Awards

Awards

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Gn route to CMH, the squad members detected a spontaneous pulse. Soon after, the patient resumed breathing on her own. After reaching CMH, the Pegasus medivac helicopter from the University of Virginia Medical Center flew her to Charlottesville.

Although she is still hospitalized and faces lengthy rehabilitation, the young woman is alive because Capt. Johnson began CPR in time.

In April, Capt. Johnson took overall command of the county’s rescue squads, which provided medical assistance to the FBI, state police and local law enforcement agencies during the five-day manhunt for kidnapper Charles A. Leaf II and two hostages, his estranged wife and three-year-old son. From Wednesday until Saturday, Capt. Johnson made sure that volunteers were available should their services be needed.

When the manhunt became a barricade situation on Saturday night, he assigned three units which provided Basic and Advanced Life Support.

Although the kidnapper was killed in a shoot-out Sunday afternoon, his two hostages survived uninjured, and express their appreciation to the county’s volunteers.

In quieter times, Capt. Johnson has organized CPR classes for county residents, certifying nearly 40 people in this life-saving technique. He also provides leadership and encouragement to the other members of the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad, providing an example for other, less-experienced volunteers to look to. When not working as a paid firefighter and cardiac tech in Fairfax County, Capt. Johnson can often be found at the Sperryville squad building checking out equipment.

“For his leadership and performance,” said council board member Polly Powell in making the presentation, “we present a Certificate of Appreciation to the Captain of the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad.”

Teaching the real thing

This year, the EMS Instructor Award “goes to a combined Fire and Rescue Squad member with an out