Annual Awards Banquet

500 EMS Responses in 2022:

Matthew Burnheimer      641

Chris Kilburn                 595

Sean Kleckner                524

Sean McAndrew             637

Brandon McMinn           868

Josh Messing                  619

Scott Packer                   696

Chad Richard                 766

Nathan Shadle                588

Vince Stitzer                  660

John Surkovic                578

Tom Dillman                  797

 

Years of Service Awards:

Jenny Miller                  5 years

Albert Nakpil                5 years

David Dreese                 10 years

William Kenyon            10 years

Brenda Coe                   15 years

Thomas Ertsgaard        15 years

Kathleen Neal                15 years

Timothy Kohler            15 years

Nikki Hamilton             15 years

Eric Prescott                  15 year

 

Years of Service Awards in 2022      

10 years: Vicki Weaver

15 years: Raymon Masters

20 years of Service: Chris Kilburn

25 Years of Service: Scott Rawson         

 

Special Recognition:

Dianna Meckley            12 years     Board of Directors

Richard Shurgalla        12 years      Board of Directors

Rodney Beard                26 years     Board of Directors 

20+ Years of Service:

Chris Kilburn        20 years

John Surkovic       21 years

Kent Knable          22 years

Dr. Clifford Neal   24 years

Scott Woodring     24 years

Scott Rawson        25 years

Rodney Beard       26 years

Cindy Yost           27 years

John Spearly         27 years

Gary Stead            37 years

2022 Awards

Top 3 Calls Van Service

3^rd     Bob Leon 219

2nd   Cinnamon Zimmerman 587

1^st      Tom Dillman  797

 

Top 3 Calls Part time EMS Employee

3^rd      Angie Poorman   342

2^nd     Gary Stead           362

1st     Raegen Donohue 403

Top 3 Calls Fulltime EMS Employee

3^rd      Scott Packer               696

2^nd    Chad Richard               766

1^st      Brandon McMinn        868

 

Top 3 Hours Volunteer 

3^rd   Amanda Bergamaschi  491

2^nd  Rebecca Affleck              615

Most Volunteer Hours:  Svend Pedersen 1,255

 

3^rd  Rebecca Affleck   128

2^nd Amanda Bergamaschi  134

Most Volunteer Calls: Svend Pedersen 364     

 

EMS Educator of the Year

Brandon McMinn

Van Driver of the Year 

Thomas Dillman

 

Career EMT of the Year

Savitoz Chilana

 

Career Paramedic of the Year

Matthew Burnheimer

 

Volunteer of the Year

Svend Pedersen

June 10, 2022—The 2021 Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) report is out. Once again, Centre LifeLink EMS has ended the year with data on pace with the National and State results, and in some cases, has exceeded their benchmarks.

Overall, Centre LifeLink’s return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was 42%, which exceeds National data (27%), and the State’s (30%). In addition to getting a pulse back (ROSC), Centre LifeLink strives to improve the number of patients who are discharged from the hospital with good neurological function. In 2021, 17% of cardiac arrest patients were released from the hospital with “good or moderate cerebral performance”; which is significantly higher than the State data (7%), and the National data (8%).

Centre LifeLink thanks bystanders in the community, and especially the local law enforcement agencies for the positive numbers in the 2021 CARES report. State College, Ferguson, and Patton Township Police Departments respond to all medical emergencies in the Centre Region, many times before the ambulance arrives. Data shows that officers are on scene within 4 minutes of being notified of a cardiac arrest. All officers are trained in CPR and Automatic External Defibrillators (AED). Between law enforcement, and community bystanders, 100% of cardiac arrests have had an AED applied before the ambulance arrived on scene. 53% of the time, CPR is started by a family member or a concerned bystander; this numbers is 38% higher than the State, and 40% higher than the National data.

When someone goes into cardiac arrest, they literally have minutes until the cells in body begin to die, and starting CPR as soon as possible will extend this time frame until help arrives. Once CPR is started, oxygenated blood is sent out to the vital organs to keep them alive, until the heart can be restarted.

