Dinner honors Georgetown Electric Department lineman Jim Young’s rescuers
By Sally Applegate / Wicked Local Georgetown
Georgetown Record Posted Apr 04, 2011
Georgetown — Gathering to recognize and thank the many people who saved the life of Georgetown Electric Department lineman and truck leader Jim Young when he suffered a serious electrocution accident on Sept. 26, Georgetown’s fire, police and electric departments put on a friendly dinner and well deserved honors ceremony on March 23.
Theo’s Restaurant provided an excellent Italian dinner for the guests, and friends were visiting and catching up with each other’s news. Young, who lost both of his arms to amputation following the accident, attended the dinner to thank his rescuers, looking healthy and upbeat as he walked up to the microphone.
“There were many people I didn’t even know that helped me, and continue to support me,” said Young following a standing ovation from the crowd in the Erie 4 Fire Station meeting room. “This means more to me than anything.”
During the evening, and later as the event drew to a close, people gathered around Young and his wife Karen, whose courage has been an inspiration to him, he says.
Chairman of the Board of Light Commissioners John Smolinski spoke about valor when introducing Electric Department employees Working Foreman Dana Nunan and Lineman Michael Catraro, who were working with Young when he accidentally touched a live wire carrying 13,800 volts of electricity at 36 Jackman Street. The crowd stood to applaud Nunan and Catraro.
Valor in the face of risk
“Valor is a gift,” said Smolinski. “Those having it never know for sure if they’ll ever have it again. Without question they had it that day. Instinct, courage, valor is what they showed that day in caring for a fallen comrade. We soberly acknowledge the unknown quantity of risk.”
Smolinski and Light Commissioner Scott Edwards presented Nunan and Catraro with highly personal letters written by the Light Commissioners, commending them for their courage on the day of the accident.
Right after the accident, when Young’s bucket could not be lowered, Nunan rode his own bucket up and brought Young down after lifting him out of his bucket, according to Light Department Manager Wayne Snow. Nunan and Catraro turned their shirts into tourniquets, an action which saved their coworker’s life.
“I appreciate everything the fire, police and ambulance [people] have done for us,” said Snow. “It’s been a tough time for all of us and we’re still dealing with it.”
Calm leadership commended
Police Chief James Mulligan presented the Ribbon of Commendation for Valor to Master Patrol Officer Scott Hatch for taking command at the scene of the accident. The wording on Hatch’s commendation reads, “You immediately began medical care to Jim and coordinated the actions of other responding officers, and other first responders and you called for medical flight evacuation to respond to the scene ….Your calm leadership and focus are an example of how an emergency scene should be handled. Your actions were key in saving Jim Young’s life.”
Mulligan presented Letters of Recognition to Officer Philip Klibansky and Dispatcher Lucille Manning for their work in coordinating police, fire and medical response to the accident scene. He presented Letters of Recognition to Officers Joanne Ballard, Jay Martel and Keith Grant for providing care to Young at the accident scene as part of a coordinated effort to save his life.
Georgetown Fire Chief Al Beardsley called the event a great night to recognize the folks who helped save Young.
Letters of Appreciation went to Rev. Robert Hagopian and Rev. Deb Adams for their “invaluable assistance to the Georgetown Fire Department and other responders.”
Meritorious conduct
Letters of Commendation for Meritorious Conduct [Award of Merit] were presented to members of the Georgetown Fire Department: Fire Lieutenant/EMTs Charles Savage and Matt McKay; Firefighter/EMTs Bret Moyer, Donna Robbins, Jeffrey Manning, and Deb Kerr; Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic Jeffrey Ricker, Fire Chief Al Beardsley, Deputy Fire Chief Russell C. Moyer, Jr., and Firefighters Peter Durkee, Joe Seddelmeyer, and Stephen Romano.
Meritorious Conduct award letters were also presented to Paramedics Mike Hourihan and Sean Devers from Boston MedFlight, to EMTs Kevin Ladd and John Dodge of the Byfield Fire Department Ambulance, and Paramedics Glenn Keenan and Mary Ellen Gourdeau from AMR Ambulance, for carrying out their duties “in an outstanding, superior manner” that averted a potentially fatal tragedy.
All the letters given out on Wednesday ended with the words, “a job well done.”
Wayne Snow summed it up for everyone in the room during his introductory remarks when he turned to Young and said, “Jim, I’m very glad to see you here.”
Copyright 2011 Georgetown Record. Some rights reserved
 
This article originally appeared in the Georgetown Record
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