BRTC Alumni Receive National Honors

Black River Technical College (BRTC) graduates Brent Fisher and Nikki Warren were recognized by the American Ambulance Association (AAA) for their life-saving care at the annual Stars of Life celebration.

The AAA said the Stars of Life celebration “pays tribute to the dedication of these hometown heroes while shining light on the critical role EMS plays in our healthcare safety net.”

Fisher graduated from BRTC in the fall of 2020 and earned an Associate of Applied Science for Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic and a Certificate of Proficiency for Nursing Assistant. Warren graduated in the fall of 2020 with a Certificate of Proficiency for Nursing Assistant. She graduated again in 2021 with a Technical Certificate in Health Sciences with a nursing emphasis and a Certificate of General Studies.

Fisher and Warren both work for Air Evac Lifeteam in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Fisher is a flight paramedic and Warren is a flight nurse. The two received recognition for tending to a critical patient in December of 2023.

According to the AAA, “Brent and his flight nurse partner arrived at the scene of a hunting accident where the patient had been shot in the leg with a crossbow arrow. The patient was still in a tree stand, complicating extrication for air-medical transport, and Brent and his team had to wait before beginning life-saving interventions.

The arrow had entered just above the patient’s knee, piercing the femoral artery and causing severe hemorrhaging. Brent administered three units of blood, one plasma unit, and multiple doses of epinephrine, all while coordinating the need for additional blood products. Just before arriving at the hospital, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Brent immediately began chest compressions, stopping only to secure himself for landing, and resumed once they were on the ground.”

Warren was also recognized for her critical care during a motor vehicle wreck.

According to the AAA, “Nicole “Nikki” Warren is being recognized for her clinical skills and quick action that saved the lives of patients on two separate occasions.

The first, a motor vehicle crash where the patient was at first believed to be deceased, required rapid attention after a longer-than-expected extraction from the wreckage. En route to the hospital, the patient received blood products and post-intubation care as Nikki used all her clinical knowledge to keep the patient alive during the flight. Because of her extraordinary abilities, that individual survived and was eventually discharged.”

Because of their heroic actions the two were able to go to Washington, D.C., where they were honored by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton’s office. They both received a medallion and an award “in thanks for their lifesaving and life-sustaining service.” Fisher and Warren were two of 143 heroes who were recognized at the event.

For more information about the American Ambulance Association’s Stars of Life celebration visit Home - Stars of Life (ambulance.org). Fisher’s and Warren’s stories can be found at 2024 Archives - Stars of Life (ambulance.org).