GREENFIELD — In celebration of National EMS Week, several area paramedics were honored for their lifesaving work over the last year.

At a brief recognition ceremony at Baystate Franklin Medical Center Thursday morning, two South County EMS paramedics and a Colrain Volunteer Ambulance Association paramedic were recognized by Baystate Health for their responses to medical crises in the region.

South County EMS paramedics Tim Drumgool and Adam Martin were recognized for saving a life in a cardiac event on July 10, 2024, while Colrain Ambulance Director Gary Ponce was honored for his response to a Dec. 19, 2024 call.

“It’s a small token of our appreciation,” said Baystate Health physician and Associate Regional EMS Medical Director Dr. Matthew Shapiro. “We know you guys do it every day, but it’s an opportunity to say thank you.”

The awards come as EMS and ambulance companies around the nation observe the 51st annual EMS Week, an annual celebration of the work EMS professionals do each day. Thursday of EMS week is Save-a-Life Day, and it encourages the public to enlist in CPR and Stop the Bleed programs, which can help bystanders save a life while ambulance crews respond.

Drumgool and Martin said they were honored to receive the awards, but the most important thing is the patient they cared for survived.

“We don’t do it for the recognition,” Drumgool said, “but it’s nice to be recognized.”

South County EMS, which serves Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately, was also recognized with an award.

“We’re always proud of the work South County EMS paramedics do every day and it’s nice to see that recognition,” South County EMS Chief Joshua Sparks said. “We’re happy to fulfill our mission of serving the community.”

National EMS Week, which is sponsored by the American College of Emergency Physicians and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, was originally authorized by President Gerald Ford in November 1974 and the celebration was moved to the third week of May in 1992. This year’s theme is “We Care. For Everybody.”

“EMS Week celebrates the unwavering dedication and expertise of our EMS professional colleagues,” Dr. Alison Haddock, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said in a statement. “Together we recognize the unique and vital role of paramedics, EMTs and other team members as we celebrate their exceptional care and selfless contributions to the communities where they live and work.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.