Emergency Response Award

Michael Guch, Vernon

Imagine yourself on a drive up north. It’s a sunny day. You have the windows open, the radio on. Then suddenly just ahead of you, you see a car hit a motorcycle and send two riders flying through the air. That’s what happened to Michael Guch and his wife Lynn this past summer.

“It was like it was in slow motion,” remembers Michael. “You couldn’t hear a thing. You could just watch it happen.” What happened from there is why Michael is being honored.

Michael and Lynn pulled to the side of the road. While Michael went to the aid of the man, Lynn called 911. As soon as Michael reached the man, he knew he was in trouble. The man was bleeding profusely from his leg. Michael called to the other person who was also involved in the accident instructing them to bring some towels. They did. He tied a tourniquet above the wound, continuing to apply pressure until help arrived.

Michael is a member of the air national guard. He’s undergone First Aid, CPR and other emergency response training but he never had to face the real thing.

“You have got to be prepared to help,” says Michael. “You just never know when it’s going to happen.”