Buffalo – Mercy Hospital held its annual EMS Awards Dinner Wednesday night, shining a spotlight on the city’s first‑responders who routinely put lives on the line. The ceremony recognized emergency medical crews whose swift actions have made a tangible difference in critical moments.
Paramedic Skip Yuhnke’s life‑saving rescue
Among the honorees was Skip Yuhnke, a paramedic with the Elma Fire Department. Yuhnke recounted a recent call that underscored why he has devoted nearly five decades to emergency medical services. A 34‑year‑old man was found face‑down in a backyard, unresponsive and without a pulse. “I got a monitor on him and I gave him one shock, but it took a lot more than that to get him to come around and get pulses and to start breathing again,” Yuhnke said.
Cardiac arrest survivors are rare, especially after a single shock, making the successful revival especially meaningful for Yuhnke. “When you get somebody that comes back and you can actually save them, or you make their life better, or you help them so they do have a better outcome in their life, that’s what it’s all about to me,” he explained.
Yuhnke will celebrate 50 years as an EMT in 2027, a milestone that reflects both his personal commitment and the broader dedication of Buffalo’s emergency personnel.
Community leaders praise the dedication of first responders
Kenneth Peterson, deputy fire commissioner for EMS with Buffalo Fire, highlighted the awards dinner as a chance to honor those who consistently place their communities first. “They are individuals that come from all walks of life that choose to both volunteer, compensated, to wake up in the middle of the night at a moment’s notice and respond to calls for service, typically medical in nature,” Peterson said.
Peterson added that the event also acknowledges the personal sacrifices made by responders, many of whom balance demanding jobs, families, and volunteer duties.
Elizabeth Forkel of Erie County MERS echoed this sentiment, noting that first responders often go unrecognized despite long hours and, at times, unpaid service. “A lot of first responders go unrecognized for their work. They work day in, day out, long hours, sometimes for free,” Forkel said. “A lot of times they’re volunteer agencies, and this really goes to show just how important they are to the community.”
Recognition fuels continued commitment
For Yuhnke, the awards dinner is a reminder that the greatest reward is knowing he helped give someone another chance at life. “It means a whole lot, because I’ve been doing this for almost 50 years. I’ll have 50 years as an EMT next year in 2027, and over those 50 years, I can count on my two hands the amount of cardiac arrests that have survived and come back to live a normal life,” he reflected.
After nearly five decades in EMS, Yuhnke said the ability to improve outcomes for patients is what keeps him answering the call, a sentiment shared by many of his colleagues honored that evening.
Looking ahead
The ceremony underscored the vital role of first responders in Buffalo’s public‑health landscape. As the city continues to grow, the dedication of its emergency crews remains a cornerstone of community safety and resilience.
Original reporting: WKBW 7 Buffalo (Buffalo section) — read the source article.
