Long Serving Medical Director Retires

Dr. Roy A. Myers, the Anne Arundel County Fire
Department's Medical  Director for the last 36 year,
retires effective May 1st.

Dr. Roy A. Myers, who has served as the medical director of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department for the last 36 years, retires effective May 1st. As the medical director, he was responsible for overseeing emergency medical technician and paramedic training, assessing firefighters' medical performance in the field and implementing new techniques and equipment used by the fire department. He has also served as the medical director of the Anne Arundel County Police. 

For the first 35 years as the fire department medical director, Dr. Myers was an unpaid volunteer. It has only been within the last year that the county has started to compensate the medical director, driven mostly by the need to find a replacement for Dr. Myers, who has announced his retirement as medical director effective May 1st. A survey completed in 2013 showed that neighboring jurisdictions paid their medical directors between $97,500 and $145,000 per year. It is reasonable to estimate that Dr. Myers has saved the county more than $3,000,000 over the 35 years that he served in a volunteer capacity. 

Dr. Myers and his wife Gillian

Dr. Myers has many accomplishments which have improved the fire department's ability to serve the citizens of Anne Arundel County and also to act as a model for other agencies both statewide and nationwide. When Dr. Myers became the medical director in 1980, the highest level of medical provider in the county fire department was Cardiac Rescue Technician (CRT). This certification level provided advanced skills and medications for providers to give more critical care to victims of heart attacks and other medical emergencies. Under Dr. Myers leadership as medical director, county Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel advanced to the next level, becoming paramedics, which increased the skills they could perform and medications they were able to administer and significantly increased their training in other medical and trauma emergencies. These new paramedics were trained at the Anne Arundel Community College, where Dr. Myers also became the medical director of their paramedic training program. 

Anne Arundel County Executive Steven R. Schuh presents
Dr. Myers with an Executive citation.

In addition to moving the fire department EMS providers to the paramedic level, Dr. Myers has continued to bring advanced skills to paramedics and better care to the citizens. Examples include: 

• 12 Lead EKG Program- In the mid-1990's, Anne Arundel County was among the first in the state to begin using 12 Lead EKG cardiac monitors. This skill allowed paramedics to recognize more quickly when a patient was experiencing a heart attack and treat them more appropriately while also notifying the receiving hospital.

• Rapid Sequence Intubation Program- This program which was started in the early 2000s gave selected paramedics the ability to use advanced airway procedures and medications to treat the most seriously sick and injured patients encountered. Prior to its implementation in Anne Arundel County, the only other providers in the state providing that level of care were paramedics working on Maryland State Police helicopters

Fire Chief Allan Graves presents Dr. Myers with
a 50th Anniversary book and badge set.

• High-Performance CPR- This change in how cardiac arrests are managed in Anne Arundel County was implemented in 2010 and has dramatically improved the survival rates from cardiac arrest in the county from approximately 7% to more than 30%.

• Intranasal Narcan use by EMT-Bs and AAPD- The most recent improvement led by Dr. Myers is the use ofNarcan by fire department EMT-Basics and Anne Arundel County Police Officers to reverse the effects of opiate overdoses, including Heroin. Although the epidemic of Heroin overdoses has only started to gain attention in the media, the problem was identified by Dr. Myers long before. ln late 2013, Dr. Myers received approval from the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) for EMT-Bs to administer Narcan starting in January of 2014. This was followed quickly by giving the same ability to AAPD officers in March of the same year. In addition to saving lives, these programs have served as both state and national models, especially within law enforcement organizations.

Under the medical leadership of Dr. Myers, the EMS services provided by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department have continued to advance to meet the needs of the community we serve. Most of his work has been done behind the scenes and his contributions haven't always obvious to those who benefit from them. A luncheon was recently held recognizing Dr. Myers contributions to Anne Arundel County.

The State Medical Director, Dr. Richard Alcorta and Dr. Kevin Seaman,
Executive Director of the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical
Services Systems make a presentation to Dr. Myers. 

Dr. Myers addresses the group gathered for his luncheon. In the background is a
picture from his time as a surgeon and Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at Shock
Trauma in Baltimore.

Deputy Chief Timothy Mikules and Battalion Chief Jim Wilkison
make a presentation to Dr. Myers.

Dr. Myers and County Executive Schuh.

Jim Brown, MIEMSS Public Information Officer, and Dr. Myers.
Many of the pictures are courtesy of Jim and MIEMSS.

Daily Media Briefing April 27, 2016

Daily Media Briefing

 April 27, 2016

(Millersville, MD) For the 24 hour period beginning at midnight on Tuesday, April 26^th, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to 242 incidents (daily average is 220).

