On December 8, Firefighter Paramedic John Parris was providing medical care to a patient who was being transported with lights and sirens to Winter Haven Hospital when his ambulance was involved in a serious collision at the intersection of Highway 27 and Lucerne Park Road. John suffered severe injuries and has a long road to recovery.
John has been a member of Polk County Fire Rescue since 2019, when he was hired as a firefighter/EMT. John worked his way through paramedic school while working at Station 30 in Haines City, and then served the citizens in many parts of Polk County, including Combee Settlement and Loughman. John is a strong paramedic, an exemplary firefighter, and a Field Training Officer, teaching the next generation of EMTs and Paramedics. Everyone who knows John quickly learns that he loves his family, fighting fires, being a paramedic, and skateboarding. John is a devoted husband and father who works hard to provide for his wife, Isis, and two children, Luke (8) and Violet (2).
The physicians caring for John are optimistic, but the road ahead will be long and challenging as John recovers and eventually works to return to the job he loves. IAFF 3531 is requesting the community’s help in providing financial support for John and his family as they face these incredibly difficult hurdles ahead. Donations will help cover medical expenses and lost income during recovery in the coming weeks and months. Having an incident like this occur in the weeks before Christmas is especially challenging for the father of young children who depend on him…