Health Care District’s Trauma Nurse Outreach Coordinator Honored with Palm Beach County EMS and Traffic Safety Awards

David Summers is known for tirelessly working to save lives whether through trauma care, teaching young drivers to be safe, or countless training programs that can make a difference in a moment of medical crisis.

In his role as Trauma Nurse Outreach Coordinator for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, Summers has provided invaluable service. In May, his efforts were recognized with the honor of receiving the Linda Schuette Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Palm Beach County Association of EMS Providers.

“David always strives to be the best he can possibly be, always putting patient care number one,” said Tom McCarthy, Chief of EMS Riviera Beach Fire Rescue in his award presentation remarks. “He rapidly gained experience in many facets of nursing care including ICU/CCU and trauma care.”
Summers, RN, CFRN, EMT-P, was one of the first trauma nurses at St. Mary’s Medical Center helping develop the fledgling trauma system into the county’s current lifesaving network. He quickly rose to pediatric trauma nurse coordinator, trauma outreach coordinator and eventually EMS/injury prevention liaison.
Passionate about flight nursing, Summers was a flight nurse for Melbourne’s Holmes Regional Medical Center’s First Flight where he helped transport critically ill and injured patients throughout the state. As the Health Care District’s Trauma Nurse Outreach Coordinator, Summers’ mission is to ensure the highest level of trauma care possible in Palm Beach County.

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, Summers was also honored in May with a Distinguished Award for Community Service from the Traffic Safety Committee of the Palm Beaches.

“David works with various safety net programs as well as schools and government agencies across the county to educate and train people of all ages how to stay safe and prevent injury,” said Toni Burrows, Executive Vice President of the Safety Council of Palm Beach County Inc. in her remarks on presenting David with the award. “We are pleased to give David Summers the Distinguished Award for Community Service.”

Summers is president of numerous county and state organizations including the Florida Flight Nurses Association and Gulfstream Stroke Coalition. He was chosen to be a member of a team to develop and implement an EMS program in South America. Summers serves on the Florida Trauma System Advisory Council and is a member of several Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) safety coalitions.

Summers leads the “Shattered Dreams” distracted driving safety awareness programs for teens at local high schools and “Stop the Bleed” training for over 3,000 hospital staff, police officers, EMS officials, city employees and community groups on how to stop bleeding in life-threatening situations.

“This recognition of the work I am able to do is humbling,” said Summers. “My goal is to improve the quality of life in my community and I am fortunate to effect change for the better.”