Incidents of Media Interest Since Midnight

Building Fire                                                  Glen Burnie

A Glen Burnie restaurant has sustained approximately $30,000 in damages following a fire early this morning. Around 2:20 a.m. firefighters responded to a reported building fire at the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, located at 1810 Crain Highway South. First arriving firefighters found two dumpsters next to the building, fully involved in fire. The fire was quickly extinguished. However, the fire had extended to the roof and void spaces in the masonry wall of the building. There were no injuries and the fire is currently under investigation by members of the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit.

Incidents of Media Interest Tuesday, April 19^th:

There were no incidents of media interest.

Items of Note/Updates:

Davidsonville Dwelling Fire

A fire in a Davidsonville home Monday night is under investigation. Just after 10:20 p.m. firefighters responded to a reported house fire in the 1000 block of Ashe Drive. First arriving firefighters found a two-story single family dwelling with the attached garage fully involved in fire. A second alarm was requested however firefighters were able to bring the fire under control in just over 20 minutes, containing the fire to the garage with minimal smoke and water damage to the living area of the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and an estimated dollar loss is not currently available. There were no injuries.

Update

Investigators have determined that the fire originated in an auto stored in the garage. However, the cause remains under investigation. Two adults and four children were displaced as a result of the fire, which did an estimated $180,000 damage.

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Daily Media Briefing April 26, 2016

Daily Media Briefing

 April 26, 2016

(Millersville, MD) For the 24 hour period beginning at midnight on Monday, April 25^th, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to 251 incidents (daily average is 220).

Incidents Since Midnight

Fatal Pedestrian Struck                                Crofton

One person was killed after being struck by a car early this morning on Route 3 in Crofton. Just after 5:45 a.m. firefighters responded to the area of Rt. 3 South near Capitol Raceway Road for a reported pedestrian struck by an auto. An adult male patient was declared deceased on the scene.

Incidents of Media Interest Monday, April 25^th:

Dwelling Fire                                                 Davidsonville

A fire in a Davidsonville home Monday night is under investigation. Just after 10:20 p.m. firefighters responded to a reported house fire in the 1000 block of Ashe Drive. First arriving firefighters found a two-story single family dwelling with the attached garage fully involved in fire. A second alarm was requested however firefighters were able to bring the fire under control in just over 20 minutes, containing the fire to the garage with minimal smoke and water damage to the living area of the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and an estimated dollar loss is not currently available. There were no injuries.

(Photos are courtesy of Mike Hugg Media)

Anne Arundel County Fire Department Graduates 54th Recruit Class

Anne Arundel County Fire Department Graduates 54^th Recruit Class

Millersville, Maryland…. Anne Arundel County Executive Steven R. Schuh and Fire Chief Allan C. Graves proudly announce the graduation of Fire Department Recruit Class 54.

The 39 members of Recruit Class 54, graduated Friday night in a ceremony at the Chesapeake Arts Center.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department members of Recruit Class 54 are as follows:

Anderson, Derrick W		Glen Burnie	MD
Arnold, Dayron M		Owings Mills	MD
Baer Sr, Stephen		Denton	MD
Bruce, Kenneth M		Baltimore	MD
Clark, Jason E		Bowie	MD
Cooper, D'Angelo R		Washington	DC
Copeland, Michael E		Pocomoke City	MD
Crane, Taylor J		Pasadena	MD
Darr, Eric G		Monroeville	PA
Diaz, Daniel L		Camden	DE
Erdman, Michael S		Northumberland	PA
Ferragamo, Gabriel X		Baltimore	MD
Gannon, Johnathan M		Silver Spring	MD
Heim Jr, Robert L		Stevensville	MD
Holt Jr, Gerald M		Baltimore	MD
Johns, Clayton T		Pasadena	MD
Jones, Matthew R		Berlin	MD
Kelly, Daniel R		Hyattsville	MD
Lewis, Nicholas A		Cambridge	MD
Liberto, Wesley T		Dover	DE
Malinofsky, Adam M		Glen Burnie	MD
Miller, Derek M		Denver	PA
Moore, Jason H		Pasadena	MD
Moriarty, Michael R		Hartly	DE
Noll, Shane A		Dallastown	PA
O'Bryan, Cassidy S		Frederick	MD
O'Donnell, Brandon L		Shippensburg	PA
O'Neil, Timothy M		Edgewater	MD
Ranson Jr, Robert L		Wallingford	PA
Remines, Brian L		Havre de Grace	MD
Saurusaitis, Vincent J		Lineboro	MD
Seitz, Richard A		Millersville	MD
Shiflet IV, Robert H		Centreville	MD
Shumberger, Zachary A		Dillsburg	PA
Smith, Kyle D		Hampstead	MD
Tabler, Joshua M		New Market	MD
Vernetti, Brian S		Baltimore	MD
Walker, Blake A		Seven Valleys	PA
Williams, Derrick L		Bel Air	MD

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Daily Media Briefing April 25, 2016

Daily Media Briefing

April 25, 2016

(Millersville, MD) For the 72 hour period beginning at midnight on Friday, April 22^nd through Sunday, April 24^th, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to 656 incidents.

