The 2008 Shock Trauma Gala

Personnel from United Fire Company were honored Saturday April 26, 2008 in Baltimore at the 2008 Shock Trauma Gala. "A night for heroes" was the theme of the evening. Frederick, Montgomery, St. Mary's Counties, along with personnel from MSP's Aviation Division, R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma staff were among those who received the 2008 Heroes Awards.

On May 11, 2007 Rescue Squad 3 was dispatched to assist units from Urbana and Hyattstown on Interstate 270 with a vehicle collision. Command reported that they had a patient pinned underneath a sport utility vehicle which was on it's top. Upon hearing the rescue squad respond understaffed due to other emergency medical incidents in our area, then Assistant Chief Dorsey and Captain Beaton responded individually to make up staffing for the rescue squad. Company 3 units arrived on the scene and immediately assisted with the stabilization efforts and placement of air bags to facilitate removal of the patient. With a combination of the lifting bags and box cribbing, the patient was finally able to be removed from underneath the vehicle to awaiting emergency medical personnel, ALS personnel and the flight paramedic from Trooper 3. The patient was treated at the scene and airlifted to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

Personnel from United Fire Company included Assistant Chief Jerry W. Dorsey, Captain Brendan T. Beaton, DFRS Lieutenant Jeffrey Wayne Shippey, and DFRS Firefighter Steven Boley.

For additional information regarding this incident and to read about the heroes from St. Mary's County, you can go to the University of Maryland Medical Center's website: http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/traumagala_2008.htm