Russellville Fire Department firefighter Chris Watkins was honored for his actions and medical decisions at the scene of a December accident that first responders believed saved the victim’s life.
Watkins, a sergeant with the RFD and a paramedic, received a Merit Award and Lifesaving Award from Russellville mayor David Grissom at the Russellville City Council’s March 4 meeting.
At the scene of an accident at South Washington Avenue and Hwy. 24, Watkins’ decision on how to place a victim of the accident on the spine board is believed to have been a primary factor in allowing EMS and Air Evac personnel to notice the victim’s wound and impact it, which facilitated the victim’s safe transport and arrival to the hospital.
“Chris’s quick thinking and the judgment call he made definitely increased the victim’s chance of survival,” RFD chief Joe Mansell said. “Russellville Fire is an Advanced Life Support service. By having ALS and medics, we can provide any treatment an ambulance can, with the exception of transport.
“This was a vision by Chief Harlon Hutcheson and Steve Thornton. They got it started, and we picked up and moved forward with it. With two stations, we can usually get to the scene pretty quick and have lifesaving measures in place by the time the ambulance gets there.”
In other action, the council:
•Approved the purchase of 24 Airpaks with grant funding received through a Firefighter Grant. Sgt. Rhett Bradford worked extensively on the grant that resulted in approximately $166,000 in funds for the Airpaks. Mansell also credited Lt. Denny Davis and Justin Green for their work on the grant, as well as the Airpak Committee. The grant is a 95/5 split, meaning the city is responsible for only five percent of the funds.
•Approved the hiring of Chad Sheffield as a patrol officer with the Russellville Police Department and Lariza Delgado as a dispatcher.
•Approved a vacancy for patrol officer in the RPD and authorized advertisement to solicit job applications.
•Approved a resolution naming Saturday, March 16 as Ronnie McDowell Day in Russellville.
•Reappointed Tim Guinn to the Riverbend Board of Directors.
•Approved a request by Franklin County Coroner Charles Adcox to waive the rental fee of the A.W. Todd Centre on November 8, 2019.
The next regular meeting of the Russellville City Council is set for Monday, March 18, with work session at 6 p.m. and meeting to follow.
