Dan Sterner
I would like to nominate Dan Sterner, Paramedic with the Durant
Ambulance Service, for the 2022 IEMSA Volunteer EMS provider of
the year. Dan is an ER nurse and has been a member of Durant
Ambulance since 2006. I’m confident the proceeding paragraphs
will depict exactly why Dan would be the ideal recipient for
this year’s award.
Around 1945 on May 2, 2022, the Durant Fire Department was
dispatched to a fire in rural Muscatine
County. Dan was one of five crew members emergently responding
in the first out engine company when they tragically had a
TerraGator back out in front of them. The fire truck attempted
to navigate around the TerraGator but was unable to do so and
they ended up colliding while going around 60 miles per hour.
The firetruck went down a steep embankment and came to rest out
in the field. The force at which these vehicles collided was
evidenced by substantial damage seen to the driver’s side of the
engine, with both doors being completely ripped off. Even though
Dan sustained minor injuries in the accident, it was without
hesitation that he immediately exited the truck and started
triaging his brothers and providing first aid. He aided in
stabilizing the most critically injured until an ambulance
arrived.
Once the first of two Durant Ambulances arrived, Dan and the
fire department crew were quickly able to extract the critically
injured firefighter and start lifesaving medical treatment. Dan
was the only paramedic on scene at the time and his experience
and expertise helped lead the medical team to provide
exceptional treatment to the injured firefighter. The
firefighter was quickly stabilized, transported to a Genesis
East Medical Center, and was later flown to University of Iowa
for further treatment. After Dan and the medical crew handed
care off to the trauma team, Dan checked in for medical
evaluation and was treated and released later that night.
While Dan will tell you he was doing what any other person
would have done in that situation, his act of courage,
selflessness, and willingness to help others despite being hurt
himself, shows the true character that he has. This was a true
act of heroism. I believe he made a significant difference in
the outcome of the firefighter and for that reason he should be
your choice for the 2022 IEMSA Volunteer EMS provider of the
year.
