NewsCovering Kentucky

Actions

“Buzz Kill Award” Given To Paramedic Draws Criticism

Posted at 6:33 PM, May 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-02 18:33:25-04

PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (LEX18)– An unofficial award given to a Somerset Paramedic for administering the most Narcan to people is drawing criticism on social media because of its name.

Fellow employees gave the unofficial award to their co-worker back in December at a Christmas party, but the screenshot of his Facebook page is just now making the rounds on social media.

The award is called the Buzz Kill Award, and it was given to the paramedic who administered the most Narcan, a life-saving medication designed to reverse an opioid overdose. Much of the online chatter is negative.

The Chief of the Somerset-Pulaski County EMS Department said that the intentions were good. Chief Steven Eubank said that he sees both sides of the controversy, that the Buzz Kill part of the name came across as insensitive. Overall, he said he stands by the intention of the award.

“I think people took the title of the award and twisted that, tried to make it look like it was something bad,” he said.

He praises the paramedic’s actions during overdoses.

“We are proud of the fact he does recognize it and treats it aggressively,” Eubank said.

Eubank said that he’s proud of all of his employees and wants to remind people that they deal with stressful life and death situations often, and that they’re here to help.

“We’ll probably have a similar award this year if employees want to do that for each other, that’s fine. We may recommend a name change, though,” he said.