Sunstar Paramedics EMT Crystal Cook was part of the Sunstar team dispatched to help a man with his battery-powered wheelchair. Initial reports indicated that he may be have fallen from the chair and may be in need of medical attention. However, the situation turned out to be more complicated than the dispatch reports indicated.

The gentleman’s wheelchair battery had died and the man was stranded. Cook and her partner began to call a wheelchair transport company, but the man stopped her. He did not have any way to pay for the wheelchair transport vehicle.

Cook paid for the transport vehicle with her own money to help this Pinellas County resident get back home. In recognition of her selflessness and compassion, Cook was presented with Sunstar’s Care Plus Award in December 2014.

The Sunstar Care Plus Award is an internal award used to recognize Sunstar Paramedics employees for their excellence in patient care, professionalism and efficiency. Award winners are nominated by their co-workers and selected by Sunstar’s employee engagement and retention committee.