First Responder Hero Award: Luke Meeks, Grundy County EMT

GRUNDY COUNTY, TN (WDEF) – News 12 continues to recognize some of the bravest members of our community through the “First Responder Hero Award”.

This month’s nominee’s love for the EMT field was sparked when he saved his friend’s grandmother. Since then, he’s never looked back.

Luke Meeks is an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician at Grundy County EMS.

He explains, “I went through EMS school during my senior year of high school. Got started in EMS, and now I’m starting school this summer, having a strong support system behind me, and family, having gone and walked me through it.”

As a teen, he performed CPR on an unresponsive woman and helped keep her alive until emergency crews arrived.

Luke remembers, “Riding around my buddy one night and saw his car go by his flashers on, pulled over as my buddy, and his grandma was in the passenger seat, so I started CPR got her back, and they got three more days with her. So, I just kind of sparked me and I was like, I can do this. So, I kind of what got me into it.”

Throughout his journey, Meeks has become an AMET. He serves on two volunteer fire departments, teaches CPR classes and is helping develop a new medic program at Monteagle.

Luke says, “Man, at that same balance, go to somebody’s worst day and kind of be that calm factor there for them, and people look at you and they’re like, ‘There’s Luke, he’s going to help because, well.’ Being in a small town, everybody knows everybody. So, that’s my goal. When I get there, everybody to not be stressed because they know I’ll take care of them.”

At just 21 years old, his work is already making a difference, and he’s just getting started.

Luke modestly concludes, “Thank you for your trust and support. It’s an honor to have this at work, just know that I do appreciate y’all, and I do care about y’all. 
So, if you see me out, say ‘Hi.’ If you’re ever in the back of my ambulance, just know I’m going to take care of you and treat you like you’re my family.”