Clay County Fire Rescue was awarded the Nicolas Rosencrans award for its community para-medicine program during the EMS World Expo opening ceremonies in New Orleans.
The paramedicine program was launched in 2019 as a response to the county’s opioid overdoses. It provides free distribution of naloxone, known under the brand name Narcan, which reverses the effects of opioid overdoses. The paramedicine program also provides patients with short-term suboxone treatments and referrals to Clay Behavioral to help patients break the cycle of addiction. Since 2020, Clay County has seen a 27% decline in overdose-related fatalities.
The Nicholas Rosecrans Award, now in its 22nd year, is given to emergency medical service individuals, teams, or organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to injury and illness prevention. Established in memory of Nicholas Rosecrans, a young boy who drowned in 1996, the award epitomizes the spirit of proactive care. It emerged from the efforts of San Diego paramedics and Nicholas’s mother, Lynn Artz, who united to advocate for EMS-driven prevention initiatives.
