The Tennessee Aquarium will host a special recognition ceremony to honor the heroic actions of staff and emergency medical responders who saved a life during the recent Ironman competition. The event will take place on Tuesday, June 10 at 11:30 a.m. in the Lupton Room of the River Journey Building at the Tennessee Aquarium.
During the Ironman event, a medical emergency occurred that required rapid and coordinated intervention.
Tennessee Aquarium staff members played a pivotal role in the successful resuscitation of the patient:
• Hannah Parker, EMT-B and security officer, recognized the need for an AED, retrieved and applied the device, and delivered a life-saving shock.
• Tanner Wilson, security officer and first-aid trained responder with an EMT license application in progress, provided critical assistance during the code.
• Kyle Coleman, plaza maintenance supervisor, helped transport Hannah to and from the AED location and provided effective crowd control.
Officers from the Chattanooga Police Department also played a key role in facilitating access to the patient:
• Assistant Chief Danny Jones, Sgt.
Dennis Pedigo and Sgt. David Cowan helped clear a path through spectators and bystanders for emergency responders.
• Officer Bruce Wilson responded on foot from several blocks away and was instrumental in the initial lifesaving efforts.
These efforts were supported by Hamilton County EMS and Erlanger Event Medicine, both of whom were assigned to the Ironman event and participated in advanced patient care. Tennessee Aquarium Security/EMS staff operate under HCEMS as a recognized first responder agency.
Andy Wood, Tennessee Aquarium president and CEO, said, “I could not be prouder of our team of highly trained EMTs and the relationships the Tennessee Aquarium has with all our first responders. This community should be impressed by the network of professionals who respond immediately whenever an emergency arises.”
Wade Batson, director of Hamilton County EMS, added, “This save is a textbook example of why early intervention and cross-agency collaboration matter. The seamless teamwork between Aquarium staff and EMS providers reflects our shared commitment to protecting lives and solidifies our commitment to ensuring all the special events in Chattanooga and Hamilton County have an appropriate safety plan in place.”