Anderson County EMS Honored at State Level for Third Consecutive Year

GARNETT, KS – Anderson County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), a department of Anderson County Hospital, has once again received state-level recognition from the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association (KEMSA). The department brought home two prestigious awards this year. 

Sherry Schmitz, advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT) and department lead, was honored as Advanced Life Support (ALS) Provider of the Year, an award presented to an AEMT or paramedic who provides superior patient care, advocates for patients and their families, fosters a positive work environment, and consistently demonstrates professionalism and commitment to continuing education.

In addition to her on-scene response during the mass casualty incident which occurred during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February, Sherry’s nomination cited her lifesaving actions involving an occupant rescued from a residential structure fire and her ongoing commitment to community education. 

“Sherry has been a staple in building a more resilient Anderson County,” said Troy Armstrong, Anderson County EMS Director. 

Sherry joined Anderson County EMS in 2012 and was promoted to a team lead position in 2021, which included taking on added responsibility as the department’s education coordinator. Since that time, she has organized and delivered numerous public education courses, including Stop the Bleed, First on the Scene, and CPR/AED training for area businesses and citizens, free of charge. 

“By enabling and encouraging community education, we have a growing number of citizens who feel more empowered to provide initial emergency response to life-threatening emergencies until EMS can arrive on the scene. This kind of public action complements our EMS response and increases the chances of survival for our patients. Everyone benefits, and Sherry had been a driving force for this movement.” 

Anderson County EMS also received a Community Service Award, presented alongside other Kansas EMS agencies who responded to the Chiefs parade incident. 

The award recognized Anderson County EMS and team members Armstrong, Schmitz, and Suzi Sykes, RN, who provided mutual aid to the Kansas City Fire Department at the parade. The three were within 30 yards of the initial shots, and without hesitation, were among the first on the scene, rushing in to help the wounded. Armstrong accepted the award on behalf of the department. Awards were presented on Aug. 10 during the annual ‘Honoring Our Own’ banquet, held as part of the 2024 KEMSA Conference & Expo in Manhattan, Kansas. Other 2024 Anderson County EMS nominations included Don Nungesser for EMS Support Person of the Year. 

In 2023, Anderson County EMS received a Community Service Award for their efforts to educate students on the consequences of impaired/distracted driving, specifically a staged demonstration for Crest High School students (Colony, Kansas) organized by paramedic Ashli Gavel. In 2022, Armstrong was honored as Administrator of the Year, making this the third consecutive year that Anderson County EMS has received state-level recognition from KEMSA.