Document text
Mercy Flights helpers earn national honor Explorers take third in contest By VICKI GUARINO A group of young volunteers with Mercy Flights emergency medical service has won national recognition for its efforts. The Mercy Flights Explorer Post won third place in a national competition recognizing the services of young adults in emergency service work. The prize and $250 were awarded to the post in a ceremony Thursday at the Medford airport. The Junior Emergency Service Excellence Award Contest is sponsored by an insurance company specializing in coverage for nonprofit emergency agencies. The Pennsylvania company, Volunteer Firefighters Insurance Services, provides insurance to Mercy Flights. Company representatives came to Medford to make the award. Mercy Flights' Explorer post was among 20 youth groups nationwide nominated for the award. Last year, the post earned an honorable mention from VFIS. The competition measures several aspects of youth-volunteer programs including training, community enthusiasm and career development prospects. Among the Mercy Flights Explorers, one has gone on to work for the nonprofit ambulance service, another is preparing to enroll in medical school and two are in nursing school. Others are working for various emergency response organizations. The post, organized in 1994, has two roles: to expose young men and women to emergency work to help them make career decisions and to serve the community. "It has been great," says David Cook, Mercy Flights' director of medical operations. "It's a benefit to the community and to those who have gone on to medical fields." The post provides basic assistance to medical technicians on emergency calls, and conducts public education first-aid training and demonstrations. Explorers help staff ambulance units called to stand by at public events. They also assist in emergencies. For example, post members filled sandbags in Ashland during the New Years Day 1997 flood. Insurance company officials say that in addition to honoring young volunteers, they hope the recognition encourages more people to offer their time to community service. VFIS support services coordinator Tamela Bourne noted research showing a decline in volunteers across the country. "VFIS is trying to remedy this problem by promoting our Junior Emergency Service Excellence Award program," Bourne said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA