In two separate emergencies in June, the Goodwill Hose Company Ambulance Association and the Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company EMS Team — the township’s primary EMS providers — revived patients whose hearts had come to a sudden, frightening stop.

In both cases, CPR administered by the companies’ Quick Response Services restored the patients’ heartbeat, a rare and positive outcome in cardiac arrest cases. According to the American Heart Association, only about one in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital survive to discharge.

“The statistics are sobering,” said Kim Shainline, a paramedic and chief of Goodwill Hose Company Ambulance Association. “Without immediate intervention, a person’s chance of survival drops by about 10 percent with every passing minute. With every tick of the clock, the chance to bring that person home to their family diminishes.”

But with well-trained and readily available EMS services, there is hope for survival.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Local EMS team members, Mervin Stoltzfus, Evan Graves, Reba Gates, Amos Lee Allgyer, Omar Stoltzfus, Megan Lucas, Kim Shainline, Jake Skritch and Alvin Stoltzfus pose with letters of recognition for their heroic work on June 9 and 20.

“That hope, in thousands of cases, arrives on the scene in the form of dedicated fire departments and EMS professionals,” Shainline said. “There have been multiple instances where their help has definitely changed the outcome for the better.”

On Monday, township officials recognized the lifesaving work of these EMS crews. Township supervisors and the Seven Mountains EMS Council presented certificates of recognition to the teams who worked those June calls. The crews also received a token of appreciation from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES), a national organization that tracks cardiac arrests, treatments provided and outcomes to improve CPR training and emergency care.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Supervisor Philip Courter expressed gratitude, “Porter Township would like to provide these certificates of recognition for the cardiac services they provided to our community. Thank you for bringing this to our attention so we can acknowledge the vital service they provide.”

“Today, let’s take a moment to honor the men and women of Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company and Goodwill Hose Company Ambulance,” Shainline added. “They are more than just first responders; they are the guardians of our most precious resource: human life.”

Beyond expressing gratitude, officials also emphasized the importance of strong collaboration between neighboring municipalities and their emergency services.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Kim Shainline, left, speaks at the Porter Township supervisors meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, regarding the life-saving work of the Goodwill Hose Company Ambulance Association and the Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company EMS Team in June.

“In a time when we often hear stories about challenges and disagreements between neighboring municipalities and their emergency services, it is crucial to recognize the value of strong, collaborative partnerships,” said Shainline. “This positive relationship is a foundation of our community’s safety and allows our first responders to focus on what truly matters — saving lives. So I want to thank you as supervisors of Porter Township for your support for both entities.”