February 19, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
A boating accident on Center Hill Lake almost a year ago critically injured a young Putnam County woman but she is alive and well today in part due to the heroic actions of a park ranger at Edgar Evins State Park, a DeKalb EMS crew, and a Vandy Life Flight team who have been honored with the “Star of Life Award”
The awards ceremony was held Wednesday night in Nashville sponsored by the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance (CECATN).
Receiving the Star of Life First Responder award were DeKalb EMS employees Tony Williams (EMT-Paramedic) and Donna Melton (AEMT), Edgar Evins State Park Ranger Lee Chadwell, and Vandy Life Flight team members Bill Dickson (pilot), Rachelle Brockman (RN, EMT, Flight Nurse), and Clayton Anstis (CCP, Flight Paramedic), who also works part time with DeKalb EMS.
These recipients were recognized for providing exemplary life saving care to Brtttany Tucker on May 31, 2020.
Tucker, age 19 at the time, was with others on Center Hill Lake when she was thrown from an inner tube being pulled by a boat. Tucker suffered an internal head wound in the accident and although she managed to get back to the boat under her own power, Tucker’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Park Ranger Chadwell quickly responded to render assistance as the DeKalb EMS crew (Williams and Melton) was enroute. Upon arrival, the EMS crew learned that Tucker began experiencing headaches and blurred vision before becoming unresponsive. She later started vomiting. EMS treated Tucker at the scene and during transport to a helicopter landing zone nearby where the Vandy Life Flight Crew had touched down. The Vandy helicopter ambulance crew joined the local EMS team in stabilizing Tucker in preparation for the flight. She was then airlifted to Vanderbilt hospital where she underwent further treatment by neurosurgeon and trauma team providers. Although critically injured, Tucker made a complete recovery.
The Star of Life Award recognizes exceptional front-line care, with a focus on the agencies and providers who are the initial care responders.
“We have a great group of EMS staff and I am very proud of them. As always all the different agencies worked together in exercising their knowledge, professionalism and care for the patient. On behalf of DeKalb EMS, we are honored to receive this special award,” said DeKalb EMS Director Hoyte Hale.