While saving a single life is a remarkable event for any paramedic, saving three lives in one month is deserving of the “Triple Crown” award, which was recently presented to Redmond Fire Department paramedic Jim Whitney by the King County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division.

King County EMS established the “Triple Crown” award to recognize a genuine milestone of three cardiac arrests “saves” during the month of October in which Whitney led crews to this success. These “saves” are a result of great teamwork in which successful outcomes are specific goals for these high-risk activities. While this is a team activity, certain members of the team are responsible for leading to these successes and in this case, Whitney was the lead paramedic for all three of these cases.

The award was presented Feb. 18 by Dr. Tom Rea, program medical director of King County Medic One EMS, and Jim Fogarty, King County EMS division director, during ceremonies at Redmond Fire Station 17. Whitney is the second recipient of the award in King County, which has the highest resuscitation rate in the U.S. at 54 percent. The award will stay with Whitney at the Redmond Fire Department until this milestone is achieved again by a paramedic in King County.