Centre LifeLink conducts monthly CPR training courses, open to community, every month. Learning CPR can save a life; most of the time, that life being someone you know. For more information, or to register: www.centrelifelink.com

State College, PA—Centre LifeLink EMS will be celebrating National EMS Week, beginning May 15^th, through May 21^st; highlighting different aspects of EMS throughout the week and inviting the community and press to participate. This year’s EMS Week theme is “Rising to the Challenge”. The EMS Week campaign supports and strengthens the EMS community by honoring accomplishments and increasing awareness of the critical role of EMS. Activities to open to the community to help in celebrating Centre LifeLink include:

Safety Tuesday—Tuesday, May 17^th: Free Community Family and Friends CPR class @ Centre LifeLink, 6:00 pm. To register for this free class, please go to: https://shop.centrelifelink.com/friends_and_family_cpr_may_17_at_6_00_pm_free_class_c_p121.htm

EMS for Children Day—Wednesday, May 18^th: Centre LifeLink will be visiting local preschools to show the ambulance and explain what EMS providers do in our community.

“National Stop the Bleed” Day—Thursday, May 19^th: Centre LifeLink EMS and the Pennsylvania Military Museum will partner to present a hands-on Stop the Bleed program at the Military Museum site at 51 Boal Avenue in Boalsburg.  Beginning at 9:00 a.m., this course is open to anyone who would like to attend, but due to limited space, this first program will be limited in attendance. To reserve a space in the class, please email: Training@centrelifelink.com

Additionally, Centre LifeLink celebrates EMS Week internally by providing meals for our crews (day shift and night shift), throughout the week.

For any questions or media inquiries, please contact Marketing Manager, Lauren Shurgalla: LShurgalla@centrelifelink.com

Make your donation to Centre LifeLink through #CentreGives, now through tomorrow evening (ends May 11 at 9:00 pm). This year, your donation will contribute to our long-term financial savings, which helps us fund larger, capital improvements, as well as the cost of replacing ambulance equipment.

Donate here: https://centregives.org/organizations/11-centre-lifelink-ems

What is Centre Gives?

Centre Gives is an annual online giving event designed to encourage community giving and to support the great work of Centre County nonprofits during 36 hours – starting at 9:00 am on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 and ending at 9:00 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

During Centre Gives, donors may visit CentreGives.org to make secure donations to their favorite local nonprofit organizations. The minimum donation is $10, and every dollar donated to participating nonprofits goes further thanks to the Centre Gives stretch pools provided by Centre Foundation and the Hamer Foundation. Your gift could also help qualify your favorite nonprofits to win additional cash prizes!

This exciting community giving event is hosted by Centre Foundation and supported by our community impact funds and partnerships with local businesses.

State College, PA- The 2022 Centre LifeLink membership campaign is officially under way. Each fall, Centre Region residents are encouraged to enroll as a Centre LifeLink member, ensuring them that they will have no out-of-pocket expenses for unlimited emergency ambulance service provided by Centre LifeLink EMS. Memberships are available beginning this week and residents in Centre LifeLink’s coverage area will receive a membership brochure with information on how to participate.

Members can save an average of $800 for basic life support calls and more than $1,600 for advanced life support paramedic service — these are the average costs nonmembers pay. Individual memberships cost $60 and family memberships cost $80 for a one-year period beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2022.

We depend on revenues generated from the membership drive, as well as donations, to assure that we will be there with state-of-the-art equipment when you need us.  Funds raised through our 2022 Membership campaign will allow us to replace a 12 year-old ambulance that has over 180,000 miles on it. The old ambulance will no longer be reliable for everyday emergency ambulance service.

Residents of the Centre Region will receive 2022 membership brochures in the mail this week, and registration is also open online at www.centrelifelink.com.

Centre LifeLink EMT and Crew Leader, Svend Pedersen has been awarded the State College Rotary’s Four Way Test Award for 2021

The Four-Way Test Award, presented to local emergency service and medical volunteers, recognizes local volunteers within the State College area whose daily volunteer activities epitomize the “Four-Way Test”.

The “Four-Way Test” encompasses a test of the things we think, say or do, and include:

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

From October 2020- July 2021, Svend volunteered 1,825 hours (an average of 182.5 hours per month), while responding to 474 ambulance calls in only 10 months.

Svend is also an active volunteer and Safety and Health Officer for Alpha Fire Company and was the Alpha Fire Co recipient of the 4-Way Test Award two years ago.

