Churchill recognized for EMS, fire-training efforts

Governor Sean Parnell’s office honored a lifelong Wrangell resident and educator last week in Anchorage at the 2011 Emergency Medical Services symposium.

During the event, Randy Churchill was awarded the EMS Educator Award in recognition of his 20 years of service as an EMS educator with the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department. According to the citation, Churchill was singled out for the award because of his junior firefighter program – a program that has become a model for fire departments in other communities across Alaska.

Wrangell Fire Chief Tim Buness said Churchill’s work with the department has left an indelible mark on the service it offers both the community and the Southeast Alaska region.

”Randy has had a serious effect on the EMS education system that goes above and beyond the doors of the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department,” Buness said. “His dedication to the EMS field and love for people make him strive to be an amazing teacher.”

Among the classes taught by Churchill are Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Trauma Technician, EMT Bridge, DEFIB, CPR and Firefighter 1. A number of his students have gone on to become registered nurses, paramedics and firefighters in Alaska and beyond.

According to Buness, Churchill’s dedication to the art and craft of teaching EMS skills has resulted in lifesaving techniques for more than 200 students over the course of 20 years.

“He has kept our department alive and going,” Buness added. “He is the heart of our department.”

Wrangell physician Greg Salard, the Medical Director of the WVFD, nominated Churchill for the award in September and spoke highly of him in a letter to the Governor’s EMS council.

“(Randy) has been with our department for over 26 years and has been training EMS personnel and trainees for two decades,” Dr. Salard said. “I have been directly involved with many EMS departments in past 30-plus years. Randy’s contributions here have resulted in the best trained and motivated EMS team I have been involved in.”

Wrangell EMT-2 Theresa Allen, a close friend to Churchill and fellow EMS professional, also wrote a letter in support of his nomination for the award.

“I have known Randy for 38 years,” Allen said in her letter. “He has not only been my captain in the fire department and my teacher as an ETT and later EMT-1, but also a friend. He is an inspiration to not only the fire department and EMS here in Wrangell, but to other local department members as well.”

Churchill remains a captain on the WVFD after retiring as an administrator earlier this year.