Here are the finalists in the 2016 Health Care Heroes First Responder category.

Honors a first responder whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
 

Mitch Cunningham

TITLE: Deputy chief

ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Police Department, Investigative Bureau

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Deputy Chief Cunningham has been instrumental in introducing the opioid addiction crisis to area law enforcement agencies.

He is also responsible for securing naloxone for WPD officers to use in the field to stop opioid overdoses. Because of his outstanding efforts, New Hanover County leads the state in naloxone saves. (Editor’s note: Naloxone is a drug that can block the effects of opioids such as heroin and oxycodone. If administered quickly enough, it can keep a person who has overdosed from dying. Some law enforcement agencies around the country have started equipping their officers with the medicine as opioid addiction has risen.)

Deputy Chief Cunningham also is responsible for creating a peer support group for WPD Officers who face crisis in the field. This group is responsible for providing peer support, mental health counseling and additional resources for officers.

Deputy Chief Cunningham goes beyond the call of duty in making sure the health and welfare of our employees is primary in the workplace. His efforts are selfless and exemplary.”

-Linda Rawley, WPD public affairs officer
 

Joseph Lopez

TITLE: Master firefighter

ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Fire Department

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “My husband is the guy who stops to help at accident scenes even when he is off duty. He checks car seats even when he is off duty. He will demonstrate CPR and/or first aid when he is off duty.

He is the guy that will do anything for anyone. He coaches kids leagues and mentors young kids.

These are just some of the things he does when he is off duty, not to mention all he does when he is on duty as a master firefghter with the City of Wilmington or when he is teaching First Aid and CPR with his business, Basic Aid Training.

As a firefghter, the citizens of this community are always his first priority. He performs his duties enthusiastically and with loads of pride. His focus with Basic Aid Training, aka B.A.T., is to teach as many people First Aid/CPR and AED training.

He believes everyone wants to help if we give the proper education and tools to do so.

He loves teaching all ages. Who knows, maybe one day we can have all of New Hanover County certified.”

-Kim Lopez
 

Sarah Rivenbark

TITLE: Community paramedic

ORGANIZATION: New Hanover Regional Medical Center

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Since joining New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s EMS Team in 2000, her forward-thinking ideas have brought numerous improvements.

As a field training officer between 2006 and 2013, Sarah … was involved in developing and implementing changes to EMS’s methods for treating cardiac arrest.

Those efforts dramatically increased the cardiac arrest survival rates in New Hanover County. In 2013 she became one of the initial group of community paramedics and played an integral role in developing this innovative program from the ground up.

The Community Paramedicine program, which is designed to work with patients in their homes after a hospitalization to identify and treat issues before they become an emergency, gained national attention for its potential to reduce unnecessary trips to the hospital. Sarah now represents the program [locally and at the state].

She was also asked to participate in the development of the national Certified Community Paramedic Exam.

Sarah assists the Boy Scouts as a mentor for first aid and CPR and organizes training events for the community.”

-Iris Baker, NHRMC