History of
Northern Garrett County Rescue Squad, Inc.
Part Two
November 3, 2007
Northern Rescue moved an ambulance to the Accident area in 1976, housed at the Accident VFD, which became known as the Accident Station “2” and the unit number was Rescue 2-1.
We’ll not forget the faithfulness to service of Rev. Fred Illick and Loretta Rush as they were the daytime coverage for station 2 for many years. Sadly to say, we’ve lost both of these fine members several years ago, but if they were here, you undoubtedly would hear some tales especially about Fred’s driving techniques and the Lord at the wheel…
The 911 System was implemented in Garrett County, in August, 1978. Northern Rescue received its very first call by the “paging” method.
Through the generosity of the WOW Lodge 45 in Friendsville, funds were presented to purchase 3 new pagers for the first responders in Friendsville at the time.
It wasn’t until 2002, that the county went to the enhanced 911 system.
Region I EMS Advisory Council, back in the 1980’s, when funds were more plentiful, sponsored the Annual EMS Awards Program – EMT’s, Emergency Nurses, Hospitals and Businesses enjoyed a fellowship dinner, and then were presented plaques and service pins for 5,10,15 and 20 years of service, and businesses were recognized for allowing personnel to leave to respond on calls.
In observance of the tenth anniversary of Northern Rescue, a brochure was developed entitled “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”. This represented everyday people helping their neighbors in their time of need. During this time, the Town and Community Women of Friendsville started a campaign and helped raise funds to purchase a new LifePak 5. At the time this was truly remarkable, as the campaign garnered $10,000.00 plus.
In the early 1980’s there was no Station 3. However, there were 3 enthusiastic Musketeers that would take the ambulance to Friendsville on the second weekend of each month without fail, until Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. This started in order to give the Station 2 personnel a break from weekend duty. After seven years, this led to housing an ambulance at the Friendsville firehall on a more permanent basis and thus, the beginning of Station 3.
EMS Week Observance is historically held during one week in May, when EMS Services were/are recognized for the wonderful service they provided and still provide today – the volunteer force of manpower that responded faithfully every day, day in and day out. Now we just say 24/7. Dr. Ameen Ramsey, a MIEMSS field director, was at the reigns at the time and recognized the Stars of Life; as recipients of the various awards were referred to. We still see many Stars of Life recognized till this day.
How can we ever forget the dinners provided to the EMS Community by Sacred Heart Hospital, to show the volunteers their sincere appreciation.
Remember the Annual Membership Drives when a member would voluntarily host a stuffing party at their home and members would gather to fill the envelopes? In the early years we mailed around 2000 memberships. Former members Sally and Byron Miller handled the memberships for many years, which they said they really enjoyed doing, as a service to the squad. Currently the Friendsville Senior Citizens carry out this daunting task. Today the mailing is nearly 6000.
How about the Voluntary Ambulance Inspection Program? Northern Rescue participated early on and was rewarded with the coveted seal of Excellence following inspections of its fleet. Today, the program continues to be updated and Northern continues to pass inspections.
October, 1999 brought renovation to the Grantsville Health Center Building and the Station 1 hall. It received a new roof and siding which was paid for by the WMH Care Corp. Shortly thereafter, Northern purchased the building at its original price.
In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability Act was passed (HIPPA). All Health Care Providers had to assure that the patient’s confidentiality was preserved therefore before this act became effective on April 14, 2003 Northern Rescue had to develop its own Privacy policy. All personnel were required to take HIPPA training; learn how the policy worked and how to practice it as mandated by the Act.
We all remember the bubbly, kind and personable Ms. Brenda Hawkins. A member of our squad for many years, she lost her battle with a dreadful disease. But her memory lives on today. Little did we know the kindness of this outgoing and very radiant lady? She inspired a solitary woman to bequeath her entire estate to Northern Rescue. This turned out to be the Louise Boone Estate.
May, 1995, brought sadness once again to our squad. We experienced our first and only LODD, when Robert C. Lapp died while working a call that day.
At the 11/1999 squad meeting, history was made, with the election of the squad’s first female Chief ~ Ms Mary Yoder, who served for several years in the position.
July, 2001 brought changes in how providers were recognized. No longer could the use of SS #s be used for identification, so each and every provider received new Provider IDs.
That same year in February, the Auto Registration fees were increased by $8.00, through legislation, for each automobile a person owned. This would provide funds for the ailing EMS System within the state. This would form EMSOF, the Emergency Medical Services Operations Fund. Two years later, the fee was increased by $3.00 and now the fee is $11.00 tacked on your bi-annual registration fees.
In early 2001, no one will forget the controversy of the intended move to McHenry by consolidating the Friendsville and Accident Stations. This would be accomplished by the purchase of a building at the Intersection of Rts 219 and 42. Finally, at the May meeting, the closing of the Friendsville Station was reversed.
In order to recognize excellence in service, the squad established the Member of the Month program in early 2002, where a member from the station hosting the meeting would be recognized by their Assistant Chief. This went on for several years, and there’s even talk of restoring this program.
In the fall of 1974, Ms Thelma Emory became the office assistant for the Region I Office of MIEMSS. She retired on 12/31/2001, and was honored with a dinner in 4/2002 held at the Eastern Garrett VFRD, for her 27 years of faithful service to Region I and all its personnel.
