Odenton Firefighter Named EMS Provider Of The Year

ODENTON, MD – Donald R. Johnson with the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (OVFC) recently was honored with the 2019 MIEMSS Star of Life Emergency Medical Services Provider of the Year award. Johnson joined the OVFC in January 2015 after retiring from the U.S. Army and joined the fire company with a goal of becoming an emergency medical technician. But, based on the needs of the fire company, and with encouragement from his fellow crew members, he stepped up and completed the required additional training to become an ambulance driver and a firefighter.

In 2018, Johnson made 194 ambulance calls, the most of any OVFC member, and 69 fire calls. He is a dedicated member of the Thursday night crew, the OVFC shared, as well as consistently fills in when other crews are in need of additional staffing. He attends annual continuing education seminars and works to assist new EMTs and ambulance drivers with getting cleared.

Johnson serves as a preceptor for EMT students and helps others with medical training and assigned tasks. He mentors and leads younger company members, and on most duty nights he can be found preparing new members to become qualified EMT responders by quizzing them on the contents of the ambulance compartments or assisting them to complete other EMT training requirements. Johnson also is a trainer for new ambulance drivers after they complete the emergency vehicle operators course.