SKY Valor saluting North Central Florida's finest

97.3 The SKY annually salutes this area’s fire-rescue, police and first-responding personnel for their dedication to protect our families, neighbors and communities. The SKY Valor Honors program recognizes acts of kindness and bravery in the past year, highlighting individuals that go above and beyond the call of duty. Listen for each story weekday mornings on the Bob Rose Show at 8:35 s.m.

From the Florida Highway Patrol Troop-B, saluting Trooper Specialist Matthew Mays

Trooper Mays has been with Florida Highway Patrol since July 2018 and is currently assigned to the Ocala District. Prior to starting a career with FHP, he served the US Army and is now in the US Army Reserves. In addition, Trooper Mays is a volunteer firefighter with Marion County Fire Rescue and a nationally registered EMT. While off duty he enjoys spending time with his wife Caitlin and working out at the gym.

Why is Mays being honored?

In the early morning hours of April 3, Trooper Mays was off-duty at his home, when a neighbor contacted him regarding a possible overdosed person at a nearby residence.  Mays immediately retrieved his Personal Protection Equipment and Narcan from his patrol car, and responded to the nearby residence.  Upon arrival, he observed an unresponsive female on the bathroom floor, and a male subject attempting to perform CPR.

Noticing signs of a possible overdose, Mays administered a dose of Narcan to the unresponsive female.  He checked for a pulse but did not find one, so he took over CPR efforts from the male subject.  During CPR, the female began to gasp and then sat up.  Mays continued to provide care until Marion County Fire Rescue arrived to take over.  The subject was transported to the hospital, where it was determined that in fact the 32-year-old female had overdosed.

<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/wsky-the-bob-rose-show/sky-valor-honoree-from-the-florida-highway-patrol">Hear Trooper Mays' story of Valor on the Bob Rose Show podcast</a>

Because of his action, Mays has been nominated for the prestigious F-H-P “Life Saving Award”.

And, for his rapid response, evaluation, and administration of Narcan and CPR…the Florida Highway Patrol and 97.3 The SKY are proud to salute Trooper Specialist Matthew Mays as today’s SKY Valor honoree.

From Ocala Fire Rescue, saluting Firefighter Cole Chabot, Firefighter Delano Christie, FEO Tyler Graham, Battalion Chief Mike Magee, Captain Adam McCormick, FEO Edward Munchel, Captain Josh Phillips, Firefighter-Paramedic Greg Marrall, Firefighter-EMT Anthony Smith, and Captain Shawn Sams. These honorees are part of OFR’s Station #1's C-shift crew, serving Southwest Ocala.

Why is this team being honored?

On April 16th, Ocala and Marion County firefighters responded to an entrapment call at a local food manufacturer.  Upon arrival, first responders were directed to the warehouse, where a worker had a limb entangled within the motor shaft of a conveyor belt.  Given the obvious trauma, and the complex mechanism keeping the limb in place, crews dismantled the machine.  Removing the motor and shaft from the machine allowed crews to transport the entrapped limb and the system to the hospital.
A decision was made to use the pressure exerted by the motor and shaft to preserve blood flow to the limb.  This proved to be the best course of action, as it ensured the integrity of the affected limb.
After surgical intervention, the patient was released from the hospital with full limb function.

<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/wsky-the-bob-rose-show/sky-valor-honoring-first-responders-from-ocala-fir">Hear the story of Chabot, Christie, Graham, Magee, McCormick, Munchel, Phillips, Marrall, Smith and Sams on the Bob Rose Show podcast</a>

For taking swift and composed actions during an atypical, serious incident, which resulted in the preservation of a limb, Ocala Fire Rescue and 97.3 The SKY are proud to salute these members of Station #1 C-shift:

Firefighter Cole Chabot, Firefighter Delano Christie, FEO Tyler Graham, Battalion Chief Mike Magee, Captain Adam McCormick, FEO Edward Munchel, Captain Josh Phillips, Firefighter-Paramedic Greg Marrall, Firefighter-EMT Anthony Smith, and Captain Shawn Sams.

Saluting Sergeant Justin Faroni, Sergeant Kenneth Motes, Officer Joshua Jablanski, and Officer Colton Lewis with the University of Florida Police Department

Sergeant Motes has served UF-PD for 16 years and is currently assigned to the K9 Unit. Sergeant Faroni is a 14 year department veteran assigned to the Training Unit. Officer Lewis has served for 3 years, and Officer Jablonski for 2 years. Both officers are assigned to Patrol.

<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/wsky-the-bob-rose-show/sky-valor-saluting-honorees-from-univ-of-florida-p">Hear the story of Faroni, Motes, Jablanski and Lewis on the Bob Rose Show podcast</a>

On May 10th while on assignment at UF’s baseball stadium, Sergeant Faroni was informed that there was an unresponsive man near the UF Lacrosse stadium.  The individual was described as having a blue-purple color on his face, and appeared not to be breathing.  Faroni quickly arrived, and began CPR.  Officers Jablanski and Lewis raced to the scene with Sergeant Motes, who had an AED.  The defibrillator was used to deliver one shock before the Gator Emergency Medical Response Unit and Alachua County Fire Rescue arrived.  The patient was breathing, had a pulse, and was transported to the hospital.

The Director of Security and Guest Services of the University Athletic Association sent a letter stating, “just this morning, his wife texted me to say the police saved his life.”

For their composure, professionalism and life saving response, the University of Florida Police Department and 97.3 The SKY are proud to salute Sergeant Justin Faroni, Sergeant Kenneth Motes, Officer Joshua Jablanski, and Officer Colton Lewis as SKY Valor honorees.