Honorees

← Back to directory

Year Honored
2013
Honoree
Peter P. Carbonneau
Title
Paramedic
Agency
Van Buren Ambulance Service
Agency City
Van Buren
Agency State
ME
Last Call
4/8/12
Cause of Death
On-duty Cardiac
Biography
Peter started volunteering at the Van Buren Ambulance in 1984 at the age of 24. He has served in many different capacities throughout the years, including Assistant Director and later Director of the service. He also previously worked as a paramedic for Madawaska Ambulance Service. In addition to his service to the Town of Van Buren as a paramedic, he dedicated 24 years as a volunteer firefighter for the Van Buren Fire Department. He also served on various boards for the town, most recently as Chairman of the school board, a member of Van Buren Housing Authority, member and past chairman of Van Buren Light and Power District, and a trustee of Van Buren Hospital District. He was an Aroostook County bail commissioner for 20 years. Peter was also a committee member of Van Buren Cub Scout Pack No. 196. In 2006, Peter was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Maine EMS for his contributions to EMS in the St. John Valley.<br /> <br /> Despite being in rural Aroostook County, Peter was known throughout the state of Maine for his work in EMS. He had a way with patients that cannot be duplicated - he was able to put patients at ease with his sense of humor, calm demeanor and his knowledge. Peter loved to share the knowledge he accumulated over the years and was always willing to help out his fellow healthcare providers. He was always an advocate for patient care and made sure that he passed this on to his co-workers either through the many courses he taught or while tutoring a young EMT.<br /> <br /> On April 8, having just completed a 24-hour shift, Peter was scheduled to be the paramedic on the backup crew. After receiving a call from a co-worker, Peter agreed to cover the paramedic on the first out crew for a few hours during which time he responded to a call for a patient possibly having a stroke. Returning from the call, Peter went home and returned to the station at about 1900 hours to complete the patient care report from the run he went on a few hours earlier. About 10 minutes later, the first out crew came to the station to respond to a 911 call and found Peter sitting in a chair at the station, unresponsive.<br /> <br /> Honored 2013