SEMSA (Sierra Emergency Medical Services Alliance) is proud to announce the presentation of the Community Life Saver Award to 19 exceptional responders for their heroic lifesaving efforts during a multi-agency rescue operation. The ceremony will take place on Monday, August 19, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, located at 1415 Sheriff Cady Lane, Susanville, CA.
The award recognizes the coordinated response of the California Highway Patrol Air Operations H-14, Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Lassen County Search and Rescue, Lassen County Emergency Communications Center, and SEMSA Air 1 flight crew. The honorees are being celebrated for their remarkable teamwork and dedication in rescuing a 75-year-old male boater who went missing on Eagle Lake on May 29, 2024.
The ordeal began on the evening of May 28, when the Lassen County Sheriff’s dispatch received a call for the missing boater. The extensive 17-hour search operation was marked by a relentless and coordinated effort among various agencies. CHP H-14, with its aerial surveillance capabilities, located the unoccupied boat and provided crucial coordinates to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office. This allowed the Sheriff’s team to search the shoreline effectively.
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) personnel, including both Patrol and Search and Rescue divisions, successfully located the missing boater in the water near the shoreline and were able to retrieve him. The immediate response from LCSO officers, combined with the prompt arrival of SEMSA Air 1, was critical. First aid was administered on-site, and the patient was swiftly transported to Renown Medical Center in Reno, NV by SEMSA Air 1.
Upon arrival at Renown Medical Center, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Thanks to the swift and expert intervention of hospital staff, the patient was revived and, after a brief stay in the ICU, was discharged home, a truly remarkable and successful outcome.
The Community Life Saver Award ceremony will honor these outstanding responders whose quick actions and seamless collaboration resulted in a life-saving outcome. SEMSA extends its heartfelt gratitude and admiration to all the individuals involved in this extraordinary rescue operation.
Information submitted by EMS Specialist with SEMSA, Ginger Hopfe
