7-10 clinicians Luke Gasowski and Rod Kester, along with other emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, were honored today by New York Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (Assembly District 117) for their exceptional teamwork and critical care response following a tragic helicopter crash. While the patient succumbed to his injuries, all involved EMS agencies – LifeNet 7-10 based in Watertown, Guilfoyle Ambulance, and Carthage Area Rescue Squad (CARS) – were honorably recognized for their efforts.  

“The patient passed away at the hospital. While this is never an outcome we want to see, everyone involved at the scene worked as hard as they could to resuscitate and stabilize the patient as best they could,” said CARS Captain Ashley Gillis. “In my years of service, I’ve never seen teamwork flow like it did that day. The professionalism and display of care for both the patient and everyone involved in this call were outstanding.”

Initial response was provided by Guilfoyle Ambulance, CARS, and Carthage Fire Department. Due to the patient’s need for critical care and rapid transport, LifeNet 7-10 was dispatched and safely landed through a coordinated landing zone, arriving as close to the patient as possible. Upon LifeNet’s arrival at the scene, West Carthage Fire Department and Fort Drum personnel were also on scene assisting where needed.

“Arriving to a handful of different EMS agencies is a fairly unique occurrence. Often times with multiple response agencies, there can be a feeling that ‘there are too many cooks in the kitchen,’ but it didn’t feel that way at all,” said Gasowski, LifeNet flight paramedic and clinical base lead. “The way everyone came together to give that patient the best opportunity at survival felt almost rehearsed, like we’ve trained together for years for this type of incident.”

Assemblyman Blankenbush personally thanked the EMS teams not only for their collaboration and teamwork in patient care but also for their dedication to the community. Each person received an award plaque for their patient care service.

“This is the reflection of teamwork by our local EMS,” said Assemblyman Blankenbush. “We are extremely fortunate to have their services and devoted personnel putting community safety first.”

Kester, LifeNet flight nurse, echoed the Assemblyman’s sentiment saying, “This recognition is truly for the ground EMS teams who did a tremendous job working with everyone, thrown together from multiple agencies and synergizing into more than the sum of parts. It wasn’t the normal experience, and regardless of patient outcome, the ability to come together deserves recognition for those teams.”

The LifeNet team is certified and has state-of-the-art specialty care training that provides the same level of care one would receive in the hospital during air medical transport from the scene or for interfacility transports. Equipped with industry-leading equipment and medical devices, the team carries and has the ability to administer whole blood in flight, provide advanced airway intervention, cardiac and blood flow monitoring, medication administration, and other advanced surgical procedures. LifeNet is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) – the highest standards in safety, clinical practice, quality assurance, and training in the industry.