Svend served in the US Navy from 1981 to 2005 and retired from active service as a Commander/Naval Flight Officer.

He then worked for Penn State in the Department of Food Science as a Graduate Program Coordinator, retiring on April 30, 2020.

Svend spreads enthusiasm about our organization and exemplified the spirit of the Four-Way Test.

2020 Service Awards

500 Calls Award

Matt Burnheimer, 533

Tom Dillman, 527

Stephen Lageman, 537

Alex Lieberman, 524

Scott Packer, 531

John Surkovic, 517

 

Most Calls Part-Time EMS

Cassandra Lageman, 425

Chad Richard, 288

Gary Stead, 157

 

Most Calls Full-Time EMS

Stephen Lagemen, 537

Matt Burnheimer, 533

Scott Packer, 531

 

Most Calls Volunteer

Noah Al Mohannadi, 263

Peter Takac, 234

Svend Pedersen, 121

 

Most Hours Volunteer

Peter Takac, 913

Noah Al Mohannadi, 606

Svend Pedersen, 446

 

Van Attendant of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Dillman

 

EMT of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

Brandon McMinn

 

Paramedic of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Burnheimer

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Lageman

 

Volunteer of the Year

Noah Al Mohannadi

2021 Centre LifeLink Membership Drive Underway

State College, PA- The 2021 Centre LifeLink membership campaign is officially under way. Each fall, Centre Region residents are encouraged to enroll as a Centre LifeLink member, ensuring them that they will have no out-of-pocket expenses for unlimited emergency ambulance service provided by Centre LifeLink EMS. Memberships are available beginning this week and residents in Centre LifeLink’s coverage area will receive a membership brochure with information on how to participate.

Members can save an average of $800 for basic life support calls and more than $1,500 for advanced life support paramedic service — these are the average costs nonmembers pay. Individual memberships cost $55 and family memberships cost $75 for a one-year period beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2021.

Funds raised through the 2021 Membership campaign will help Centre LifeLink offset the cost of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Centre LifeLink has been experiencing record-low call volumes that have financially impacted operations. LifeLink has also incurred the unexpected expense of purchasing the appropriate personal protective equipment and supplies for crew members. Centre LifeLink does not receive any tax-support for its operations.

Residents of the Centre Region will receive 2021 membership brochures in the mail this week, and registration is also open online at www.centrelifelink.com.

Centre LifeLink Ambulances Equipped with Sensory Kits for Patients with Autism or Sensory Issues

Centre LifeLink ambulances are now equipped with sensory kits for transporting individuals with Autism or other sensory issues. The kits were assembled and donated by the Students In Action team at PA Cyber in State College.

The Students In Action team started the project in the spring of 2020 and raised $220 to purchase all of the supplies for the kits. The kits include items such as emotion charts, stress balls, noise cancelling earmuffs, and more.

Centre LifeLink EMS staff will be educated on sensory disorders and autism spectrum disorders and how to successfully use the kits with patients who will benefit from them.

Thank you to the Students in Action team at PA Cyber Charter School—what a wonderful project!

Centre LifeLink EMS Celebrates National EMS Week

National EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week kicked off on May 17 and runs through May 23. EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services on medicine’s front-line.

Centre LifeLink EMS provides emergency care to over 80,000 residents of the Centre Region area and has continued to meet the “gold standard” of ambulance services, as defined by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, for over 20 years. We are one of only five services in the state of Pennsylvania to hold this accreditation.

This week at Centre LifeLink, we celebrate our staff and volunteers who responded to 6,336 ambulance calls in 2019, as well as 1,188 non-emergency van trips, for an average of 21 calls per day. Additionally, our volunteers contributed over 9,000 volunteer hours in 2019.

This year’s EMS Week theme is “Ready today. Preparing for tomorrow.” This theme is particularly meaningful now as we see the EMS community supporting those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, all while responding to the everyday emergencies that continue to occur in our community.

Centre LifeLink EMS is proud of the dedication and commitment our staff and volunteers show our community and patients each day. While we won’t be hosting any public gatherings to acknowledge these men and women during EMS Week, we encourage our community members to join us in thanking our paramedics, EMTs, and non-emergency transport staff for all that they do.