CEDAR FALLS - Sartori Hospital paramedics always have been the first to respond when the Parkersburg Ambulance crew needs extra help.

The Cedar Falls crew's proximity and professionalism made them terrific partners when the small community's volunteer team wasn't enough to help a patient, said Tammy Fleshner, a volunteer with the Parkersburg team.

But in the minutes, hours, days and weeks following the May 25 tornado, the Cedar Falls crew proved they were willing to go above and beyond what is expected of them, Fleshner added.

"They have always been our mutual aid choice, but the night the tornado hit, they just showed up," she said. "Some of them were off duty and came in their personal cars."

The Sartori crew was recently recognized for their dedication to helping the Parkersburg Ambulance team through its toughest weeks. They received the Career Service of the Year award during the annual Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association conference. The crew was nominated by the Parkersburg Ambulance volunteers.

Sartori paramedics Brent Smeins and Joy Hagen were standing in the Sartori garage watching the tornado on the skyline when they were paged out to help in Parkersburg.

"It was total chaos. We couldn't get on the radio because it was overloaded, so we were just trying to piece things together," Hagen said. "When we came up over that hill, I got sick to my stomach and started to cry. That was my automatic response."

Smeins and Hagen reported to the fire station where the injured were being triaged. Smeins said people were coming to the fire station in the back of pick-up trucks on pieces of plywood and doors to receive medical care.

The volunteer Parkersburg firefighters quickly got the scene under control and by the time the second Sartori crew arrived with more supplies, most of the injured had already been cared for and, if needed, transported.

The Sartori paramedics' service continued to provide back-up service to the volunteer team, which had been left short-handed by the same natural disaster that required so much of them. About half of the team lost their home or had other priorities that took them away from their paramedic resposibilities.

"Our police chief is also an EMT, but his hands were obviously full so we couldn't ask him to cover. There were others with similar situations," Fleshner said. "Then there were a few weeks when people were on vacations. We are still a couple short, but we have also picked up four firemen who are taking EMT classes."

Though Fleshner said they "couldn't have survived without their help," some paramedics said they were only doing their job.

"I don't think we went above and beyond," said paramedic Jim Cook. "I thing we just did what we were called to do."

Contact Emily Christensen

at (319) 291-1570 or

emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.