My Neighbor’s Keeper

An unknown author once said, “A truly great coworker is hard to find, difficult to part with, and impossible to forget.” The saying couldn’t have better described Jason Southard, AMR operations supervisor in Tucson, Arizona, who saved the life of his coworker, a paramedic, who suffered a stroke while on the same shift as him.

“I was just doing my job,” said Southard. “My coworkers are incredible public servants, so if one of them is in need, I want to be there. I’m just glad I got to medically intervene when I did.”

Southard’s selfless act of courage would eventually lead him to be named as one of Global Medical Response’s 33 Stars of Life, a prestigious and annual recognition by the American Ambulance Association’s (AAA) that honors the best of the best in the EMS industry.

His supervisor says Southard is well-deserving of the accolade, and that he’s always willing to help anyone who needs emergency care.

“This award is among the highest honors and EMS professional can receive,” said Jacob Dalstra, director of operations for AMR Southern Arizona. “Providing excellent patient care is incredibly important to Jason. It doesn’t matter if it is a team member or a stranger who needs medical attention; if Jason can provide that intervention, he will."

As for Southard, he doesn’t see himself as a hero. He’s just happy he could be there for his colleague, someone who, he says, has helped so many patients in the community they call home.

“The paramedic who suffered a stroke that day is my friend,” he said. “I’m glad I could step in and give them the intervention they needed, as they have done for so many others.”