| Minquas is proud to announce award recipients Jim McGowan and Jason Brooks. These leaders of our community were recognized at the 2010 Chester County EMS Council Awards Banquet. These two gentleman have pushed the ambulance service at Minquas to new levels of excellence on both the ALS and BLS fronts. Members attended the awards banquet in their support. McGowan has taken an EMS unit which was at one time struggling to get by, to a very self sufficient unit that now has both ALS and BLS providers. Brooks has shown to us over and over his dedication to Minquas Fire Co. No. 2 EMS and the emergency services community.
McGowan received the Meritorious Service Award for his leadership, advancements, and contributions to Minquas. McGowan started his EMS career in 1974 when he joined Minquas Fire Company, No. 2 at the age of 18. He has remained active over the last 36 years in many positions with the fire company and EMS. He has been an EMT since shortly after he joined Minquas fire company. Jim has served in many positions over the years: EMS Officer, Fire Officer including Fire Chief from 1984 - 1986 and 1990 - 1992, Asst. Fire Chief, Company Treasurer, and President. He has been both an EMT and CPR instructor and an evaluator for Chester County over the years. His most notable role with Minquas is in his position as the Fire Company's EMS Chairman. He has done all this while working as first a Police Officer for the Borough of Downingtown and now as the Chief of Police.
During his tenure as Chairman, after seeing a need to better serve our community, he lead the way for us to increase Minquas Fire Co. No. 2 - EMS Division's capability to provide care from BLS to ALS. He has assisted us in getting the latest and most up to date equipment. The latest being 2 brand new ambulances and new heart monitors with the ability to transmit 12 lead EKG information to the hospitals. If there was any equipment that is needed to better serve the community or to keep the volunteers and employees of Minquas safe, he has found a way for us to get it. He has also allowed us the opportunity to provide EMS staff to the Western Chester County Emergency Response Team as Tactical Medical Operators to help protect and treat the police officers and civilians that are in high-risk situations. McGowan has contributed much not only to Minquas Fire Company No. 2 EMS Division, but to the entire EMS community in Chester County. The Borough of Downingtown and the surrounding municipalities sleep easier at night because of the progress McGowan has made.
Brooks received the BLS Provider of the Year award. Brooks is always accepting new responsibilities, completing them without any difficulty and in a timely manor. He is always trying to improve himself and the company. Brooks is always seeking continual education. He has been a mentor to many of our volunteers and other employees. Brooks has been active in assisting many of the volunteers that have gone through the EMT program with studying and performing their practical skills. He is very good at providing explanations when they do not understand something. Brooks was selected and received the first ever Career Staff Person of the Year Award from Minquas in 2007. Jason was appointed to the Western Chester County ERT in 2008 as the first EMT to be placed on the team with medics. Jason has shown exceptional skill, leadership, and dedication to the pre-hospital profession.
Brooks is the employee (or volunteer) that every service wishes they had in their membership. He has proven to be a valuable asset to the emergency services as an EMT, Fire Officer, Role Model, and Mentor. Through Brooks' dedication and his work ethic he as set a high standard for others in the profession. He continues to improve himself and therefore others are following in his foot steps, to become future leaders, mentors, and role models for the younger generation of EMS providers. |
