Seven new Troopers to receive Medal for Lifesaving at Graduation Today
(Middletown CT – Dec. 28, 2023) - Seven new State Troopers will receive awards at their graduation ceremony today for immediately performing lifesaving measures on a fellow recruit who collapsed during an overnight at the Training Academy last summer.
After being sworn in as State Troopers today, the seven recruits, along with two Academy instructors, will be awarded the Medal for Lifesaving for responding to another recruit who was suffering from a severe medical emergency. This is believed to be the first time newly-sworn CT State Troopers are being awarded at their graduation.
On August 18, 2023, a female recruit suffered a medical emergency during the early morning hours. The two roommates of the recruit rendered urgent care and other recruits, some with extensive medal training, arrived to assist. The rapid response of these seven recruits and their assistance with arriving EMS is commendable as they were only on week nine of the 26-week Training Academy.
After providing immediate emergency medical care on site, staff and recruits coordinated ambulatory transport to Midstate Medical Center in Meriden and communication with the family of the recruit. Doctors and staff at Midstate quickly determined that the recruit in medical distress required urgent treatment from a facility with a higher level of care. However, severe thunderstorms prevented transport by helicopter.
The ambulance that arrived to transport the recruit to Yale-New Haven Hospital struggled to navigate through heavy traffic due to the inclement weather and morning rush hour. Academy staff took the initiative to clear a path of travel and escort the ambulance with emergency lights & sirens to ensure a faster ride to New Haven.
Once at the hospital, the recruit was rushed into an operating room to manage her trauma. During the course of surgery, doctors were able to identify and treat the cause of this life-threatening medical emergency.
Both the Yale medical team and the recruit’s family directly attributed the patient’s survival to the immediate response of academy staff & recruits. At a time of crisis, the support demonstrated by the staff & recruits during and after the incident displayed professionalism and care that went above and beyond expectations.
Due to their heroic, lifesaving actions, the recruits will be honored at their graduation today. The seven are just some of the 32 recruits who will be sworn in at 11 a.m. today at the graduation of the 134th Training Troop, to be held in Welte Auditorium at Central CT State University.
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NOTE to MEDIA: Two of the Troopers and an Academy Staff member receiving the Medal for Lifesaving today will be available for interviews following the graduation ceremony. Please locate a member of the CSP Media Relations Unit at Welte to arrange.