The Wireless Foundation and members of CTIA-The Wireless Association® proudly honored Sprint Nextel Corporation customer, Ryan Price of Swanton, Ohio, on Monday, June 2nd with a 2008 VITATM Wireless Samaritan Award. Price was honored during the 14th Annual Wireless Foundation Achievement Awards Dinner for using his wireless device to help prevent a potential tragedy.
Ryan Price was hunting in a state nature preserve when he heard a visceral scream echo through the trees. Mr. Price investigated and found Michael Kane, who had punctured his femoral artery while trying to dress a deer carcass. Quickly, Mr. Price cut his hunting shirt to form a tourniquet to stop the profuse bleeding and then used his cell phone to call 911. Mr. Kane was airlifted to Archbold Hospital where the doctor said that without the tourniquet, he would not have survived more than five minutes. Mr. Kane’s father said he felt that Ryan Price was a God-send.
“Thanks to Ryan Price’s immediate response and the use of innovative wireless technology, tragedy was averted,” said Steve Largent, CTIA-The Wireless Association® President and CEO. “On behalf of the wireless industry, I commend Ryan for taking responsibility and stepping up to the plate to lend a hand in this life-threatening situation. Ryan is a well-deserving recipient of the 2008 VITATM Wireless Samaritan Award, and we are proud to honor him in this way.”
Every day more than 290,000 wireless phone calls are made to 911. That is why the VITA™ (Latin for "life") Wireless Samaritan Awards are presented annually to recognize people across the United States who used their wireless technology to save lives, stop crime and help in other emergency situations. These individuals exemplify the importance of putting safety first, as well as the crucial role wireless technology can play in emergencies.
In recognition of Ryan Price’s quick thinking and bold action during an urgent situation, he was selected by a panel of law enforcement and emergency response representatives to receive the 2008 VITATM Wireless Samaritan Award. This award honors citizens who have used wireless responsibly in emergencies, and is given annually to roughly thirty recipients nationwide.
The Wireless Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed by member companies of CTIA-The Wireless Association(R) in 1991. The Foundation oversees a number of programs designed to put wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society. |
Contacts:
Shannon Nix, 202-736-3891
