Mission EMS, firefighters honored by DHR Health for life‑saving rescue

DHR Health on Monday presented awards to two Mission paramedics and members of the Mission Fire Department for a response hospital staff said was decisive in saving a trauma patient’s life.

The recognition came during the City of Mission council meeting, where Daniel Tuttle, director of EMS at DHR Health, and a trauma surgeon, identified in the presentation as Dr. Shine, told the council the patient was directly routed from the field to the operating room because field crews identified the severity of the injuries and notified the hospital.

The hospital’s direct‑to‑operating‑room protocol, Dr. Shine said, allows severely injured trauma patients to bypass the emergency department and go straight to surgery. "Without their skill, their ability to bring this patient to us immediately and directly to the operating room ... I really do believe this patient would have had a different outcome," Dr. Shine said. He added the patient "has survived, done very well, and has seen me in clinic much longer after what would have been expected."

Tuttle, introducing the awards, said DHR Health was grateful for the partnership with Mission’s EMS and fire personnel and praised the crews’ "quick thinking and heroic actions." The council and Mayor joined DHR Health in presenting tokens to the medics named in the ceremony.

Chief Silva of the Mission Fire Department spoke briefly, thanking the council and the city manager for support and praising the department’s teamwork. The council was invited to take photos with the honored personnel at the close of the presentation.

The presentation emphasized the operational partnership between Mission first responders and DHR Health’s trauma program and highlighted the city’s shared role in prehospital triage, rapid transport, and coordination with hospital surgical teams.

The council offered public thanks and recognized the crews for their service to Mission residents.