Norco resident honored by Acadian Ambulance
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 20, 2009
By ROBIN SHANNON
L’Observateur
LAPLACE — In his 10 years of work as EMS first responder, Norco resident Chuck Benedict has grown to despise only one thing about his job — the way people describe him and his colleagues when they arrive on the scene.
“Don’t call us ambulance drivers,” said Benedict with a laugh. “We are medics. We do so much more than just drive the ambulance to the scene.”
Benedict, 33, an Acadian Ambulance critical care medic, will be honored for his work at a ceremony in Lafayette this morning when he receives Acadian’s annual Paramedic of the Year Award. Benedict was chosen from among 12 fellow medics from across Louisiana for his service over the past year.
“It’s phenomenal and very humbling,” Benedict said. “To have my fellow employees choose me to represent the entire state is overwhelming. I don’t see this job as work. I really like what I do.”
As a medic in the Critical Care Unit, Benedict said he often deals with some of the more serious cases, such as neonatal, high-risk cardiac patients and high-risk trauma patients. The ambulance is akin to a rolling intensive care unit.
“Sometimes we are able to do more in the back of an ambulance than some hospitals can,” Benedict said. “We can detect heart attacks, or administer medicine — we give whatever care we can on the way to the hospital.”
After a genetic issue kept him from joining the army, Benedict said he jumped from major to major trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He said he got into EMS work just as a part time job to help him make some money, but something changed for him on that September morning in 2001.
“It was after the September 11 attacks, when I watched the work that was done that day,” said Benedict. “Something in my heart told me that I had to look into EMS more seriously.”
Benedict said he has seen a lot in his 10 years in EMS, but one story particularly close to home always sticks out in his mind when talking about his career in the field.
“It was August of 2003 and we were dropping patients at an Ormond nursing home before heading back toward LaPlace,” said Benedict. “We got back on Airline and we noticed a van had driven into the canal along the side of the eastbound lanes and it was taking on water fast. One of the passengers, with his hand in a sling, had gotten out of the vehicle, but he was still trying to hang onto the van for something. We couldn’t figure out why he wouldn’t leave his car.”
Benedict said his unit pulled over to give him help and that’s when he realized why the man kept hanging on the van.
“We got out and that’s when we heard the screams from inside,” said Benedict. “The next thing I know, I am neck deep in water doing everything I can to get the van open. I had no way to break a window, but I was able to get a finger under the weather stripping of a back window and popped it out. There were three other older guys in a back seat gasping for air. We were able to get them all out with no serious injury.”
Benedict said the driver hydroplaned while heading eastbound, crossed the westbound lanes and ended up in the water. He said his unit just happened to be in the right place at the right time to get them all out.
“I ended up making some really good friends out of the whole thing,” said Benedict. “The took me out to dinner and we have stayed in touch.”
Benedict said he still has years and years ahead of him and has no plans to slow down anytime soon. He plans to stick with it as long as his back holds out and said he will eventually move to the education side of it.
“The job is a continuous learning process,” said Benedict. “EMTs must recertify every two years to make sure they are up to date with any new procedures. It leaves little to be forgotten.”