At its May meeting, the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin’s Board of Directors approved a modest change to the Wisconsin Stars of Life program, as well as advancing every other year an honoree to the American Ambulance Association’s national Stars of Life event held in Washington, D.C.

Beginning in September 2015, PAAW will host the Wisconsin Stars of Life awards program every other year, allowing it to coordinate its bi-annual visit of honorees to the State Capitol.  Every person nominated is presented with Wisconsin Stars of Life recognition.  From the group of Wisconsin honorees, one individual will be advanced in the subsequent year as Wisconsin’s representative and presented national Stars honors, the first opportunity being March 2016 under the new timeline.

According to PAAW President Patrick Ryan, “We’ve been extremely pleased to produce the Stars event that recognizes Wisconsin’s best Emergency Medical Technicians as nominated by their local ambulance service.  Stars of Life provides awareness to our profession and the dedicated service being provided by so many.  We’ve wanted to be part of the national Stars program for some time; now Wisconsin will be.”

 

The American Ambulance Association, through generous financial support from its Foundation, will cover airfare and a majority of other costs for the Washington, D.C. event in March 2016 for the Star, Star’s guest and host (employer).  This beneficial arrangement will continue to be offered every other year with PAAW’s recommendation.

 

Maria Bianchi, Executive Vice President for the American Ambulance Association stated, “We are extremely proud to work with PAAW and the fine job they are doing in recognizing the dedication of so many EMTs.  This is such a terrific program.  We are so honored to have Wisconsin included in the national Stars of Life event and awards ceremony.”

 

The Wisconsin Stars dinner and awards program will continue to coordinate with the opening night of the Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin conference in Green Bay.  So timing lines up, there will not be a Wisconsin Stars program held in September 2014.

PAAW has produced the Wisconsin Stars of Life program since 2006, and is modeled after the American Ambulance Association national Stars program.  Persons nominated by their employers all receive Wisconsin Stars of life honors and exhibit these suggested EMS workplace criteria:

• Employee of the year
• On-duty or off-duty service above the call of duty
• Setting significant records
• Significant community contributions outside of EMS