Wassaic first responder honored with regional award

WASSAIC — Jason Dean, 23, a Certified First Responder with the Wassaic Rescue Squad, recently received the Basic Life Support Provider of the Year award from the Hudson Valley Regional Emergency Medical Services Council.

 Hudson Valley Regional covers Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties. Dean had previously won the county award, which put him in contention for regional honors. Earning the Hudson Valley nod now puts Dean in the running for the statewide award, which will be determined this fall in Manhattan.

 Dean has been with the Wassaic Rescue Squad for nearly three years. He responded to half of Wassaic’s 224 rescue calls in 2009, and as squad Captain Richard Lamay pointed out, apologizes when he misses one.

“No matter how bad an emergency call has been, Jason’s enthusiasm and eagerness to learn more is unending,� Lamay wrote in his nomination for Dean. “His compassion to the patients he treats is beyond reproach.�

 Dean was nominated for three incidents specifically, the first a CPR call for an out-of-hospital save and the second two for respiratory distress calls.

It’s not often that a Wassaic Rescue Squad member is named Provider of the Year, Lamay said. Only two members have ever won the Dutchess County award, Lamay  in 1999 and his wife Mary Ann in 2003. Both were also regionally honored for that year.

 â€œI was very surprised,â€� Dean said when he realized he was receiving the award. Dean, a Pawling native who now resides in Wassaic, had actually joined the Wassaic Fire Company first, but was allowed to go on a few calls with the Lamays.

 â€œIt’s something I enjoy and something I’m good at,â€� he said, “and if it wasn’t for Dick and Mary Ann I never would have gotten involved.â€�

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