Gulf Shores City Council, alongside members of the Fire and Beach Rescue teams, awarded Matt Palamara a Life Saving Award at its April 8 meeting to acknowledge his recent efforts as an off-duty lifeguard.

On March 15 an emergency call was placed for an elderly man who had fallen at Our Lady of the Gulf in the Gulf Pines neighborhood. The man had sustained a severe cut on his lower leg caused by his cane and was alone when the fall occurred, and he managed to call the church staff for aid.

"Without [Palamara]'s quick thinking, the outcome may have been different," Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Chief of Staff Melvin Shepard wrote in his recommendation for Palamara to receive the recognition.

Palamara was on site attending a fish fry and stepped in to apply pressure on the wound with towels while contacting 911 as the bleeding continued. Shepard stated that Palamara then placed a tourniquet made from his belt roughly two inches above the laceration, which had nearly stopped the outpour when Engine 1 arrived.

"They just said he fell and there was some blood. That's all we got told. When we got there, it was kind of shocking. We just did what we had to do. It wasn't just me. It was just a recognition of the situation and taking action," Palamara said.

Palamara informed the crew of the man's medical history and what had taken place to allow them to properly take over.

"It's good that our community recognizes folks for efforts to save fellow community members," Palamara said. "I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. I'm very thankful that I was there, and I'm proud to have this [award]."

In addition to his involvement with the Catholic church and commitment to Beach Rescue in the summer, Palamara also helps lead a group of local Boy Scouts and teaches culinary school at Coastal Alabama Community College.

"We're all in this together," Palamara added. "Look out for somebody else. If you don't know what's going on, call 911 and listen to what they tell you to do."