Paramedic Armando Lazaro, 33, and firefighter Adam Bickford, 32, were hanging upside down by their seatbelts after an alleged drunk driver sideswiped a car, then plowed head-on into their ambulance.
They were both able to extricate themselves from the vehicle, and, putting their own injuries on hold, began providing aid to the drivers of the two other vehicles. One suffered major injuries, and the other was pinned inside a minivan.
Lazaro and Bickford weren’t in good shape either.
“It’s not until you start feeling a wet feeling that you realize it’s your own blood dripping,” Bickford said.
Lazaro took the largest blow, with an open fracture to his left elbow that required surgery. He was given the Star of Life medal for his actions, the highest field service award offered by Hall Ambulance Service. Bickford received an award from the mayor for exhibiting courage and bravery to assist others, regardless of his own injuries.
And we would like to honor them both as our EMS heroes of the week.