Mercy Hospital Honors EMS Crews at Awards Dinner
The annual dinner recognized emergency medical crews whose quick actions made a difference in life-threatening emergencies.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Emergency Response
Mercy Hospital held its annual EMS Awards Dinner Wednesday night to honor emergency medical crews whose rapid response saved lives. Among those recognized was the rescue of a 34-year-old man found face down in a backyard.
Why it matters
The awards spotlight the role of prehospital crews in cardiac emergencies, where timely treatment can determine survival. Recognizing individual rescues highlights the skill and persistence required of responders in the field.
A 34-year-old man was revived after one initial shock with a monitor and additional treatment to restore pulse and breathing. The responder estimates he has seen only about ten cardiac arrest patients survive and return to normal life, and the patient's long-term outcome was not reported.
The players
Skip Yuhnke
A paramedic with the Elma Fire Department who has worked in emergency medical services for nearly five decades and helped revive the backyard patient.
Kenneth Peterson
The deputy fire commissioner for EMS with the Buffalo Fire Department, who is involved in emergency medical services leadership in the city.
The details
Paramedic Skip Yuhnke of the Elma Fire Department helped revive the man, who was found face down in a backyard. Yuhnke, who has worked in emergency medical services for nearly five decades, attached a monitor and gave one shock, and said additional treatment was required to restore the patient's pulse and breathing.
Timeline
Wednesday night: Mercy Hospital's annual EMS Awards Dinner honored responders.
2027: Yuhnke marks 50 years as an EMT.
Seasonal Patterns
The responder's estimate that he has seen only about ten cardiac arrest patients survive to normal life illustrates how rare full recovery is in prehospital emergency care. Individual rescues like this one stand out against that backdrop.
Learning hands-only CPR and knowing how to call emergency services can help bystanders act quickly during a cardiac emergency. Quick response in the first minutes is often what makes the difference before paramedics arrive.
The takeaway
Fast recognition of cardiac arrest and prompt treatment by trained crews can make the difference between a rescue and a loss. Those who have spent decades in the field know how rare full recovery can be, which makes each survivor's story worth telling.
Further reading
Explore more Emergency Response coverage from the Buffalo area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WKBW.
