Honorees

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Year Honored
2002
Honoree
Shawn M Kramer
Agency
Hamburg Ambulance Service
Agency City
West Lawn/Hamburg
Agency State
PA
Last Call
10/10/01
Cause of Death
Other Medical
Biography
Twin boys, sixteen years of age, walked into Hamburg Ambulance Service one day and stated they wanted to become EMT's. Later, it was found out that they had become inspired to go into the profession by the TV series, "Emergency." They were quiet and never had much to say to anyone, however, that changed when they were called on to help others. A co-worker Jason Moyer states of one twin, "I was always impressed that Shawn could go up to a stranger and convince them that he could give the medical attention they needed, but he made little conversation at the station." Now the other twin walks with a shadow beside him, losing his brother that he fought so hard to try to revive. The silence can still be felt, but the impact made by this dedicated EMT will live on for a long time.<br /> <br /> Shawn M. Kramer, 26, died October 10, 2001 of a blood clot that lodged in one of his lungs. The clot was the result of a dislocated knee suffered on September 19, 2001 while Shawn was unloading a patient. He was treated for the injury at the Reading Hospital emergency room, and released the same day. While undergoing physical therapy and recuperating at home Shawn experienced difficulty breathing. He was transported to the hospital, and shortly thereafter went into cardiac arrest. An extensive effort to save young Mr. Kramer failed and he was pronounced dead from a massive pulmonary thrombi embolism due to a deep vein thrombosis.<br /> <br /> Shawn was trained and worked part time for Hamburg Ambulance Service as an EMT. He was a full time employee with Western Berks Ambulance Association of West Lawn, Pennsylvania for six years. He was attending paramedic training and would have graduated the Friday following his death.<br /> <br /> Honored 2002