WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt General Hospital (HGH) Board Chairman Moe Hanzlik, who has been associated with the ambulance crew for 25 years, announced a new program that will recognize citizen samaritans.
Hanzlik said in his years in the ambulance corps, there have been a number of times he has arrived on scene to find members of the public assisting sick and injured patients.
Hanzlik said, "We would say 'thank you' to the people and whisk the patients away and the people helping would know nothing after that."
Hanzlik told his fellow board members, "I think it's time to say thank you a little bit more."
Hanzlik said he approached HGH Emergency Services Director Pat Songer with the idea.
"Pat ran with it, and now we're telling people from the public thank you a little louder with a Human Award, not for heroes, but for people who stop to give aid just because it's the right thing to do."
The first recipient of the HGH Human Award was Tim Topliff. Hanzlik explained that Topliff came upon an incident along the highway and assisted with CPR.
"He didn't hesitate to jump in and begin CPR. He wasn't being a hero, he was being a human." Hanzlik said.
The hospital's ambulance department is going to make recommendations to the board of directors for people they'd like to see recognized with the HGH Human Award.
Songer said they'll be looking for people who render selfless service to an individual who aren't necessarily trained in first response, but who take it upon themselves to stop and render help
Hanzlik clarified that the award is not for heroes, saying, "It's for the regular folk who respond to aid their fellow humans, and in so doing demonstrate their humanity."
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