City Commission honors Firefighters of the Year

On Monday night, Captain Joey Hans, FF/PM Charles Russell, and FF/PM Julio Marty-Castillo were recognized at the City Commission meeting for receiving the Safety Harbor Fire Department's 2023 Firefighter of the Year award.
The statement below was read to the Commission by Fire Chief Josh Stefancic  
On August 31, 2023, Safety Harbor Fire Department Truck 53 (T53) responded to Countryside High School for reports of a stabbed student. Aboard T53 were Captain/Paramedic Joseph Hans, Firefighter/Paramedic Charles Russell, and Firefighter/Paramedic Julio Marty-Castillo. While responding to this incident, further reports indicated an additional student had also been stabbed, for a total of two possible patients. 
Once Clearwater PD cleared the scene for safety, T53 entered the school and Captain Hans was immediately met by two Clearwater police officers who stated that one student was injured in the school common area, and another injured student was being brought to the same area. Upon arrival in the common area, T53 found one patient on the ground with an apparent puncture/stab wound. Captain Hans assigned Firefighter/Paramedic Marty-Castillo as lead paramedic on this patient who began a rapid assessment of the victim. Following his assessment, FF/PM Marty-Castillo determined the patient to be a trauma alert. The patient’s life-threatening wounds were quickly addressed and managed by FF/PM Marty-Castillo and the moment a Sunstar ambulance arrived the patient was rapidly transported to a trauma center. During transport to the trauma center, FF/PM Marty-Castillo continued to treat and care for the patient. Once arriving the emergency room, the patient was immediately rushed to the operating room by hospital staff.
While FF/PM Marty-Castillo was treating his patient, the crew of T53 was encountered again by another victim of the incident. Captain Hans would immediately assign FF/PM Russell to care for this second patient. FF/PM Russell began a rapid assessment of this patient and declared him a trauma alert as well. FF/PM Russell, under the continued leadership of Captain Hans, treated the apparent life-threatening injuries and readied the patient for immediate transport once Sunstar arrived on scene. FF/PM Russell assisted Sunstar during emergency transport of the patient to the trauma center. The patient safely arrived the emergency room and patient care was transferred to the hospital’s trauma team. 
Both patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital with a positive prognosis. The crew of T53, Captain Hans, FF Russell, and FF Marty-Castillo, remained calm under pressure, took control of patient management, were advocates of their patient, followed their emergency medical procedures, and represented the City and Fire Department with dedication and professionalism. The above attributes had a direct, if not total effect, on the positive outcome of this terrible incident.
Congratulations, Capt. Hans, FF/PM Russell, and FF/PM Marty-Castillo. Job Well Done!!!
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