Gold Cross' Jansky Named Recipient of Department of Public Safety's 'Star Award'

Friday, October 10, 2008

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has recognized Tom Jansky, Gold Cross St. Cloud, with their 'Star Award' for his work with child injury and death prevention. Jansky has led efforts to improve child passenger safety for 11 years in the St. Cloud area.

"These awards honor achievement in traffic safety and are given to individuals whose personal or professional work helps drive Minnesota toward zero traffic deaths," says Cheri Marti, Minnesota Department of Traffic Safety. Marti says that Jansky was selected for the award because of his "notable support of child passenger safety efforts in the St. Cloud area."

Jansky, who has been with Gold Cross since 1995 and a paramedic for more than 37 years, advises parents and other drivers of vehicles that carry child passengers on how to properly install and use child passenger safety seats.

"Tom has helped ensure the safety of thousands of Minnesota children," says Paul Anderson, Chief Operating Officer, Gold Cross. "He has a commitment and attention to detail focused on reducing risks for some of the most vulnerable travelers in our state — our children." Anderson adds that Jansky's efforts have led Gold Cross in a statewide initiative making passenger vehicle travel safer for children. "Tom has become an advocate to assure children have a properly restrained seat to travel in, making our communities safer," says Anderson.

Michelle Scepaniak from St. Cloud Hospital Children's Center adds, "on behalf of St. Cloud Area Child Passenger Safety, I would like to thank Tom and Gold Cross. Together they have played an integral role in the success of this (child passenger safety) program."

Jansky was formally recognized by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety with his 'Star Award' at a luncheon in Rochester on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, as part of the Toward Zero Deaths Conference. Jansky has previously been recognized as the recipient of the Emergency Medical Services Star of Life award in 2006 from both the Minnesota Ambulance Association and the American Ambulance Association.

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