Honors for Mexico aid
The Hermosa Beach Fire Department’s Paul Hawkins, Mike Garofano and Kim Bridges are honored before the City Council for their years-long efforts to establish a paramedic program in sister city Loreto, Mexico. Photo by Don DeMaderios
The Hermosa Beach Sister City Association has presented an International Humanitarian Award to firefighters Paul Hawkins and Kim Bridges, and Capt. Mike Garofano of the Hermosa Beach Fire Department for decade-plus efforts to establish a paramedic training program in sister city Loreto, Mexico.
Eleven years ago the trio – all paramedics – started the program along with the Sister City Association, and led the way as it became purportedly the only advanced life support training program of its kind in Mexico. Advanced life support includes the administration of intravenous substances and defibrillation.
Hawkins retired from the Fire Department in July, after receiving a Sustained Superiority Award at the 36th annual South Bay Medal of Valor ceremony, at which he was recognized for outstanding service as a firefighter, a mentor, and a leader in the Loreto program.
The program provides advanced life support training to qualified firefighters in Loreto, where eight have passed the U.S. paramedic certification test.
“Because of Mike, Kim and Paul’s sustained giving and volunteerism, the Hermosa Beach-Loreto Paramedic Training Program has saved the lives of countless men, women, and children in and around Loreto, Mexico,” said Sister City Association President Deborah Wright-DeMaderios.
During a presentation before the City Council, she praised the trio for their “outstanding contributions to the betterment of our sister city.”
Mayor Pete Tucker added, “I think Hermosa is very proud of what they have done.”
Hawkins said, “I feel funny getting this award because I think we’ve gotten as much out of this as they have…Thanks to you guys, Loreto is a big part of our lives.”
Wright-DeMaderios said the Mayor of Loreto visited Hermosa in 1998 and was impressed that all the city firefighters were also paramedics.
He asked for help, and Hawkins, Garofano and Bridges organized and conducted the training, with donations and fundraising support from the Sister City Association. ER