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North Country REMSCO and FDRHPO Host Over 130
Regional EMS Providers and Present Local and State Awards at 2025 EMS
Spring Fling
Published: April 20, 2025 at
06:00 p.m.
By: Press Release from Fort Drum Regional Health
Planning Organization
NORTH COUNTRY REMSCO AND
FDRHPO HOST OVER 130 REGIONAL EMS PROVIDERS AND PRESENT LOCAL AND STATE AWARDS
AT 2025 EMS SPRING FLING
(Left to Right:) Jonathan Cole, EMS
Program Agency Director at Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization
(FDRHPO);
Robert MacKenzie,
North Country REMSCO Member; Jen Maracchion,
Deputy Director of Lewis County Emergency Management
and EMT with Constableville Ambulance;
Mark Deavers, Vice Chair of North Country REMSCO; and Debbie
Singleton, Chair of North Country REMSCO.
WATERTOWN, NY -- The Annual North Country
REMSCO's Spring Fling Conference was held April 10-12 at the Edgewood
Resort in Alexandra Bay. Over 130 EMS providers from across New York State
attended the event and participated in lectures on a myriad of topics,
ranging from shock and resuscitation, pharmacology, approaching Alzheimer’s
for first responders, pediatric cardiology, and more.
“This year we again were able to offer amazing training at a low
cost to EMS practitioners from not only our region, but from across the
State,” said Jonathan Cole, EMS Program Agency Director at Fort Drum
Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO). “Networking at an EMS
Education conference is invaluable. It creates opportunities for
collaboration, mentorship, and the exchange of innovative ideas that
elevate patient care and professional development. By connecting with
fellow educators, field providers, and industry leaders, we strengthen our
collective knowledge, stay current with evolving practices, and build a
stronger, more cohesive EMS community.”
On Friday, April 11th, North Country REMSCO and Fort Drum
Regional Health Planning Organization staff presented awards to regional
EMS and healthcare providers who were nominated by their peers.
Regional EMS Awards were also presented in the following
categories:
- ALS Provider of the
Year – Tonya Lafex - Indian River Ambulance
Service, Guilfoyle Ambulance
- BLS Provider of the
Year – Jen Maracchion - Deputy Director,
Lewis County Emergency Management, Constableville Ambulance, Inc.
- Youth Provider of the
Year – Seth Strader - South Jefferson Rescue Squad
- Agency of the Year – Constableville
Ambulance, Inc.
- Educator of the Year
– Robert
VanCoughnett - South Jefferson Rescue Squad
- Physician of the Year
– Dr.
Ryan Coates - REMAC, SEMAC, St. Lawrence Health Systems
- Richard Beebe
Education Award – Debbie Singleton - South Jefferson
Rescue Squad, Chair of North Country REMSCO
- Communications
Specialist - St. Lawrence County 911 Dispatch Center
- Registered Nurse of
Excellence: Dawn Rennie, RN, Lewis County Health Systems, EMT-B
- EMS Leadership Award:
Richard
McDougall, Ret. EMT
The award for Communication Specialist was presented during the
awards dinner to a 911 Dispatch Center that has gone above and beyond in
their service. The award, presented to the St. Lawrence County 911 Dispatch
Center, was presented by North Country REMSCO Vice Chair Mark Deavers. Mr.
Deavers said, “For the past year, the St. Lawrence County 911 Dispatch
Center has been operating out of its backup facility while renovations to
the primary center are underway. Originally intended for short-term use
during emergencies, the backup location is limited in space and resources.
Despite these challenges, the dispatchers and their supervisors have
continued to deliver exceptional service, skillfully coordinating multiple
emergencies across the largest county in the state.”
The St. Lawrence County 911 Dispatch Center handled 124,912
emergency and non-emergency calls while simultaneously managing a wide
range of additional responsibilities.
Mr. Deavers also presented Debbie Singleton, South Jefferson Rescue
Squad, Chair of North Country REMSCO, with the Richard Beebe Education Award,
writing, “Debbie began her EMS career in 1980 and became a Certified
Instructor Coordinator in 2014. She currently serves as both Regional
Faculty and Training Center Faculty for the American Heart Association.
Passionate about advancing EMS education, Debbie continuously strives for
innovative ways to enhance training, not only within our region but across
the state. She pioneered one of the first high school EMT programs at South
Jefferson School, which has since expanded to include two additional
schools through distance learning. Thanks to her dedication and
collaboration with State EMS, she successfully launched a pilot EMT/AEMT
course, which she is currently teaching.”
Mrs. Singleton has been instrumental in the continuation and
development of the EMS Spring Fling for countless years and continues to
strive to enhance all EMS training offered in partnership with the FDRHPO
EMS Program Agency.
From Lewis County, Jen Maracchion, Deputy
Director of Lewis County Emergency Management and EMT with Constableville
Ambulance, was presented with the award for BLS Provider of the Year. Maracchion was presented the award by Matthew Yelton,
Chief of Constable Ambulance Service who said, “Jen has volunteered for
Constableville Fire and Ambulance since 2007, obtaining her first EMT card
in January of 2008. Jen exemplifies what it means to serve one's community
selflessly. Over the span of 17 years, she has impacted many lives. Her
dedication to serving her community extends far beyond the local Fire and
Ambulance Service. She is often found volunteering with local organizations
to promote events in our small village, alongside the mayor and many others
at places like the library, Constable Hall, the Fire Station, and the
Village Band Stand. On top of all of that, she works with the Office of
Emergency Management professionally, holding the role of EMS 1 as an EMS Coordinator.”
Maracchion was also
credited for responding to a call for a 71-year-old male who had sustained
multiple bee stings, leading to a severe anaphylactic reaction. Her quick response
and deployment of a syringe epinephrine kit to administer a life-saving
dose of epinephrine saved his life.
“The Regional EMS Awards play a crucial role in recognizing the
unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions of our EMS providers.
By celebrating those who go above and beyond, these awards not only honor
individual achievements but also inspire others within the EMS community to
continue striving for excellence,” said Mr. Cole.
He continued that the awards create a sense of pride among those who
receive the awards and their peers, and they acknowledge the depth of
talent, skill, and compassion that defines emergency medical professionals.
The North Country Regional Emergency Medical Services Council
(REMSCO) carries out its
responsibilities pursuant to Article 30 of the New York State Public Health
Law and Part 800 of the NYS CCRR. This Council, comprised of 30 members,
has representation from out-of-hospital emergency medical care providers
from the fire service; community volunteers, not-for-profit and commercial
ambulance service sectors; physicians; nurses; health planning agencies;
hospitals; police services; county government; the business community; and
other constituencies promoting good health. By statute, the Council is
charged with several responsibilities, including the coordination of
emergency medical services in the North Country Region.
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