First responders and officials from agencies throughout Lauderdale County celebrated emergency medical personnel on Friday as Metro Ambulance Service held its annual crawfish boil in honor of National EMS Week.
Held each year in May, National EMS Week is set aside to recognize emergency medical technicians, paramedics and others who provide lifesaving medical care in communities throughout the United States.
“It’s just a week that we all enjoy because one, we get to do my favorite hobby, which is eat, and all of them out there socializing, you can’t beat getting them all together when they’re not running calls and out there eating and just fellowshipping and having a good time,” said Kevin Smith, director of Metro Ambulance.
Smith said his administration marks the week cooking hamburgers, hotdogs and other meals for staff each day, but the week always ends with the crawfish boil.
“Friday has always been their crawfish boil. It’s something they started years ago, and we’ve continued with that,” he said.
While Metro employees, family and friends enjoyed fresh crawfish, shrimp, corn, potatoes, cookies, chicken tenders and more, they also took time to recognize those among them who went the extra mile throughout the past year.
Smith said those receiving plaques are people without whom Metro would have struggled all year.
Those recognized include:
— Nick Higginbotham, Support Staff of the Year
— James Joseph, EMT of the Year
—Mushula Tubby, Advanced EMT of the Year
— PJ Burr, Field Training Officer of the Year
— Angel Naylor, Dispatcher of the Year
—Matthew Reynolds, Administrator of the Year
—Howard Elkins, Retirement Recognition after 22 Years of Service
