A veteran firefighter known for his efforts to research child drowning and prevention, and several Fort Lauderdale fire-rescue units are among those to be honored at a breakfast Wednesday as ''EMS Heroes'' by the North Broward Medical Center.
Capt. Jeff Andrews, an 18-year veteran of the Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services and a Plantation resident, was selected from some 600 people in his department, said fire department spokesman Todd LeDuc. That ''speaks volumes of his commitment,'' LeDuc said.
The breakfast, which is held during National EMS Week and during National Trauma Awareness Month, is sponsored by the trauma services department at North Broward Medical Center. The fire departments choose which firefighters will be honored.
''It's our opportunity to honor them for everything they do for our patients,'' said Paula Cassel, the trauma unit's program manager who is hosting the 12th annual Emergency Medical Services Recognition Breakfast.
The honorees include Lt. Chris Dixon of Tamarac; Jon Fucher of North Lauderdale; Matthew Whiteshield of Margate; Juan Arias of Oakland Park; Bruce Pryde of Lighthouse Point; Assistant Chief John Whalen of Coral Springs; Battalion Chief Chuck Van Buskirk of Deerfield Beach; and Nicole Salerno, Jamie McCubbin and Paul Alabaster of Pompano Beach.
Fort Lauderdale fire-rescue is honoring all of Rescue Engine, Ladder and Battalion 35 as well as Rescue and Engine 54, and the EMS supervisor, division chief and support unit for Station 2.
Distributed by the Associated Press
