James Robinson and Amy Starcher, James City County emergency communications officers, were recognized for lifesaving efforts provided over emergency calls received in May and June.
Robinson, a senior emergency communications officer, was honored for his work on a call May 16: A 58-year-old man was unconscious, slumped over, but appeared to be breathing. The patient wasn’t waking and the caller couldn’t find his pulse. About two minutes into the call, the sound of breathing stopped and the patient went into full arrest.
The caller gave the patient CPR as Robinson gave step-by-step instructions for more than five minutes; the patient survived because of Robinson’s instructions.
Master Emergency Communications Officer Starcher earned the award for her instructions on a call about a 57-year-old woman who was choking on food. The woman’s son said her lips were turning blue and he needed immediate help. Starcher provided Heimlich Maneuver instructions but the patient collapsed a few seconds into the process and stopped breathing.
Starcher then gave CPR instructions, aiding the son in saving his mother’s life.
Because of Robinson and Starcher’s actions, they’ve been added to the James City County Public Safety Emergency Communications Center “Tree of Life,” a plaque displaying names of officers who have saved a life and the corresponding date.
