When Dustin Wilson began his career as an American Medical Response paramedic for San Joaquin County, he had one desire in mind — to help people first and foremost.
“I just always wanted to make a difference. I wasn’t sure what the path was exactly and I found myself in the ambulance because I tried the firefighting route,” Wilson said. “I loved the medicine side of (firefighting) and helping people.”
Wilson has worked as a paramedic for roughly three years. He said what attracted him to the career path was the integrity of it and the “service before self” aspect.
That’s why it came as a surprise to Wilson when he was told that he was selected to receive the Stars of Life award from the American Ambulance Association.
He said he was informed of his nomination after American Medical Response Operations Manager Kyle Naes called him.
“It was so uncomfortable in the best way,” Wilson said about the news. “It was overwhelming, humbling, kind of brought me to tears.”
Wilson was selected along with 147 others in the nation, including 32 representing the Global Medical Response, for outstanding work.
At the beginning of November he traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive his medal.
“It was really amazing to be there, seeing all the other different types of calls and the stories behind why everyone was there,” Wilson said.
The Stars of Life program, founded in 1996, is a recognition initiated by the American Ambulance Association to honor professionals who have demonstrated continued pursuant of excellence and service.
Although Wilson and his team frequently respond to calls of service, it was one particular call that earned him recognition.
A helping hand
On Dec. 30, 2024, Wilson made the quick decision to hop over a guardrail and attempt to save an unresponsive man who was hanging.
“I went to go hop over the guardrail and my partner actually told me ‘no,’ and I was like ‘yes, please,’” Wilson said.
At that moment, there were no fire personnel or specialized rescue equipment on the scene.
“In all honesty, it wasn’t even a thought,” Wilson said. “I knew I was putting myself in harm’s way, but I did outweigh risk versus gain … his life mattered to me. I had to get over there and help him.”
The man was hanging from a bridge, entangled in a rope he used to try to lower himself to retrieve his fallen belongings. If the man fell, it would have been about 8 feet down into cold winter water.
Wilson said he flagged down two Stockton police officers on their motorcycles. He said he had the police officers hold him while he stood on the ledge, reaching down for the man.
Wilson only had access to the person’s wrist, so he held the man up while the officer held him. Wilson’s partner then reached over and pulled the man over the guardrail.
CPR was administered to the unconscious man, and his pulse came back. He was sent to a trauma center and survived.
It was this call that made Naes and others believe Wilson was the best candidate for the Stars of Life award.
Naes said for them, breaking it down on a human level, they want to celebrate their employees, recognize the hard work they do every day and acknowledge the times they go above and beyond for the community they serve.
“Just hearing the heroics of the story firsthand, hearing it from coworkers … you just hear how that call inspired our workforce,” Naes said.
Naes added, “What makes the call so unique is just the timing of everything. This patient trips over his bag trying to grab it, is hanging … they are just right down the street, and two Stockton PD officers happen to be driving by.”
“You put all of these circumstances together that create a remarkable call,” Naes said.
A life dedicated to public service
While at the award ceremony, Wilson said he sat in a room with other professionals who had years of experience. The room was filled with an overwhelming amount of dedication, and everyone there had their own story.
“It was humbling, overwhelming, enjoyment, kind of relishing in the moment,” Wilson said.
The event began with a story about a woman who had been dead for 83 minutes, and the audience got to speak with the paramedic onstage.
A timer was set, and 83 minutes later, a heartbeat was heard through the speakers. That was how long the woman had been in cardiac arrest, Wilson said.
“This is how we are starting this?” Wilson thought.
Despite each person having their own reason for receiving an award, Wilson said everyone collectively had the same mindset: “I don’t want the spotlight,” “I’m not here for me,” “I’m here for my patient.”
As for his feelings toward his nomination and award, Wilson said he was humbled to be recognized.
“To be recognized is not why I’m doing it, but it’s nice to be recognized for what I did,” he said.
This year, Wilson was also recognized for clinical excellence, and he attended a Stockton Police Department ceremony for the same call.
“If I had to do it all over again, I would do it all over again,” Wilson said.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: ‘His life mattered.’ Stockton paramedic honored with national award for heroic rescue
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
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