EMT appreciation event includes Employee of Year
ARGILLITE An Emergency Medical Technician of the Greenup County Ambulance Authority earned Employee of the Year honors as part of an EMT appreciation picnic at Little Sandy Fire Department on Friday.
Kasey Jo Shoemaker, EMT-B and resident of South Point, Ohio, was stunned after her name was announced in a surprise, she said.
In a soft tone, Shoemaker expressed how “grateful” she was for the team at the authority, which has helped make her successful in her job.
“I had no idea, this was a shock to my system,” she said. “I can think of a dozen people that deserve this more than I do, but I am very honored, very humbled. There isn’t no ‘I’ in team. We win as a team and we lose as a team.
“I give it 100% every day, no matter what the call is or even if I am on call. I always try to help out … I am all about my team, I’m a huge team player. I just try to give it my all every day,” she added.
A mission of Shoemaker’s is to treat all of her patients like they are family, she said.
“How I would want one of my family members to be cared for, especially in a time of need,” she said.
“These people (co-workers) are my family. I spend a lot of time with them. Sometimes I spend more time with them than I do my own family,” she said with a laugh. I would want them to have my back like I do.”
As she accepted her award she said to the crowd, “You guys are my people, I got your back always.”
A crowd of EMTs and their families celebrated with hamburgers, hot dogs, cupcakes and cake at the Little Sandy Fire Department, where the life-saving workers were rewarded with gifts showing appreciation for their services.
Kevin Callihan, Ambulance Authority Director, said not only was the celebration to show appreciation but give a chance for their own staff to network amongst themselves and enjoy the time without the stress of work.
“EMS is a very stressful job and the only time you usually see these people is when it’s somebody’s worst day. This is a chance for our own staff to see people from other shifts, and hang out. … It’s a celebration for the team, it’s to show appreciation to the staff,” he said.
“I appreciate the work they do, the sacrifices they make — being away from their families for extended periods of time and the stress sometimes they have to take home from work,” Callihan said.
Derrick Bradley, the ambulance authority’s board chairman, was among the crowd talking to people and passing out awards to EMTs.
“It just goes to show your appreciation for the career, your employees. I started my career here 22 years ago. It’s nice to give back to the employees that are following behind me,” Bradley said. “They see so much throughout the year; one week is not enough.”
