By Steven Mayer
The Bakersfield Californian
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Two Hall Ambulance emergency medical service employees have been in Washington, D.C. this week, along with scores of their peers from cities across the country, to be recognized for their exemplary service.
“I’m very proud to be here with our two stars,” said Hall Ambulance Chairman of the Board and Chief Administrative Officer Lavonne C. Hall, who accompanied the honorees to the nation’s capital.
“They were nominated by the management of Hall Ambulance Service for their service to the community and the outstanding work that they do,” Hall said. “Nothing makes me more proud than to show off who we are and what we do at Hall Ambulance.”
Hall Paramedic Sam Swanson and Hall EMT Krystal Barboza joined more than 140 of their professional peers as they were honored by the American Ambulance Association as Stars of Life.
The commendation-style event pays tribute to the dedication of hometown heroes across the United States while shining a light on the critical role EMS plays in the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, Hall Ambulance said in a news release.
The nearly weeklong event included a medal breakfast, an awards banquet, sightseeing, and visits to the offices of local legislators where Swanson and Barboza met with Reps. David Valadao, R- Hanford, Vince Fong, R- Bakersfield, and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D- California, to share their stories and perspectives as first responders in Kern County.
Swanson was honored for his 25 years with Hall, where he has exhibited a “whatever you need me to do” attitude, Hall said in the release.
Swanson joined the company in 1999 as an EMT and worked his way through the ranks as a paramedic, relief paramedic field supervisor, paramedic field supervisor, and paramedic preceptor, or teacher.
As a teacher at the Hall EMT Academy, Swanson told The Californian, he tries to bring a blend of the bookwork every EMT must know but to expand on that knowledge by including actual examples from his years of experience.
“I’m still out there running calls,” Swanson said. “I’m able to give the students real-world examples — the things we teach, but (as they happen) in the field.”
His teaching skills were recently showcased when 13 of 15 students passed the National Registry exam on their first attempt.
“Krystal was one of my students six years ago,” he said of his co-honoree. “I had a class of 29 and all 29 passed the registry the first time.”
The pass rate at the academy is close to 98%, he said. Nationwide, he estimated the first-time pass rate to be about 60%.
Barboza found her niche at Hall by harnessing her skills in connecting with and educating the community about the importance of emergency medical services.
As a community outreach coordinator, Barboza is credited by company management with helping to revitalize Hall’s participation in community events, which had come to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a phone interview from D.C., Barboza said she got her first taste of being an outreach coordinator by filling in when needed.
It turned out she was a natural.
One of the most important benefits of her work, she said, is demystifying the jobs EMTs and paramedics do, especially for children and teens.
“A lot of people are scared to be in one of our ambulances,” she said.
But when she shows them the inside of an ambulance, kids and adults become curious and interested.
Same goes for the people who work in the ambulances, helping those most in need.
“I try to show them that EMTs and paramedics are your friends.”
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