Ann Jenson receives TZD EMS Star Award at 21st annual Toward Zero Deaths conference
The statewide awards are presented to those who work to save lives on Minnesota roadways
St. Cloud, Minn. – Six people and one radio station were honored recently for their outstanding work to reduce the number of life-changing crashes on Minnesota roads. Each of the seven received a 2024 Toward Zero Deaths Award during a ceremony attended by more than 800 of the state’s leading traffic safety professionals meeting in St. Cloud for Minnesota’s 21st annual State TZD conference.
The prestigious traffic safety awards are presented annually by the Minnesota departments of health, public safety and transportation. The awards recognize outstanding work and accomplishments to improve traffic safety and reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured while traveling Minnesota roads.
TZD’s Emergency Medical Services Star award goes to Ann Jenson, Dawson, MN
Ann Jenson, Executive Director, Southwest Minnesota EMS, demonstrates exceptional dedication and leadership in supporting the TZD traffic safety mission, going above and beyond to secure vital resources, educational equipment, training opportunities and grants.
She recently piloted a telehealth program for ambulances responding to traumatic events such as motor vehicle crashes—a game-changer for greater Minnesota providers that will help to increase the survival rates of crash victims.
In addition, Ann was instrumental in applying for a $9.9 million grant with the USDOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All, which was awarded to southwest Minnesota EMS Corp to implement a regional tele-EMS system.
“The distance to a medical facility in this part of the state can create a challenge to providing rapid intervention and the high level of definitive treatment needed during the Golden Hour,” said Mary Erickson, Renville County TZD Safe Roads coordinator. “Implementing this program will give the confidence needed to a rural responder, so they are able to increase the survival rate of patients they are caring for. This is going to be a game changer for Greater Minnesota.”
Other notable examples of Jenson’s commitment to promoting traffic safety include securing funds for educational equipment such as the rollover simulator, adopting the Stop-the-Bleed program, implementing several train-the-trainer classes, purchasing and offering training kits and tourniquets for distribution, and acting as a fiscal agent for several TZD Safe Roads coalitions.
About TZD awards
The Toward Zero Deaths Star Awards recognize excellence in enforcement, emergency medical and trauma services, education, engineering, child passenger safety, and judicial/court systems. Award recipients have demonstrated exceptional creativity, leadership, and organizational skills and the ability to successfully motivate and collaborate with others in efforts to move toward zero deaths on Minnesota’s roads.
Toward Zero Deaths is Minnesota’s core traffic safety program and is an interdisciplinary partnership led by the state departments of health, transportation and public safety. This collaboration began in 2003 and has worked to reduce roadway fatalities by 33 percent.
A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes: education, enforcement, engineering and emergency medical and trauma response. Learn more about TZD and how to get involved at www.minnesotatzd.org.
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