Kaiser Permanente to Honor First Responders

Kaiser Permanente in the Napa Solano Area celebrated First Responders recently, at a special event at the Vacaville Medical Center where elected officials, business leaders, hospital staff and patients turned out to show their appreciation to the men and women on the front lines.

A resolution by U.S. Senate marked September 25th as National First Responder Appreciation Day. Over the past few weeks, the community was invited to nominate someone who works in emergency medical services and saved a life, works closely with other healthcare providers to ensure safety or is dedicated to community efforts that are focused on injury prevention.

“Kaiser Permanente is passionate about reaching out to the community and supporting our first responders. They are the backbone of what we do here at our level II trauma center and they are so valuable,” said Dr. Chris Bandy, Chief of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center.

The nominees and selected finalists represented emergency agencies in Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Napa, Vacaville, and Vallejo, as well as Solano county agencies.

“First responders partner closely with our emergency room, trauma staff and physicians to care for sick and injured people. Many of those patients might not have survived without the quick action, bravery and skill of many first responders,” said Joe Mark, interim senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente in the Napa Solano area.

Here is a look at the four finalists:

• Officer Alex Maravilla from the Benicia Police Department was recognized for helping save a man whose trailer was engulfed in flames and who himself was on fire. Officer Maravilla helped remove the burning clothing and extinguish the flames. Thanks to those quick actions, the man’s burns were relatively minor, and the fire was contained before it could spread to the adjacent large, dry field.
• Paramedic Eric Holt from Medic Ambulance was recognized for his rapid and excellent care of a patient with a dissecting aortic aneurysm – a condition that often results in death of the patient. Holt quickly recognized the patient’s non-typical symptoms and knew he had very little time to save the patient’s life. For his superior skills in the field, Holt was honored by Medic Ambulance and the California Ambulance Association at the State Capital in April, as 2016 Star of Life.
• Darius Zarrabi and Randy Webster, Firefighter / Paramedics with the Vacaville Fire Department responded to a vehicle collision and didn’t know how anyone could have possibly survived a crash of that magnitude. Nonetheless, Zarrabi and Webster responded quickly and with great skill. They realized that the occupant had indeed survived, but was very badly injured with multiple injuries. Thankfully, she survived.

In fact, that patient was Rhonda Johnson. She was at the event Wednesday night to honor and say thank you to Zarrabi and Webster, the firefighters who helped save her life. Many said it was the highlight of the night.

“They are such a huge part of my life and my memories. I think about them on a daily basis. My heart is going to burst. The gratitude and overwhelming thanks is immeasurable,” said Johnson.

Below is a list of the other nominees who were honored as well. Each received a commemorative glass plaque.

They also received a certificate of recognition from the offices of California Assembly Members Bill Dodd (D-4th District) Jim Frazier (D- 11th District) and Susan Bonilla (D-14th District).

Honorees:
1. Capt. Greg Odell – Napa County Fire Department
2. Capt. Bob Lee – Napa County Fire Department
3. Firefighter / Paramedic Kevin Horn – City of Napa Fire Department
4. Officer Ritzie Tolentino – City of Vallejo Police Dept.
5. Paramedic Christopher Kirkland – Medic Ambulance Vallejo
6. EMT Annica Welcker – Medic Ambulance Vallejo
7. Community Paramedic Cliff Henderson – Medic Ambulance Vallejo
8. Operations Manager / Community Paramedic Brian Meader – Medic Ambulance Vallejo
9. Firefighter / Paramedic Bryan Mihelich – City of Fairfield Fire Department
10. Lt. Mark Donaldson – City of Vacaville Police Department
11. Officer Chuck Bailey – City of Vacaville Police Department
12. Officer Chad Hudson – City of Vacaville Police Department
13. Officer Rod Neal – City of Vacaville Police Department
14. Capt. Eric Ceremony – City of Vacaville Fire Department
15. Engineer Perry Smith – City of Vacaville Fire Department
16. Firefighter / Paramedic Rich Taliaferro – City of Vacaville Fire Department
17. Firefighter / Paramedic Courtney Hughes – City of Vacaville Fire Department
18. Firefighter / Paramedic Matt Murphy – City of Vacaville Fire Department
19. Fire Apparatus Engineer / EMT Brian Buathier – City of Vacaville Fire Department
20. Sheriff Deputy Richard Duncan – Solano County Sheriff’s Department
21. Firefighter/Paramedic Zack Glankler – Dixon Fire Department
22. Deputy Adrian Garcia – Solano County Sheriff’s Department

Kaiser Permanente was also proud to make a $20,000 contribution toward the 10-33 Foundation. It is an organization comprised of First Responders who provide care to First Responders. It works to reduce the ongoing effects of unresolved stress in the lives of First Responders by providing Pre-Incident Training, Post-Incident Crisis Intervention Services and follow up.