A Tioga Downs Security Officer/EMT and member of the Nichols Fire Department was given the CPR Lifesaving Award at the Tioga Center Fire Department Annual Banquet on April 4, 2009. 

 The award was presented to EMT-D Patrick Cartwright, Jr. by Captain Art Mayer and Co-Captain DJ VanDusen of the Tioga Center Fire Department Emergency Squad. Cartwright earned the award for his successful effort in reviving a man who had suffered sudden cardiac arrest at Tioga Downs Casino on December 16, 2008. 

 Tioga Center and Nichols Fire Department's ambulances were dispatched to a reported Man Down-CPR in progress at Tioga Downs Casino, with no further information. 

 Cartwright who is the EMS Coordinator and a Security Officer/EMT arrived first, and immediately began CPR, and called for the on-site Public Access Defibrillator (AED), Security Officer John Mele arrived and assisted Cartwright. Cartwright used the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to shock the man's heart back into a normal rhythm, and to restore his heartbeat. 

 Shortly afterwards, Tioga Center ambulance arrived on the scene to find the victim was now conscious, alert and siting up talking with EMT Cartwright. Tioga Center Fire Department Emergency Squad members transported the patient and with help from paramedics from Greater Valley EMS rushed the patient to Robert Packer Hospital, where he received a small defibrillator implant, and spent weeks recovering. 

 Cartwright, along with his wife, Valerie, attended the Tioga Center Fire Department 's Annual Banquet and was surprised to be honored for saving this life. 

 "I did not expect to be given this award, I worked closely with Tioga Center Fire Department and Emergency Squad and thought that is why I was invited to the Banquet. I am honored to have been able to do what I have been trained to do, and with the successful outcome of the situation. I was just doing my job!" Cartwright said. 

 Cartwright was awarded a certificate that reads "You Made CPR Count!" "Patrick Cartwright- It is with great pleasure that the members of the Tioga Center Emergency Squad present you with this award. It is to recognize the CPR save you contributed to on December 16, 2008, which we responded to., You achieved something that many people in EMS NEVER do. Congratulations of all of us." A "CPR Save Pin" was attached to the certificate. 

 In addition on December 22, 2008, Cartwright was presented with a "CPR Save Commendation Bar", and key chain that reads "I can save a heart" by Tioga County EMS Coordinator Connie Fedorowicz for his efforts in saving the victims life. 

 Cartwright was the only person at this year's banquet to receive this award, and the first member of the Tioga Downs Security/EMS Staff to receive this award. 

 It is noted that while many EMTs perform numerous "saves" during their careers - by getting patients to the hospital alive - not many of those patients survive long enough to leave the hospital. This patient who was in critical condition for a couple of weeks, beat those odds and walked out of the hospital and returned home just in time to spend Christmas with his family. 

 Cartwright has worked for Tioga Downs since 2007, and is certified at the Emergency Medical Technician-Defibrillation (EMT-D) level, Cartwright is also a CPR Instructor for the American Red Cross.