| The Officers and members of the SMVFA congratulate all the winners.
By: Lieutenant Heather Jacobs,
Date: May 27, 2013
On the morning of Saturday, June 30th, 2012 at approximately 6:45 am, members of the Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad along with the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department, Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department, St. Mary's County Advanced Life Support, Charles County EMS, and Trooper 7, responded to a very serious motor vehicle accident in the area of the Wawa at Rt. 5 and 235. The units involved had an extremely busy night and morning, as this was the morning after the Deerecho Storm had caused havoc throughout the county the previous night. There were multiple EMS and Fire calls, EMS alone was dispatched on a total of 11 calls between 10pm and 8am Saturday morning.
The accident occurred when a small pick-up truck driving north bound, crossed the median strip, hit and flipped over the guard rail on the south bound shoulder, and went down a steep embankment approximately 50 feet. Fortunately the accident had been witnessed as when crews arrived, the accident scene could not be observed from the roadway. The incline was about 90 degrees and the only thing that prevented the crushed truck from rolling into the creek that was another 50 feet below the scene, were two trees. Units worked on scene for 52 minutes extricating and stabilizing the patient before the patient was flown by Trooper 7 to PG Adult Trauma Center with life threatening injuries.
The state of Maryland observed National EMS Week May 19th-25th. This extraordinary call was submitted to MIEMSS by Chief Vallandingham for the "Maryland Star of Life Award". There were over 600 calls nominated for this award. After reviewing the calls, MEIMSS selected this call as one of two groups of recipients for the award. On Tuesday May 21st, 2013, members of the above crews were honored at the Maryland EMS Awards Ceremony in Annapolis at the Miller Senate Office building. The crews were presented the "Maryland Star of Life Award" at this ceremony. There were several providers who were recognized that day, but unable to attend. Congratulations to all on a job well done, and on this once in a lifetime achievement! |
