Social Media Announcement
Every year, we see heroes across the globe going beyond the expected to help others. That’s what the 112 Awards Ceremony is all about: celebrating those incredible individuals and organisations who inspire us to keep driving change for people’s safety.
This year, we announced the winners of the #112Awards2021 on social media. We shared inspiring stories of emergency professionals doing exceptional work, citizens who’ve bravely saved others, and organisations that have made a significant impact on public safety. Check out below who these modern-day heroes are!
Winners of the 112 awards 2021
First Aid Ambassador Award
Vasilis Patelakis, Greece
Saved a tourist by performing the Heimlich Manoeuvre
First Aid Ambassador Award: Vasilis Patelakis, Greece
Vasilis Patelakis works in a restaurant in Chania, Greece. A British tourist eating in the restaurant started the choke. Luckily, Vasilis knew the Heimlich Manoeuvre and quickly jumped into action.
After this incredible rescue, Vasilis didn’t stop there. He created an online campaign to raise awareness of the importance of first aid and encouraging more people to learn it. This dedication to ensure that more lives can be saved has earned Vasilis the First Aid Ambassador Award.
“It is a great honour to receive this 112 Award. My purpose from the beginning was to upload this video in order to make people see how important first aid knowledge is. In a perfect world, first aid lessons would be taught in every school. I hope this will come true one day.” – Vasilis Patelakis
Missing Children Campaign, Outstanding Social Media Award
AS ROMA, Italy
The football club did an online campaign to help find missing children
Outstanding Social Media Award: AS ROMA Missing Children Campaign, Italy
If there is one particular campaign that highlights the incredible power of social media, it is AS Roma’s Missing Children Campaign. The football club partnered with several missing children organisations in different countries, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (USA), Telefono Azzurro (Italy) and Missing Child (Kenya).
Using videos of its transfer announcements, AS Roma featured the faces and details of over 100 missing children. This led to several families being reunited with their children safely. For this incredible campaign that changed many lives, AS Roma were awarded the Outstanding Social Media Award.
“The day my transfer to Roma was announced, I discovered that my new club was working with organisations around the world as a part of the ‘Missing Children’ campaign, using videos of new player signings to give visibility to missing children across the globe. In fact, a young girl from my announcement video was found safe, and for me, that was an incredibly emotional feeling. Football has the ability to reach a vast audience, and when it can help contribute to resolving situations like this, it makes me very proud to be a part of it. We as footballers can do a lot – I’m very happy, that together with Roma, I was able to do my part also.” – Max Kumbulla, AS Roma defender
AS ROMA Missing Children Campaign, Outstanding Social Media Award
Paul Rogers, former Chief Strategy Officer at AS ROMA
For the coordination of this brilliant online campaign
Outstanding Social Media Award: Paul Rogers, former Chief Strategy Officer at AS ROMA, Missing Children Campaign
The driving force behind AS Roma’s Missing Children campaign was Paul Rogers, the former Chief Strategy Officer. Paul said he was inspired by the music video Runaway Train by Soul Asylum. Using his creative thinking, Paul was able to use the power of the football world for good.
Through his exceptional coordination of the campaign, families were brought back together safely. For this clear demonstration of how to use social media for good, Paul’s incredible work earns him the Outstanding Social Media Award.
Call-taker Collaboration Award
Megan Hollinrake, North West Ambulance Service, UK
For exceptional international cooperation with the Estonian Emergency Services
Call-taker Collaboration Award: Megan Hollinrake, North West Ambulance Service, UK
A granddaughter living in Manchester (UK) was on a video call with her grandmother in Haapsalu (Estonia). Her grandmother was struggling to breath and needed urgent help. The granddaughter called the European Emergency Number 112, but on hearing an English voice she hung up, thinking she’d called the wrong number.
Thankfully, the call-taker on the other end of the phone, Megan Hollinrake at North West Ambulance Service, was determined to ensure that everyone was safe. She called back and set about arranging help in Estonia. In Estonia, emergency call-taker Birgit Krullo at the Emergency Response Centre was ready to help. Thanks to this cooperation, Birgit was able to arrange help for the grandmother. Megan and Birgit win the Call-taker Collaboration Award.
“I am very proud and overwhelmed to receive this prestigious award on behalf of North West Ambulance Service. I received the emergency 999 call from a lady in Manchester needing assistance for her Grandma in Estonia who was having difficulty breathing. I was pleased I was able to help someone in need from so far away. This was a team effort where my colleague helped pass the information over to the other ambulance service in Estonia. The lady in Manchester was really helpful and patient which helped a great deal whilst taking the address details, spelling them out phonetically. Thank you so much.” – Megan Hollinrake, North West Ambulance Service, UK
Call-taker Collaboration Award
Birgit Krullo, Emergency Response Centre, Estonia
For exceptional international cooperation with the North West Ambulance Service, UK
Call-taker Collaboration Award: Birgit Krullo, Emergency Response Centre, Estonia
A granddaughter living in Manchester (UK) was on a video call with her grandmother in Haapsalu (Estonia). Her grandmother was struggling to breath and needed urgent help. The granddaughter called the European Emergency Number 112, but on hearing an English voice she hung up, thinking she’d called the wrong number.
