Laura Platt, an EMT with the Byron Fire Department, was awarded the Gold Trauma Star Life Saving Award, on behalf of the U of R Medical Center, after she applied a life saving tourniquet on a patient who suffered a severe arm laceration caused by a chain saw accident on July 7, 2020.
Platt, Assistant Chief/EMT John Durand and Firefighter Paige Johnston, arrived on scene and the patient was lying in the driveway, a neighbor had attempted to stop the bleeding with bungie cords, which slowed the bleeding down. Knowing the situation, Platt had her tourniquet and supplies ready when she arrived on scene. She immediately applied the life saving tourniquet, which stopped the bleeding completely. A minute later Squad 1 Dave Klatt arrived on scene and applied a hemostat to the injury. Mercy Flight then responded and transported the victim to Strong Hospital’s Trauma Center.
This is the first time anyone at the Byron Fire Department has ever received the Gold Trauma Star Life Saving Award.
“They texted me wanting to know who was involved in the incident,” says Robert Mruczek, Byron Fire Chief.
“It was definitely a life saving technique that saved this person’s life.”
Platt was also awarded the Top Responder Award for 2020 and the 2020 EMT of the Year on behalf of the the Byron Fire Department. Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented Platt with a Citation for her life saving actions. The awards were presented during a Pot Luck dinner for members of the department.
