Health First's David Schmitt Named EMS Educator of Year by Florida Department of Health

Training Center Supervisor Helps Teach Thousands Life-Saving Skills

ROCKLEDGE, FL (May 27, 2015) – The Florida Department of Health has named David Schmitt, Supervisor and Lead Instructor of the Health First Training Center, as the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Educator of the Year. The award honors an EMS instructor or course coordinator who has made a positive contribution to EMS education in Florida and has successfully implemented a program or initiative that supports the fulfillment of the Florida EMS Strategic Plan.

“We are very proud of David for being named EMS Educator of the Year,” said Paula Just, Chief Human Resources Officer for Health First. “Thanks to his leadership and dedication our Training Center helps train thousands of first responders and members of our community in life-saving skills that make Brevard County a safer place to live and visit.”

Schmitt is a longtime EMT-Paramedic and an experienced advanced provider and instructor in the delivery of acute care, resuscitation and stabilization of the sick and injured. He has designed, implemented, presented and evaluated multiple emergency and trauma-related educational programs. The Health First Training Center offers a wide variety of educational opportunities including courses on CPR, First Aid, AED Training, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Dysrhythmia, EMT and Paramedic Refresher Training.

Schmitt created the annual Health First Free CPR Day that has provided free CPR training to more than 10, 000 citizens of Brevard and surrounding communities. This year more than 4,000 people are expected to attend Health First FREE CPR Day & 5K on June 13 at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.

He also recently designed and provided Tactical Medical Casualty Care training to more than 700 law enforcement officers with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Cocoa Police Department, Melbourne Police Department and others as part of their Active Shooter and Officer Rescue training .

The Florida Department of Health announced its 2015 Excellence in EMS Awards, including naming Brevard County Fire Rescue as EMS Provider of the Year, in recognition of National EMS Week (May 17-23).  Schmitt will receive his honor at an awards ceremony in mid-July in Orlando in conjunction with the State EMS Advisory Council meetings and the 41st Annual Clinical Conference (ClinCon) on Emergency Medical Services of the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC), which sponsors the awards.

About Health First

Founded in 1995, Health First is Central Florida’s only fully integrated delivery network (IDN) and employs more than 8,000 associates. The integrator of its IDN is Health First Health Plans offering a wide variety of health insurance options across Central Florida. In addition it operates four hospitals (Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital, Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center, Health First’s Palm Bay Hospital and Health First’s Viera Hospital) and is home to Brevard County’s only Trauma Center. Health First Medical Group is the largest multi-specialty physician group on the Space Coast. Health First also offers numerous Outpatient & Wellness services, including Health First Aging Services, four Health First Pro-Health & Fitness Centers and Home and Hospice care. Visit www.health-first.org for more information.