Incidents of Media Interest Sunday, April 24^th:

The department responded to 215 incidents (daily average is 220).

Motor Vehicle Collision                                Davidsonville

The operator of a motorcycle was critically injured in a motor vehicle accident Sunday afternoon in Odenton. A few minutes after 5:00 p.m. firefighters responded to the area of Piney Orchard Parkway and Odenton Road for a reported auto accident involving a motorcycle. Arriving firefighters found a single vehicle accident in which a motorcycle struck a curb, ejecting the operator. Paramedics transported a 26-year-old male to Shock Trauma with critical, possibly life-threatening injuries.

Incidents of Media Interest Saturday, April 23^rd:

The department responded to 212 incidents.

Motor Vehicle Collision                                Severn

One person has been severely injured in an auto accident on Route 100 Saturday evening. Just after 8:00 p.m. firefighters responded to an auto accident in the area of Eastbound Route 100 and Telegraph Road. Arriving firefighters located a single vehicle accident with a pickup truck on its side and the driver trapped. Firefighters extricated the driver and lone occupant, a 35-year-old male, in about 20 minutes. He was transported by paramedics to Shock Trauma with serious but not believed life-threatening injuries.

Motor Vehicle Collision                                Pasadena

The operator of a motorcycle was seriously injured in an auto accident Saturday evening in Pasadena. Around 6:50 p.m. firefighters responded to the 100 block of 10^th Street for an auto accident. Firefighters located a single vehicle accident in which the operator of a motorcycle was thrown from his bike. The 30-year-old male patient was transported by paramedics to Shock Trauma with serious but not believed life-threatening injuries.

Injured Person                                              Davidsonville

A child was critically injured Saturday afternoon after being struck by a piece of playground equipment in Davidsonville. Just after 6:00 p.m. firefighters responded to an injured person in the 3300 block of Blackberry Lane. Firefighters arrived to find a 5-year-old female patient who had been struck in the head by an approximately 4 inch by 6 inches by 10-foot beam from a piece of playground equipment. Paramedics requested a Maryland State Police helicopter which landed on a property on Riva Road. The patient was transported by helicopter to the John Hopkins Children’s Center with critical, possibly life-threatening injuries.

Motor Vehicle Collision                                Lothian

One person was seriously injured in an auto accident early Saturday morning in Lothian. Around 2:50 a.m. firefighters responded to a reported auto accident in the area of Greenock Road and Route 4. Arriving firefighters located a single vehicle accident with an extended cab pickup truck on its roof. The driver and lone occupant, a 27-year-old male, was transported by paramedics to the Trauma Center at Prince George’s Hospital with serious but not believed life-threatening injuries.

Incidents of Media Interest Friday, April 22^nd:

The department responded to 229 incidents.

Injured Person                                                 Severn

A construction worker was seriously injured in a long fall Friday morning in Severn. Just after 7:30 a.m. firefighters responded to a home under construction on Canyon Oak Drive for a worker injured in a fall. Firefighters located a 34-year-old male patient who was doing woodwork in a home under construction when he fell 15-20 feet in the foyer. The patient was transported by paramedics to Shock Trauma with injuries that were serious but not believed life-threatening.

Daily Media Briefing April 20, 2016

(Millersville, MD) For the 24 hour period beginning at midnight on Tuesday, April 12^th, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to 246 incidents (daily average is 220).

Incidents of Media Interest Tuesday, April 19^th:

Motor Vehicle Collision                                Pasadena

One person was transported to Shock Trauma following an auto accident Tuesday evening in Pasadena. Around 8:45 p.m. firefighters responded to the 300 block of Mountain Road for a reported auto accident. Arriving firefighters located a two vehicle accident in which a scooter was struck from behind by an auto. The operator of the scooter, a 58-year old male, was transported by paramedics to Shock Trauma with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening. The driver of the auto was evaluated by paramedics on the scene but did not require hospital transport. A passenger in the auto was not injured.

Items of Note/Updates:

None

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Department Daily Media Briefing April 18, 2016

Anne Arundel County Fire Department Daily Media Briefing

April 18, 2016

(Millersville, MD) For the 72 hour period beginning at midnight on Friday, April 15^th through Sunday, April 17^th, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to 670 incidents.