Thankfully, the call-taker on the other end of the phone, Megan Hollinrake at North West Ambulance Service, was determined to ensure that everyone was safe. She called back and set about arranging help in Estonia. In Estonia, emergency call-taker Birgit Krullo at the Emergency Response Centre was ready to help. Thanks to this cooperation, Birgit was able to arrange help for the grandmother. Megan and Birgit win the Call-taker Collaboration Award.
“I am honoured to receive such a prominent award from EENA. I am grateful that the collaboration of emergency services all over Europe enables us to provide help to Estonian people no matter where they are. I am also very thankful fo my colleagues in the UK who contacted the Estonian Emergency Response Centre so we were able to send out help for this grandmother in Haapsalu, Estonia.“ – Birgit Krullo, Emergency Response Centre, Estonia
Inspirational Role Model Award
Dr Ola Brown, Flying Doctors, Nigeria
For her outstanding contribution to emergency medical care in West Africa
Inspirational Role Model Award: Dr Ola Brown, Flying Doctors, Nigeria
Dr Ola Brown has show exceptional dedication to emergency medical care. Ola became the youngest medical doctor in the UK, graduating from the University of York at age 21. Unfortunately, a family tragedy while in Nigeria meant that Ola became personally aware of the difficulties of reaching specialised medical facilities when there is no air ambulance service available.
Dr Brown dedicated herself to ensuring that no other family would have to experience loss due to inability to access emergency medical help. She founded West Africa’s first Air Ambulance Service: Flying Doctors Nigeria. For her dedication to ensuring that geography does not determine access to care, Dr Ola Brown receives our Inspirational Role Model Award.
Remarkable Rescue Award
Sapeurs-Pompiers De Carpentras – SDIS 84, France
For saving an cardiac arrest victim aboard a plane
Remarkable Rescue Award: Sapeurs-Pompiers De Carpentras – SDIS 84, France
On a long-haul flight from Paris to New York, a passenger suffered a cardiac arrest. The situation could have quickly turned to tragedy, but luckily 6 firefighters from the SDIS 84 in France were on board the flight.
The team quickly took turns to do CPR while the plane made an emergency landing. Thanks to the team’s quick reactions and dedication to taking care of people, the passenger’s life was saved. We show our gratitude to their excellent work by awarding the Remarkable Rescue Award to Jonathan Brès, Cédric Rambla, Chantal Dubost, Julien Pasquini, Cédric Erevanian & Serge Frizet.
“It’s a great honour for us to participate in the 112 Awards Ceremony. While part of the Carpentras fire brigade were on a flight from Paris to New York, a passenger suffered a cardiac arrest. The Carpentras fire brigade understood the situation and carried out the resuscitation, accompanied by some passengers. Today, we are proud to know that the passenger is alive and enjoying her family. We met her family at the fire station and know that her health is going better. On this occasion she sent us a very moving message of thanks. As Fire Station Chief, I am very proud of the teamwork that was done that day.” – Commander Eddy Aroca, Fire Station Chief, Sapeurs-Pompiers de Carpentras – SDIS 84
PSAP Award
Kuopio Emergency Response Centre, Finland
For the quick response to an attack in a college
PSAP Award: Kuopio Emergency Response Centre, Finland
PSAPs play a vital link in the emergency services chain. Their role is critical in ensuring that help arrives on scene as quickly and effectively as possible. The Kuopio Emergency Response Centre, Finland, showed exceptional response to an attack in a college. An attacker entered Savo vocational college in Kuopio armed with a sabre.
The emergency call was answered by the operator within 2 seconds. Within 60 seconds, the incident was dispatched to the police. 8 minutes after the emergency call was answered, the attacker was arrested by police. For their rapid response and efficient coordination, the Kuopio Emergency Response Centre strongly deserves the PSAP Award.
“Usually, the Emergency Response Centre and its employees go unnoticed, and we send our thanks to the cooperating authorities in the field. The first link in the chain of response is often forgotten. Receiving this award is the highlight of my career of more than 30 years. It is excellent that the successful handling of this case has been recognised in such a great way. This award is also a thank you and a tribute to operational management and professionalism.” – Tiina Kairaniemi, Shift Supervisor, Kuopio Emergency Response Centre
“In my opinion, this award is a fine acknowledgement of the activities of Finland’s Emergency Response Centre. The situation behind the award was highly challenging, but thanks to the professional personnel and effective emergency response system, help was summoned to the scene as quickly as possible. It is great to receive recognition for a job well done.” – Noora Karhunen, Emergency Response Centre Operator
Want to apply for next year’s 112 Awards Ceremony?
The call for applications for the 112 Awards 2022 will be opening during this year’s EENA Conference in Riga, Latvia (6-8 October 2021).