Taking part in the recent presentation were (l-r) Blake Thompson, director, Wilkes County EMS; Representative Mickey Channell; and Tina Bailey, operations manager, Wilkes County EMS. Representative Mickey Channell was recently honored by the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services (GAEMS). The President of GAEMS, along with other EMS leaders, presented Representative Channell with the GAEMS Star of Life Legislative Award at a special presentation held in Greensboro.

Blake Thompson, EMS director for Wilkes County, said, "Representative Channell was and continues to be a tremendous advocate for EMS professionals. His dedication to issues that are vital to EMS professionals is why our group chose to honor him in the best way we knew how. In particular, Representative Channell has provided remarkable leadership on the issue of trauma in the State of Georgia, and we wanted to show him our appreciation for the courage he provided on this issue and many others."

GAEMS Chairman Courtney Terwilliger said, "We are proud to have Representative Mickey Channell as a recipient of the GAEMS Star of Life Legislative Award. Representative Channell put in the effort to learn about the EMS community and industry and is quite familiar with the challenges that our profession faces in Georgia. As a sign of appreciation, GAEMS recognized Representative Channell and the other legislators for their understanding and appreciation for the lifesaving contributions of our EMTs and Paramedics in their local communities."

"EMTs in Georgia regularly put their lives on the line every day," Thomson said, "and they do so out of dedication, compassion, and a sincere commitment to making a difference in the communities they serve. We are sincerely grateful for Representative Channell's support and for also showing those same qualities and attributes."