Local Abbott Paramedic Awarded Star of Life

Michael Schwenke, a Paramedic for Abbott EMS in Effingham, has been selected as a 2018 Star of Life by the American Ambulance Association. Schwenke is one of 100 recipients nationwide to receive the award.

Schwenke will be recognized at the 2018 Stars of Life event in Washington, DC June 10-13, where he will join other Stars in a special award ceremony. In addition, Stars recipients will meet with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.

Schwenke was nominated by 2017 recipient Jeff Odenthal for his overall body of work. Odenthal said one call that stood out was when Schwenke had a patient that had a fainting episode. He assessed the patient who was transferred to the ER for further treatment and evaluation. He expressed what he thought was going on with the patient and told the nurses what he found with the patient's condition. He followed up over the course of the next few hours on the patient and their condition. The patient was later transferred to another hospital for further evaluation. Odenthal said Schwenke treats everyone as if they are a family member.