Several years ago, the squad started hosting Block Parties for the three locations: Accident, Friendsville and Grantsville. One year, Bicycle Rodeo’s were sponsored to promote safety to the areas young people. Food and entertainment would follow and each one was very well attended.
During the start of the Memorial Day Weekend in 2003, the emergency services system within the region underwent a test, of the very skills they had trained for, when a violent crash occurred on I-68 that foggy Friday afternoon at about 1:15 p.m. At the end of the day there were a total of 80 vehicles involved with fatalities, and 60 patients had been transported. Every Fire/Rescue company in the area was dispatched on the call, with the uninjured passengers and disabled vehicles taken to the Finzel fire department’s parking lot.
A pilot program was introduced in Garrett County in April, 2004. E-MAIS training was undertaken, and at the time, providers were unsure if E-MAIS would ever pan out. However, everyone persevered and now, E-MAIS is a routine part of the call.
With the cooperation of the Rescue Squad, Accident and Deep Creek VFD’s, and Trooper 5, a Mock-Disaster Red Ribbon Week activity was coordinated at the Northern High School Football field. The Theme was: Make Wise Decisions. The entire student body witnessed some serious scenes and devastation that had occurred to some of their own students and instructors from the school. The student body was eerily quiet and some even cried at what they saw. Fire / EMS personnel attending that day, responded to the Mock Disaster and treated the patients as they would an actual accident, while a narrator spoke as the scene unfolded.
On August 22, 2004, the Accident Station moved to its present day location in McHenry, within the confines of the Wisp Mountain Resort. The change was exciting and welcomed. This would assure that the Lake area would have coverage and provide a quicker response.
At the thirty-second annual banquet, the Lapp family initiated the Lapp Memorial Award, in memory of their father, Robert “Bob” Lapp. Each year, a recipient is chosen by the Lapp family and that year, the first honoree was Edgar Yoder.
In early 2005, a group of individuals began a series of meetings, soon known as the SWOT meetings, led by Dr. Richard Alcorta, MIEMSS Medical Director. These bi-weekly meetings were to determine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to the EMS system as we knew it. Each emergency service company, and jurisdictional entities were invited to send one person and an alternate to these meetings. After nearly a year, the SWOT was completed, accepted, signed off by each company and presented to the Commissioners in Feb., 2006.
Garrett County’s Fire/Rescue/EMS and public safety personnel tested their skills once again on October 29, 2005 during a Mock Disaster Drill, held at the Wisp Resort. This involved a Trainer Airplane that was filled with 40 victims. After considerable training using the correct paperwork and new triage tags, personnel experienced what could be an actual scenario one day; a terrorists attempt to highjack an airplane.
Friendsville Station 3 outgrew its home at the Friendsville firehouse. So planning began to build a new station in town. In March of 2006, ground was broken for the construction of a new building. In December that year, Station 3 personnel hosted an afternoon Open House. The new facilities have been a welcome addition to the town, station 3 members and the community. This past July, funds were secured and closing was completed for a no interest loan through the MSFA’s VCAF; a blessing indeed.
As a comparison, in 1987, at the squad’s 15th Anniversary, it was noted that the cost of a fully equipped ambulance was $80 - $90 K; today, in 2007, that cost has soared to an astounding $200 – $210 K.
After 35 years, our objectives remain the same; provide emergency care, assist and transport within the capabilities and limits of this organization and its members, to any and all individuals who may be in need of such emergency service, without regard to race, creed, color, sex or national origin.
The Emergency Medical Health Care System is coined a System to save lives. And that it did locally. Remember Mr. Carl Stanton, who experienced a Cardiac Arrest and was successfully resuscitated. He attended our annual banquet that year as our guest and credited the crew standing by the Grantsville Days celebration that year for saving his life. He was given a citation from Don Newman that evening for being a most cooperative patient.
How about Mr. Randy Fink, a teen that was severely injured in 5/1988, from a Motorcycle accident. He was flown to Shock Trauma and later became a poster child for the R. Adams Crowley Trauma Center
And, a few years back, you all remember meeting Ms. Amber Orendorf, who suffered a descalping injury from a Lawn Mower. She too was flown to Shock Trauma and recovered beautifully. She is a very active young lady today.
There have been numerous other incidents that have had successful outcomes over the years. You have offered care, love, sympathy, warm smiles, and were often a familiar face in adversity, when folks experienced their own “personal emergencies”. You have made a difference in many lives and you are to be congratulated for your unselfish service to others over these past 35 years.
In April, 1973, Northern Rescue Squad had the distinction of being the first and only EMT – Volunteer Rescue Squad within the State of Maryland. Many more squads and ambulances have come into being, but Northern Rescue will always have the distinction of being the very first.
In closing, I’d like to read this poem, written and presented to the squad at the 1984 Annual banquet, and it still holds true today:
God Made Us a Family
God made us a family,
Of which we’re all proud to be part of.
We need one another, and we respect one another, and
Together, we share and we care.
Together we grow in knowledge.
Together we can conquer anything.
Together we can handle any situation, and
Together we can preserve life.
Daily we are confronted with many of life’s emotions,
Joy, as in the birth of a child,
Sadness, as in the death of a patient,
Love, as in the eyes of a mother, and
Fear, as in the face of danger.
All emotions, some of which we wonder how to deal.
Our jobs are many, and our work is hard.
But because we do share and we do care,
God made “us” a family.
Together, we’ll serve our communities, and only
Together, we’ll serve all mankind.