On Wednesday February 6, at the Mercy St. Vincent’s Life Flight’s Partners for Life Conference, in Sandusky, Ohio the first responders of Antwerp Fire and EMS, the Hicksville Fire and EMS, along with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, 911 Dispatch and the Paulding County EMA were recognized for their efforts in the successful outcome of a horrific semi accident, north of there Village of Antwerp, Ohio, on State Route 49 on August 2nd, 2018. The agencies, received the Dr. Frank Foss Award for Excellence in pre hospital care under extreme circumstances.
The semi truck was attempting to pass an ODOT Road Sweeper, when he struck the vehicle, went off the roadway and flipped over onto it’s top crushing the cab of the semi onto the driver. The ODOT worker was quickly transported to Hicksville Hospital with minor injuries. The agencies involved were recognized for the efforts they put forth in extricating the semi driver and sustaining his life. He was flown to UTMC Hospital in Toledo where he underwent surgery that saved his leg and allow him to walk out of the hospital a week later.
This was one of two incident’s that were recognized at the 2019 Dr. Frank Foss Award’s ceremony Wednesday night. The other incident recognized was an industrial accident in the Village of Archbold, Ohio. The Archbold Fire and EMS, Archbold Police Department, Fulton County Life Squad 1, and the Fulton County 911 Dispatch were recognized at an incident that took place on March 27th, 2018, when an individual got his sleeve, then his arm caught in a machine, that detached the arm. Extreme efforts were made to keep the individual alive and be flown to Mercy St.Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo. After being taken into surgery, the doctors were able to save the person’s life but not able to save his arm.
The efforts of these first responders will be considered for the State of Ohio’s Star of Life Award in Columbus, in May.
