HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3877
City of Palo Alto (ID # 3877)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Special Orders of the Day Meeting Date: 6/10/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Lions Club Award Recognition
Title: Peninsula Council of Lion’s Club Honors Fire and Law Enforcement
Officials Who Have Served Their Communities
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Fire
Background
Now in its 48th year, the Peninsula Council of Lion’s Club honors Fire and Law Enforcement
Officials who have served their communities, demonstrated heroism and valor. Several
members of the Palo Alto Fire Department were recently recognized.
Two Community Service awards recognized Fire Captain Carter French and Firefighter Jon
Matsumoto for their important and unique contributions to the community.
The crew of A Shift, Engine 2 and Medic 2 includes Fire Captain Mark vonAppen, Apparatus
Operator Paramedic Jesse Aguilar, Firefighter Paramedic Daniel Fortino, Firefighter Paramedic
Adam King and Firefighter Paramedic Jesse Wooton. This crew of five was honored for heroism
after saving the life of an 11 year old child who had been struck by a car while riding his bike to
school.
The Community Service award is designed for a firefighter who has performed a great service to
their department and/or community. It is for someone who takes initiative to develop a new or
innovative program that was put into action with positive results to connect with or benefit our
community.
Fire Captain Carter French initiated and organized a community focused pancake breakfast to
raise funds for Project Safety Net, whose mission supports youth well-being in Palo Alto.
Captain French has always been one to be part of the solution, this time with his vow of
“Changing the Community, one Pancake at a time!” Over 800 guests attended and more than
$4,700 was raised in four hours.
A second Community Service award recognized Firefighter Jon Matsumoto for his “Letters from
Santa” campaign. During the holidays when funds are tight and families are faced with the
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deluge of expectations it takes a special connection and individual to meet this need and bring
a smile to children faces. Firefighter Jon Matsumoto came to the Fire Department from the
Postal Service and he knows the joy that a simple letter can bring. Firefighter Jon Matsumoto’s
program provides letters, gifts and a holiday meal from Santa Claus.
The Heroism award recognizes the crew of Engine 2 and Medic 2 for their actions on November
5, 2012. Fire Captain Mark vonAppen and his crew of Jesse Aguilar, Daniel Fortino, Adam King,
and Jesse Wooton were dispatched to a report of a bicyclist down in the roadway near the area
of Sherman Avenue and Park Boulevard. As the units arrived on scene the crews instantly
recognized the severity of the situation; a car traveling 30 mph struck an 11-year-old boy who
was riding his bicycle. He lay unconscious and unresponsive in the roadway. Although at an
emotionally charged scene, the crew immediately set about treating the boy for his injuries and
preparing him for transport to Stanford University Hospital, the nearest trauma center. The
trained expertise of the crews supported an impressive onscene time of seven minutes. This is
remarkable given the severity of the patient’s injuries, the amount of care that must be
rendered prior to leaving for the hospital, and the emotional nature of the call. The prompt and
professional actions by our firefighters and paramedics gave this young boy the best chance of
survival. Not only did the crew expertly treat this child for his injuries, they maintained contact
with the family through this difficult ordeal and recovery demonstrating equal amounts of
compassion and family support.
These seven professionals represent a small sample of the experts and compassionate
members of the City of Palo Alto Fire Department. They represent the best of what we offer our
community on a daily basis.