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Seymour Ambulance Wins National Award

The Seymour Ambulance Association has been named Service of the Year for 2000 by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Frank F. Marcucio III, the executive director of the Seymour Ambulance, said he was "overwhelmed" by the award. He said Seymour Ambulance is the first emergency medical service in the Northeast to receive the honor.

"I still can't believe it," Marcucio said. Seymour has four full-time employees and 65 volunteers.

The ambulance service won the Leo R. Schwartz Award, which is given annually to an emergency medical service that exemplifies outstanding service to the community. The award has been given out since 1979.

The award was officially given to Seymour Ambulance at a reception at a Reno Hilton in Reno, Nev.

The ambulance group was chosen because of its service to the community, especially the Valley-Amity Safe Kids injury prevention program, according to a press release from the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, which is based in Missouri.

Assocication spokesman Jack McCormack declined to say how many medical service organizations were nominated for the award. He would only say organizations from throughout the nation were nominated.

The NAEMT is the largest national EMS organiztion, with 5,000 members from 29 states, as well as international members.

The ambulance group was also chosen because of its dedication to employee training and safety, and its strong connection to Griffin Hospital in Derby, the association said. The association also praised Seymour Ambulance for its EMS training programs at Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College in Waterbury, and for its CPR and first aid training to more than 400 seventh- and eighth- graders students in the Valley.

Marcucio was able to raise enough money through grants and donations to send the ambulance association staff and volunteers to Reno for the award ceremony.

"I can't say that I'm not thrilled," said Marcucio. "It's like winning the Super Bowl or a World Series.




Last Update: 01/07/01