Rick Helton
“1961”

Ricky D. Helton was 28 years old when he became a member of Lebanon Lifesaving Crew, Inc. in April of 1989. Rick was very active in the Lifesaving Crew, serving as Captain from 2002 to 2003, and later became an integral part of training and education for EMS providers across the State. Rick held certification as an EMT-Cardiac Technician, and he later became an EMT-Intermediate. He was an ALS Coordinator and taught numerous ALS refresher courses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Along with being an ALS Coordinator, Rick also held instructor certifications for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Pediatric International Trauma Life Support (PITLS), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS). Rick served as Regional Faculty for the American Heart Association, directing ACLS, PALS, and CPR courses. In 2002, Rick was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council in Abingdon, Virginia. 

Rick began working at Russell County Medical Center in Lebanon, Virginia in the Radiology Department as a Nuclear Medicine Technician in 1994, following completion of the Southwest Virginia Radiology Program. In his free time, Rick enjoyed listening to music, traveling, and spending time with his friends. 

Rick will be remembered as laughing and always with a smile. He dedicated his time to help others, whether by the patients he encountered at the hospital or those he encountered in the field when he was on the ambulance. Even though he answered his last call on January 25, 2012, his service to his patients, his community, and to the students that he helped train will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace, Rick, and Godspeed. 

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