Smithsburg EMS responded to 70 calls in September

October 06, 2009

SMITHSBURG -- For the month of September, volunteers from Smithsburg Emergency Medical Services (SEMS) responded to more than 70 calls and attended several local events, according to James Ulrich, deputy chief of SEMS.

The volunteer department has responded to 859 calls in 2009 as of Oct.1. The September calls included 14 responses in Smithsburg town limits, six responses to the Leitersburg area, and 10 to the Mount Aetna area. Another four calls were to the Cascade and Pen Mar area.

There were 11 mutual aid calls to Frederick County, Md., and three to Franklin County, Pa.

Eight calls were for abdominal pain, but some other call types included vehicle/pedestrian accidents (seven calls), structure fires (one call), and injured persons (14 total calls from various categories including falls and assaults).

Volunteers treated and transported 43 patients to area hospitals.

The top five volunteer responders for September were Brian House, Shaun McDonough, Melvin Smith, James Ulrich and Thomas Benjamin.

In addition to responding to 911 calls, SEMS volunteers participated in several local functions including the Remembrance in the Park at City Park on Sept. 1; a flag pole dedication at the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association office on Sept.11; the 9/11 parade in Boonsboro; and Smithsburg High School varsity football games when volunteers have been available and were not committed on emergency calls.

Cooler temperatures mean many of us will be preparing our homes and yards for fall and winter. Here are a few helpful tips:

o Stay warm and stay hydrated when working for extended periods

o Use caution when working on ladders and when cleaning gutters

o Fallen leaves cover holes and other tripping hazards

o If working alone, make sure someone checks up on you in the event of an accidental fall or injury

o Don't forget about hunting safety. Hunt with a buddy or make sure someone knows where you will be and when you should be returning. Also, emergency personnel may have difficulty finding a tree stand that is some distance from the residence. Obtain GPS coordinates of your tree stand or other location and keep them with you. The GPS coordinates should be provided to 911 dispatchers or to our EMS crew so that we can locate you in the event of an emergency.

For more information call Smithsburg Emergency Medical Services at 301-824-3314.

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