Anne Arundel County Fire Department Personnel Recognized at Maryland EMS Awards

Anne Arundel County Fire Department Personnel Recognized at Maryland EMS Awards

Three members of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department were recognized this week at a Maryland EMS Awards program sponsored by the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems. Two members, Dr. Roy Myers, and Division Chief Michael F.X. O’Connell were recognized for a lifetime of contribution and achievement to the citizens of Anne Arundel County and the State. Additionally, Firefighter/EMT Harvard Hohensee was recognized for actions he performed while off duty and as a participant in the Across the Bay 10K event.

MIEMSS Director's Award for Excellence in EMS

• Roy Myers, MD

Dr. Roy Myers, the Medical Director for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department (AACoFD), received the MIEMSS Director's Award for his vocal advocacy on behalf of EMS providers and the citizens of Anne Arundel County. He helped develop the paramedic program at Anne Arundel l Community College in 1981 and had been the Medical Director there ever since. He has actively taken part in the initial education, mentorship, and continuing education of AACoFD personnel who want to become paramedics, and has supported all providers by attending all ALS and RLS recertification classes for the AACoFD. Dr. Myers was also instrumental in the implementation of a wellness/fitness program for all career and volunteer members of the fire department. For the citizens of Anne Arundel County, Dr. Myers has taught free citizen CPR classes through the AACoFD. Dr. Myers has demonstrated passion and dedication for EMS in Anne Arundel County and Maryland for nearly 40 years, and many providers and citizens have benefitted from his leadership and generosity.

Outstanding EMS Program Award

• Queen Anne’s County Department of Emergency Services

Anne Arundel County Firefighter/EMT Harvard Hohensee was recognized with Queen Anne's County personnel for his actions while off duty.

A remarkable effort was coordinated by the Queen Anne's Department of Emergency Services (DES) to ensure continuous EMS presence to the annual Across the Bay 10K, which brought over 21,000 participants to travel on foot across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The November 10 event was staffed by Queen Anne's DES and neighboring EMS agencies from eight counties, totaling over 65 personnel present. This coordinated plan was put into action when an event participant appeared to suffer an illness or injury, collapsing on the bridge. Off-duty AACoFD Firefighter/EMT Harvard Hohensee was nearby and rolled the man onto his back, discovering he was not breathing and had no pulse, and initiated CPR. Paramedic Edward Dean and EMT Charles Layfield, also nearby, responded with an AED, defibrillated the individual and loaded him into their unit. Dispatcher Justin Parsons coordinated additional assistance from Paramedic Don Glampctroni, who provided patient care, and EMT Emma North, who volunteered to drive the unit. The patient was treated and discharged from Anne Arundel Medical Center. This effort was a truly exemplary model of outstanding coordinated prehospital care under exceptionally challenging circumstances.

EMS Provider of the Year Award

• Division Chief Michael F.X. O'Connell

Left to Right Dr. Jonathan Wendell, Deputy Chief Tim Mikules,
Division Chief O'Connell, Fire Chief Allan Graves and
Battalion Chief James Wilkison

Division Chief Michael F.X. O'Connell was instrumental in the birth and growth of a formal and modern EMS system in Maryland, seeing Anne Arundel County Fire Department (AACoFD) through its expansion from just 5 units in 1976 to 46 ALS and BLS units today. After becoming an EMT-A in 1972, and then one of the first cardiac rescue technicians in 1974, he shortly thereafter achieved the level of instructor and still teaches BLS and ALS programs at Anne Arundel Community College. Chief O'Connell has been a member of the Region III Emergency Medical Advisory Council since 1978, serving as the chairperson since 1999, and has served on the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council subcommittee for Regional Affairs since 1993. He was part of the development team for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute's EMS Officer I training program in 1996. And in 2006, Chief O'Connell led the AAFD contingent for the Maryland Medical Task Force to Jefferson Parrish, Louisiana, an area that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He has unselfishly dedicated his life to EMS, the Army National Guard, and to the citizens of Maryland.