WMEMS Awards

The WMEMS Awards Committee (see Regional Committees for more info) recognizes the efforts of prehospital and civilian providers through three categories of awards:

Forms available

Deadline for nomination submissions: March 1st

Prehospital Save

A prehospital save is presented when personnel are directly responsible for maintaining or improving a patient's condition in the prehospital setting. This action then allows the patient to lead a meaningful and productive post-incident life whereas the demise of the patient would have occurred without the intervention. We also include cases of exceptionally demonstrated skills done within the realm of certification which enhance a patient's condition and/or recovery.

Meritorious

Refer to an individual's effort which exceeds the call of duty while on or off the job. We will not present awards to people who foolishly enter dangerous situations.

Recognition

To recognize an individual whose efforts within their field are directly responsible for benefitting the prehospital field. This can also apply to a non prehospital person who has been instrumental in saving a life.

Presentation of the award is during the appropriate County EMS Committee Award function held during National EMS Week, the third week in May.

Deadline for nomination submissions: March 1st

Forms available

The Eaton E. Freeman Award

Given to recognize an individual whose efforts within their field are directly responsible for benefitting the prehospital field.

The award is given no more than annually to someone who has contributed significantly to the development of EMS in western Massachusetts. Usually the recipient is someone who has been in the field for a significant period of time and who has been responsible for such things as the founding or expansion of a squad, developing creative methods of providing EMS, providing significant support to other members of the EMS team and/or acting as a leader in his/her community.

The award is named for Dr. Eaton E. Freeman, who was the first full time director of the Emergency Department at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and was a pioneer in prehospital medicine. He provided training and support to EMTs and others interested in EMS. He was the first treasurer of Western Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services, and guided the council through setting up the office. Even after he retired from Cooley Dickinson Hospital he continued to function with the council and to act as a consultant with the Emergency Department.

Dr. Freeman was the first recipient of the Charles McCabe Award as the EMS Physician of the Year awarded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Click here for previous Eaton E. Freeman Award winners

Presentation of the award is at the annual meeting/dinner of the Western Massachusetts EMS Committee. This occurs on the second Thursday in April each year.

Deadline for nomination submissions: First Thursday in March.

There is no official nomination form for the Freeman Award. Please submit a letter detailing why this person should receive the award. Solicit supporting letters from others who feel the same.

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