National EMS Week was first established in 1974 by President Gerald Ford as a means to bring together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s “front line.” This year National EMS Week is May 20 – 26, 2012 and the theme is “More than a job, a calling.” To celebrate National EMS Week, the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department will hold a public safety education event to improve the safety and health of our community, as well as, recognize members of the department for their service. A second public safety event is still in the works and will be announced once that is confirmed.
Public Safety Education Event
On Sunday, May 20, 2012, in cooperation with Reverend Harold L. Dugger, Sr., members of the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department will perform blood pressure screenings at the 1st Baptist Church of Capitol Heights, located at 6 Capitol Heights Boulevard from 12 noon until 2pm. Additional safety material will be provided.
Awards & Recognitions
On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at the department’s regularly scheduled training session, the followings awards will be presented:
EMT of the Year 2012 – Margie J. Byrd EMT Margie J. Byrd will be recognized as the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Technician of the Year for 2012. This year marks Margie’s 20th anniversary in the department. For more than half of that time, Margie has served as our EMS Captain, responsible for conducting EMS related drills and mentoring new EMT’s. She has conducted annual CPR refresher classes for our members, as well as, organized and delivered our Citizen CPR program. Margie serves as a representative for the Office of the Fire Chief on the Prince George’s County Fire / EMS Department’s EMS Work Group. This work group is responsible for evaluating current policies and recommending revisions or new policies related to providing emergency medical services. Margie exemplifies this year’s theme. For Margie it truly is more than a job, it is a calling. The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department thanks Margie Byrd for her 20 years of dedicated service and her passion for providing the best possible emergency medical care to those we serve.
EMT Trainee Janice Ferrell will receive a Special Recognition Award for saving the life of her mother who was choking while eating in a restaurant during a family outing. On Sunday, April 22, 2012 Janice’s family was at a restaurant celebrating her father’s birthday, when her mother began to choke on some food. Recognizing that her mother was in distress and not able to breath, Janice quickly sprang into action and used the lifesaving skills she just recently learned in her Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) class. Janice performed the Heimlich maneuver on her mother, dislodging the food from her mother’s airway and allowing her mother to breathe again. Janice just completed her written examination for her EMT-B class and is scheduled for the practical examination tomorrow (Saturday, May 19). The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department is proud of her actions and recognizes EMT Trainee (and soon to be EMT) Janice Ferrell, for her quick thinking and saving a life.
The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department extends its sincere thanks to all of our current EMT members and the career staff currently assigned to the station for their continued and dedicated service to our community, as well as, those members that are in the process of completing their EMT training.
Current CHVFD EMTs:
Chief James McClelland
Deputy Chief John Weaver
Assistant Chief Kenneth Cole
EMS Captain Albert Johnson
Lieutenant Robert McClelland, Jr.
Lieutenant William Lehew, Jr.
Lieutenant Ross Spohn
EMS Lieutenant Rima Sifri
EMT Todd Belok
Firefighter/EMT Andrew Byrd
EMT Margie Byrd
Firefighter/EMT Shamit Chaki
Firefighter/EMT James Crawford
Firefighter/EMT Ramon Davis
EMT Katherine Dease
Firefighter/EMT Imran Faruqi
Firefighter/EMT Robert Fralin
EMT Matthew Fralish
Firefighter/EMT Dwayne Frost, Sr.
Firefighter/EMT Keith Fullington
EMT Ilan Gordon
Firefighter/EMT Brian Graham
EMT Matthew Kline
EMT Kevin Kramer
EMT Matthew Lebow
Firefighter/EMT Kimberly Lee
Firefighter/EMT William Lehew, Sr.
Firefighter/EMT Christian Mautz
EMT Tennelle McSwain
Firefighter/EMT Samuel Minor
EMT Martin Ramirez
Firefighter/EMT Robert Russell
Firefighter/EMT Austen Stutsman
Firefighter/EMT Mark Washington
EMT Norshell Webster
Firefighter/EMT Thomas Yowell
EMT Matthew Zemba
Career Staff at Station 5
Firefighter/Paramedic Lieutenant Robert Kight
Firefighter/Paramedic Technician Daniel Robinson
Firefighter/EMT Rita Delaroca
Firefighter/EMT John Padukiewicz
EMT Trainees:
Firefighter Tyrone Brawner (practical exam scheduled for 5/22/12)
Firefighter Tyrone Clary
Recruit Janice Ferrell (practical exam scheduled for 5/19/12)
Recruit Nancy Molina
Firefighter Channel Parson
Recruit Tiffany Patrick