- December 23, 2024
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The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department held its 6th Annual Medal Day and Pinning Ceremony, where Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Dezzi and other high-ranking members recognized others' years of service and acknowledged the acts of crew members during rescue calls from the past year.
“I think the more important thing is for the firefighters to know that we, internally, appreciate what they do,” Dezzi said.
One of the last, but not least important, awards that Dezzi presented was the Fire Chief's Award, which was given to Logistics Officer Tara Pavgouzas.
Pavgouzas joined the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department about a year ago after a career with the Philadelphia Police Department. Dezzi said Pavgouzas' initiative and eagerness for the job have been remarkable.
For Pavgouzas, the department has been more than a job for her. During Hurricane Helene, she lost everything in her Lido Key home. After that storm, the Longboat Key Fire Rescue crew did everything they could to help Pavgouzas recover.
“They are in fact my family,” Pavgouzas said. “They were by my side from day one helping me. I love my job, I love working, I love coming to work…to me, it’s not even like a job. It’s like a family.”
Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Jane Herrin received Florida’s 16th Congressional District Fire and EMS Award from Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office.
“I’ve had the honor, and I mean this, to know and work with Jane for over 25 years. Throughout our long professional relationship, Jane has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, expertise and leadership qualities,” Paul Dezzi said.
Herrin has been involved with protecting the community for over 30 years. She began her career as a firefighter in Manatee County, then became a fire marshal for Sarasota County where she developed fire prevention programs “second to none,” Paul Dezzi said.
Herrin continued her excellence in fire prevention programs when she joined the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department.
“Her leadership and vision have not only enhanced the safety of our community but have also set high standards in the fire prevention programs,” Paul Dezzi said.
There were also some awards given to members of the community outside of the department.
One commendation award was given to Sherman Young, an employee with the Longboat Key Club. Paul Dezzi said, in February, Young recognized that a resident had not been responding to the club for several days and no one had seen her at the restaurant she frequented.
This prompted Young to request a wellness check by club security and the fire rescue department. When personnel arrived at her residence, the crew found that she had fallen and was incapacitated for several days.
“Because of Sherman Young’s caring of others, diligence and awareness he prevented this incident from becoming a tragedy,” Paul Dezzi said.
Paul Dezzi also presented the Longboat Key Club with a recognition plaque for the club’s hospitality and open doors with the department to use their buildings for meetings.
Dezzi also recognized several crews involved with rescue calls over the past year, including a call in June with the U.S. Coast Guard and Manatee County Lifeguards. These crew members responded to a marine vessel crash in which the vessel struck a channel marker.
Two passengers were in critical condition, one of which was a trauma-alert victim. From what Szalbirak shared with Dezzi about their response, the crew did an outstanding job.
There were two other marine rescue calls, one in which a Longboat Key Fire Rescue rescued passengers who were stuck on a vessel that ran aground 300 yards offshore in rough waters.
That same crew was recognized for another rescue, which was a boat crash that resulted in two passengers struggling in the water. The crew treated the victims for hypothermia and transported them to the hospital.
Before Paul Dezzi received his Phoenix Award, he and Szalbirak presented one to Lieutenant Daniel Heath, Firefighter Paramedic David Oliger and Firefighter Paramedic Tirso Guerrero.
In March, this crew responded to an unknown emergency. When they arrived on the scene, they found a man on the ground yelling and screaming, who then went into cardiac arrest for eight minutes.
The Longboat Key crew responded quickly while preparing to transport the victim to the hospital. In the end, the crew and emergency doctors saved the patient’s life.
“Because of the quick recognition of the need for emergency services, quick response and quick treatment…this is why we had this positive outcome of this patient,” Szalbirak said.
