Karen E. Giles Memorial Fund
Donation protected
The Emergency Medical Services family across Virginia grieves for the sudden loss of Karen E. Giles, EMT-I. As evidenced by the many, many Facebook responses, Karen was respected, valued, and, more importantly, loved by so very many people whose lives she had touched over the 30 years she served in EMS.
Due to a work-related back injury several years ago, Karen was no longer active as an EMS provider. But her passion for EMS was displayed every single day of the week as she served as training officer for the Amelia Emergency Squad, offered an ear and a shoulder to other first-responders as a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)/Peer Support Team member, and worked with EMT students at John Tyler Community College as their Clinical Coordinator.
And Karen's passion for EMS and helping people didn't end there as you'll see in her professional bio below. Unfortunately, many of the agencies Karen was affiliated with, that affiliation meant she served under volunteer status. And so Karen died unprepared. Because you know, she lived to help victims, not be a victim.
As a friend, I am asking for donations that will cover the costs that have to be met. You know; funeral expenses. Any monies donated beyond those costs will be evenly divided between Amelia Emergency Squad, Amelia, VA, Bagby Memorial Baptist Church--Karen's church in Burkeville, VA, and the John Tyler Community College Foundation/In Memory of Karen E. Giles.
Thank you. Just thank you. And be safe out there.
Karen's professional bio...
A native of Texas, Karen’s experience as a first responder stretches back 30 years. After relocating to Virginia in the 1990s, Karen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Longwood University while at the same time became a member of Hampden-Sydney Volunteer Fire Department. From there she became an active member in both Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department and the Nottoway County Emergency Squad where she earned ALS certification.
After relocating to Amelia, Karen joined both the Amelia Volunteer Fire Department and the Amelia Emergency Squad where she served as Training Officer. She also represented Amelia Emergency Squad within Planning District 14 of the Old Dominion EMS Alliance (ODEMSA).
Karen was secretary for the ODEMSA South Central EMS Sub-Council, a member of the ODEMSA Board of Directors, active on ODEMSA’s CISM/Peer Support Team, and an evaluator for ODEMSA’s Consolidated Testing. She was also an active member of the Crater Region Medical Reserve Corps.
Karen was an instructor for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, a faculty member of the John Tyler Community College EMS Advisory Board, and was Clinical Coordinator for JTCC EMS Program.
Due to a work-related back injury several years ago, Karen was no longer active as an EMS provider. But her passion for EMS was displayed every single day of the week as she served as training officer for the Amelia Emergency Squad, offered an ear and a shoulder to other first-responders as a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)/Peer Support Team member, and worked with EMT students at John Tyler Community College as their Clinical Coordinator.
And Karen's passion for EMS and helping people didn't end there as you'll see in her professional bio below. Unfortunately, many of the agencies Karen was affiliated with, that affiliation meant she served under volunteer status. And so Karen died unprepared. Because you know, she lived to help victims, not be a victim.
As a friend, I am asking for donations that will cover the costs that have to be met. You know; funeral expenses. Any monies donated beyond those costs will be evenly divided between Amelia Emergency Squad, Amelia, VA, Bagby Memorial Baptist Church--Karen's church in Burkeville, VA, and the John Tyler Community College Foundation/In Memory of Karen E. Giles.
Thank you. Just thank you. And be safe out there.
Karen's professional bio...
A native of Texas, Karen’s experience as a first responder stretches back 30 years. After relocating to Virginia in the 1990s, Karen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Longwood University while at the same time became a member of Hampden-Sydney Volunteer Fire Department. From there she became an active member in both Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department and the Nottoway County Emergency Squad where she earned ALS certification.
After relocating to Amelia, Karen joined both the Amelia Volunteer Fire Department and the Amelia Emergency Squad where she served as Training Officer. She also represented Amelia Emergency Squad within Planning District 14 of the Old Dominion EMS Alliance (ODEMSA).
Karen was secretary for the ODEMSA South Central EMS Sub-Council, a member of the ODEMSA Board of Directors, active on ODEMSA’s CISM/Peer Support Team, and an evaluator for ODEMSA’s Consolidated Testing. She was also an active member of the Crater Region Medical Reserve Corps.
Karen was an instructor for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, a faculty member of the John Tyler Community College EMS Advisory Board, and was Clinical Coordinator for JTCC EMS Program.
Organizer
Constance Moss
Organizer
Amelia Court House, VA