Incidents Since Midnight

Dwelling Fire                                                 Annapolis

Two people have been displaced following a dwelling fire in Annapolis this morning. Around 1:10 a.m. firefighters from Anne Arundel County, Annapolis City, and the Naval Academy responded to the 2600 block of Ogleton Road for a reported deck on fire. The first arriving units reported fire from the back of a one story occupied dwelling. A fire on the exterior of the home was quickly knocked down in less than 10 minutes. Members of the Fire and Explosives Investigation have determined that the cause of the fire was accidental- the result of discarded oily rags associated with finishing the deck earlier in the day. The fire extended to the inside of the dwelling and caused an estimated $30,000 damage to the structure and contents. There were no injuries. Two adults were displaced from the home.

Incidents of Media Interest Sunday, April 17th:

The department responded to 207 incidents (daily average is 220).

Motor Vehicle Collision                                Davidsonville

The operator of a motorcycle has been severely injured in a single vehicle accident Sunday afternoon in Davidsonville. Just after 6:45 p.m. firefighters responded to the area of Patuxent River Road and Queen Anne Bridge Road for a reported auto accident involving a motorcycle. Arriving firefighters found a motorcycle which had left the roadway and ended up in a ditch. A Maryland State Police helicopter was requested and landed at Davidsonville Elementary School. Paramedics transported the 32-year-old male patient to the landing site, and he was flown to Shock Trauma with serious but not believed life-threatening injuries.

Garage Fire                                                   Edgewater

A detached garage was destroyed by fire Friday afternoon in Edgewater. Around 4:35 p.m. firefighters from Anne Arundel County and Annapolis City responded to a reported garage on fire in the unit block of Austin Drive. First arriving firefighters found a four-car, two-story, detached garage fully involved in fire with the fire and radiant heat threatening a nearby two-story, single family dwelling. The fire in the garage also involved two 250 gallon propane tanks which vented and fed the fire during the incident. The fire in the garage and an associated brush fire was controlled in about 40 minutes. Crews from the Hazardous Materials Team responded to the scene to assist with securing the tanks and monitoring the area and nearby residences for propane. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and an estimated dollar loss has not been established. There were no injuries.

Incidents of Media Interest Saturday, April 16th:

The department responded to 236 incidents.

Motor Vehicle Collision                                Pasadena

One person was critically injured in an auto accident Saturday afternoon in Pasadena.

Around 1:25 p.m. firefighters responded to the area of North Shore Road and Eagle Hill Road for an auto accident. Arriving firefighters found a single vehicle collision versus a tree. A Maryland State Police helicopter was requested for the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle. The male patient, estimated to be in his 70s, was treated by paramedics and transported to the landing site at the Lake Shore Elementary School. He was transported by helicopter to Shock Trauma with critical, possibly life-threatening injuries.

Helicopter Crash                                           Linthicum

Three people were injured in a helicopter crash on Saturday in Linthicum. Around 12:50 p.m. firefighters from Anne Arundel County and BWI Thurgood Marshal Airport responded to a reported helicopter down in the area of Aviation Boulevard and Amtrak Way. The downed aircraft was located in a wooded area between the Amtrak Station and Corporate Center Drive. Firefighters assisted with the treatment and transport of the three injured occupants of the helicopter, extinguishment of an approximately five-acre brush fire at the crash site and securing the scene for investigating authorities. The three occupants of the helicopter were all transported to Baltimore Washington Medical Center with minor injuries. The last Anne Arundel County units left the scene around 7:30 p.m.

Incidents of Media Interest Friday, April 15th:

The department responded to 227 incidents. There were no incidents of media interest.

Cancellation of Press Conference Announcing BGE Grant to NFFF

Anne Arundel County Fire Department

8501 Veterans Highway Millersville, MD 21108

Phone (410) 222-8200   Fax (410) 987-2904

County Executive Steven R. Schuh

Fire Chief Allan C. Graves

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release:  April 16, 2016

Contact:   Captain Russ Davies

                410-222-8305 (Office)

                410-222-8746 (PIO Line)

Cancellation of Press Conference Announcing

BGE Grant to NFFF to Provide Smoke Alarms to

 Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Fire Departments

(Millersville, MD) – Due to the tragic incident experienced by the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Friday night, the press conference scheduled for Tuesday morning to announce the BGE Grant to the National Fallen Firefighters for smoke alarms has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled for a later date.

Please continue to keep our counterparts in Prince George’s County in your thoughts as they support the family and grieve the loss of Firefighter/Medic John Ulmschneider while also supporting the family and pray for the recovery of Morningside Volunteer Firefighter Kevin Swain.

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