SeniorSergeant Donald Kennard Retires With 36 Years of Service to NCC

On December 19, 2022, Senior Sergeant Donald M. Kennard was met with a ceremonial walk-out following his final day after 36 years as a paramedic with New Castle County. Aproclamation from New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer was presented to Senior Sergeant Kennard declaring December 19, 2022, as “Senior Sergeant Donald M. Kennard Day” in New Castle County.

Senior Sergeant Kennard began his career with New Castle County in 1986 as a Communications Specialist in the 9-1-1 center. In 1988 he obtained paramedic certification through the Medical Center of Delaware and further obtained certification as a Nationally Registered Paramedic. He has worked Paramedic Station 1 in the City of Wilmington and Paramedic Station 4 in Bellefonte. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 2004, Sergeant in 2005, and Senior Sergeant in 2015. He has been assigned to all four operational platoons and currently is assigned to EMS Platoon 2 as a field supervisor. His dedication to the EMS profession extends well beyond NCC as he is a life member of the Claymont Fire Company.

Senior Sergeant Kennard has been active in multiple specialized groups in New Castle County EMS including Presidential Protection Details, EMS Focus Groups, a CISM Team Member, member of the Honor Guard, and was the only Paramedic in the state of Delaware to play the bagpipes at the EMS Memorial in Virginia where he represented New Castle County. He obtained several certifications during his career including AHACPR/First Aid Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support

HERO DAYat Cooke Elementary School in Hockessin

Instructor, Prehospital Trauma Life Support Instructor, as well as Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and Field Training Officer (FTO).

Throughout his career in New Castle County, Donnie has received five unit letters of commendation, two distinguished unit citations, eight sudden cardiac arrest save citations, one Meritorious Award, one Centaurus Award from Wilmington Fire Department for a disastrous ship fire, and 50 complimentary letters from the public.

Senior Sergeant Kennard’s desire to serve his fellow community members extended past his on-duty shift responsibilities. While leisurely fishing for flounder on his boat, Donnie heard a distress call come across his onboard radio from a nearby vessel where a woman was choking. Donnie was able to maneuver his boat up to the much larger (110 foot) vessel. To be able to board, he tied his boat off to the back of the larger ship and was able to make his way to the patient. If this were not an already stressful and unique event, the boats had to remain actively moving towards shore. When Donnie finally reached the patient, he confirmed she was actively choking and was able to clear the obstruction in her airway and prevent her from going into cardiac arrest. Donnie’s selfless desire to help those in need is what drove him to render aid ultimately saving the woman’s life.

Senior Sergeant Donald M. Kennard, ALS22/Paramedic 554, signs off after 36 years of faithful service to the citizens of New Castle County. Congratulations on your retirement!

- Submitted by Abigail Haas

Paramedic Turnbull Reunites with Patient and Family

Patient reunions have become a heart-warming tradition at NCC*EMS that truly closes the loop with patient outcomes and builds life-long relationships with those we work so hard to help.

- Submitted by Abigail Haas

On November10, 2022, New Castle County Paramedics were on hand forCooke Elementary School’s HERO DAYtradition. The day was filled with guest speakers from all areas of public safety, a police K-9 assembly and ended with a HERO DAY parade where every student in the school could meet paramedics, police officers, dispatchers and firefighters while seeing all of theirequipment fi rsthand. The staff at Cooke Elementary School makes this an annual event and gives public safety personnel an opportunity to meet amazing students who were full of great questions. Agencies participating in the HERO DAYincluded New Castle County Paramedics, New Castle County Police, New Castle County 911, Delaware State Police (Troop 6), Hockessin Fire Company and Mill Creek Fire Company.

On November16, 2022, the Turnerfamily traveled from New Jersey to reunite with Paramedic Chris Turnbull at the John B. PotterParamedic Station 5 in Middletown. Chris treated theirnewborn daughterwho suffered a medical emergency requiring emergency transport to Nemours DuPont Hospital forChildren in North Wilmington. Rachel and Brian were incredibly thankful and stated, “It was wonderful to be able to thank Chris and allow the kids to look at yourstation.” They also said, “You all are the best and epitome of professionalism . . . keep up the amazing work!” Theirolderboys have an attraction to the fire service and theiradventures are documented on Instagram at “Firehouseboys.”

- Submitted by Abigail Haas