As the month of June comes to an end, we find ourselves moving into the “heat” of the summer months. In Harford County, there are numerous natural attractions for the public to visit as part of their summer rituals. Water activities attract visitors to the Susquehanna, Gunpowder, and Bush Rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, as well as Winters Run and Deer Creek. The love of outdoor life finds groups, families, and individuals alike drawn to our campgrounds and other parks throughout the county. Hikers, climbers, and others enjoy the natural beauty of Rocks State Park and Kilgore Falls. Unfortunately, all too often, persons taking advantage of these outdoor attractions find themselves requiring assistance from emergency service providers of the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association (HCVFEMSA) member companies. The following are recent examples of the types of responses made by HCVFEMSA companies.
Thursday, May 20, 2010 -
On Thursday May 20th at 1715 hours the Norrisville Volunteer Fire Company (Company 10) along with the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association Technical Rescue Team (TRT) were dispatched for a citizen stuck on the cliff face of Kilgore Falls in Falling Branch Park. First arriving units found a 19 year old male who had free climbed about half way up the falls. This area is about 1 mile from any roadway and is only able to be accessed on foot or by ATV.He was uninjured however he was not able to climb up to the top or back down to the bottom on his own.
Units from the TRT arrived and met with the Incident Commander (Chief 10-1) for a briefing. The TRT then prepared for a high angle rescue. TRT members were able to rappel down the face of the falls to the victim where he was placed in a harness and lowered to the ground without incident. The subject refused further medical treatment or transport.
Company 10 would like to thank the Whiteford VFC for responding with Special Unit 688 (Gator), the Company 10 Support Services for cold drinks and the members of the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association Technical Rescue Team for their expertise in making this a safe and successful rescue. Units were on scene approximately 1 ½ hours. (Courtesy of Norrisville VFC, see
www.nvfc10.org for photos)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 -
At 2210 hours the Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company (Company 6) was dispatched for an injured patient in the 800 block of Federal Hill Road. Harford County Fire Dispatch advised Ambulance 691 that the patient had fallen from a tree stand in the woods. Information gathered by the 911 call taker also determined that emergency responders would have to travel an unknown distance through the woods to access the patient. Chief 6 (Incident Commander) requested Special Unit 688 (4 X 4 Gator) and Engine 611 to respond also. Whiteford VFC personnel were able to locate the patient about 1 mile from the roadway in the woods. The patient had fallen 30 feet from a tree stand ramp and was lying on a 12 degree slope. Patient assessment by EMS personnel determined that referral to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore was required. The Incident Commander requested a rescue assignment to assist with patient removal from the wooded area, which brought Rescue 751, Engine 714 (Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company) & Light Tower 6 to the scene and also Maryland State Police Aviation for patient transport. It was learned that the patient had been at this location since 1400 hours until he was discovered by friends. Crews quickly packaged the patient for transport and deployed a Z-rig rope system to assist with the slope evacuation. The patient was extricated from the site at 2311 hours and transported to Shock Trauma by MSP Trooper 1. (Courtesy of Whiteford VFC, see
www.whitefordvfc.com for photos)
Units on scene:
Chief 6, Amb. 691, Utility 671, SU 688, Eng. 611, Utility 672, Light Tower 6, Eng 612
Rescue751, Eng. 714, Utility 1496 (HCVFEMS Foundation ALS)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 -
On Wednesday June 23rd, around 1650 hours the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company (Company 8) and surrounding fire departments became faced with a unusual type of rescue. A 19 year old male had jumped from a CSX railroad bridge in an attempt to cool off in the Gunpowder River near U.S. Route 40 and Joppa Farm Road. The patient landed on a large pole that was under water which became impaled in his abdomen. Responding EMS personnel rapidly assessed and treated the patient as fire suppression, water rescue, and Baltimore City H.E.A.T. Team members along with the Special Operations Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department developed an action plan for extracting the patient. Maryland State Police Aviation Division (MSP) Trooper 1 was dispatched to perform a hoist rescue, as was MSP Trooper 6 to transport the patient. A landing zone was established at a nearby shopping center to accommodate the two aircraft, and the patient was transported by MSP helicopter to University of Maryland-Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. (Courtesy of JMVFC)
Units on scene:
Engines 811, 814. Brush 842, Medics 892, 894. Utility 871 (Joppa Magnolia VFC)
Squad 483, Swift Water Team 48 (Kingsville VFC - Baltimore County).
MSP Trooper 1, Trooper 6.
http://wjz.com/video/?id=72056@wjz.dayport.com
http://wjz.com/video/?id=72012@wjz.dayport.com
Saturday, June 26, 2010 -
A swim with friends turned deadly for an Edgewood man at Rocks State Park in Northern Harford County on Saturday.
Around 3 p.m. the Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company, Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association Technical Rescue Team (TRT), Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police (DNR), and other emergency responders were dispatched to the Deer Creek Rapids section of Rocks State Park off of Maryland Route 24 after a caller to Harford County 911 reported a drowning.
Phillip Randall Anders Jr., 31, of Edgewood, was swimming in the area with friends when he was overtaken by the water, according to Sgt. Art Windemuth, public information officer with DNR.
Anders was removed from the water and CPR was started. Emergency Medical Services personnel continued life saving efforts, but Anders was pronounced deceased after arrival at a local hospital.
"We're not sure why he ended up under the surface of the water," Windemuth said.
Windemuth said Anders was in a shallow area and it is not clear whether he got sucked under the surface of the falls, stuck on debris or some other scenario. During the rescue effort one emergency responder suffered a leg injury and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. (Courtesy of The Aegis)
All of the officers and members of the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Companies ask that our citizens use care when exploring the natural resources of Harford County. Whether boating, swimming, hiking, or camping please follow all established safe practices, rules and regulations, and never place yourself in a situation that you are not trained or prepared for. While the volunteer emergency responders in Harford County are trained, equipped, and prepared for incidents such as those reported above we hope that everyone is able to enjoy a safe and fun filled summer here in Harford County.
