Health specialist Shannon Yona­mine was sitting in her office at ‘Iolani School on May 4 when a school employee walked over and collapsed in the doorway with symptoms of a heart attack.

Yonamine, a registered nurse and director of health services at ‘Iolani, grabbed the automated external defibrillator, or AED, in her office and used it to revive the man.

"It took two shocks, and I can now tell his family, ‘You’re welcome’ instead of ‘I’m sorry,’" Yona­mine said.

Yonamine was recognized Thursday with the city’s Lifesaver Award by Mayor Peter Carlisle and city Emergency Services Director Jim Ireland for her efforts in saving her colleague’s life.

They also recognized Palolo Pool manager Jason Nuno­gawa and pool aides Deborah Chun and Lana Chun for their use of an AED on June 20 to save the life of a swimmer who had suffered cardiac arrest.

Carlisle, Ireland and Emergency Medical Services Division Chief Patty Dukes also recognized EMS safety specialist Lorrin Oku­mura as paramedic of the year.

Dukes said the position of safety specialist was created in 2006 and that Oku­mura "took the program from ground zero with absolutely nothing and has built it up to what it is today." The position focuses on worker safety and training.

Ireland said programs created by Oku­mura "reduced liability and cost for the city." The programs include substance abuse testing for paramedic job applicants, an infectious-disease exposure plan that consolidated efforts by public safety agencies, and one in which patients with known bedbug exposure are transported in a designated vehicle.

"He is a pillar and a leader in his own right," Dukes said.

Okumura became a paramedic in 1999 and was promoted to supervisor in 2004.