By Laura French
BEAUMONT, Texas — Two Texas EMS providers received an award Wednesday for their lifesaving actions after witnessing a crash in February.
Acadian Ambulance Paramedic Heather Waites and EMT Ryan Wilkenfeld were transporting a patient during a snowstorm when they witnessed a vehicle spin out of control on the icy highway, rolling over and landing on its roof in a median covered with ice and freezing water, according to the Beaumont Enterprise.
Waites and Wilkenfield got out of the ambulance and broke the windows of the vehicle to free four people trapped inside. The crew then went inside the vehicle and found an infant pulseless and not breathing inside the icy water. Waites and Wilkenfield successfully resuscitated the infant, then rushed the five new patients along with the original patient to the nearest hospital in their rig.
According to Acadian Ambulance, the infant is expected to make a full recovery. Waites and Wilkenfield received the “Distinguished Service” award Wednesday afternoon at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas. It is the first time since 2007 that the award has been presented.