Vehicle Accident Involving a Structure

January 22, 2008

Around lunchtime today, Company 6 along with Ambulances from Company 1 (Medic 69 already on a detail) were called to the 200 block of Garden City Drive for a report of a vehicle into a single residential home with injuries. Rescue 6 arrived on scene to find a single SUV up against a house with everyone out of the vehicle. During a quick size up, it was determined that there were no injuries and once Amb 18 and 19 arrived, they took care of the patient refusals. Rescue 6 handled hazards and determined no major structural damage occurred. All units cleared a short time later.

Missing Person : Search Detail

January 21, 2008

Shortly after 4 AM on an extremely cold night, Company 6 was alerted to the 700 block of Cottonwood Drive to assist Monroeville Police organize a search detail for a missing elderly male. According to family members, the elderly male (whom suffers from Alzheimer) wondered from his home sometime between midnight and 3 AM. C-61 (Deputy Chief Ramsey) arrived shortly after dispatch and assumed command. With temperatures near zero and a large area to search, companies 5, 1, and 4 along with Command 32 were called to the scene provide additional manpower to assist with searching.

Crews fanned out across the neighborhood with thermal imaging cameras while awaiting the arrival of the Pennsylvania State Police helicopter (Trooper 5). Shortly after the search began, command summoned Murrysville Medic One (Support 610) to the scene to assist with rehab utilizing their large area warming tent. Command also summoned representatives from Western PA Search and Rescue along with search dogs from Baldwin EMS (Squad 517) and Medical Rescue Team South (Station 780). In addition to emergency personnel, the Monroeville Municipal Authority sent all available on duty crews to assist with the search.

After a cold and exhausting search with the helicopter and crews on foot in the streets, backyards, and nearby woods, crews located the lost male shortly after 7 AM huddled near a home on an adjoining street. Medic 69 was summoned for patient care and found the male to be suffering from exposure and minor injuries involving a fall. The patient was transported to West Penn Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville where he is expected to make a full recovery.

Once the male was on the way to the hospital, command wrapped up operations and all units returned in service shortly after 8 AM. The members and officers of Company 6 would like to thank all those involved with this search leading it to a happy ending. Just another fine example of the entire Monroeville Fire Department along with neighbors coming together as a team to achieve a common goal.

Annual Holiday Celebration

January 19, 2008

Tonight, Company 6 celebrated our annual Christmas party (a little delayed this year) with a wonderful dinner and awards ceremony. After running 317 Fire related calls and 332 Medical calls for a combined total of 649 runs, the members took a well deserved break for one evening. Members, family, and friends enjoyed a night of delicious food and drink along with great music and entertainment. Congratulations to all our members for the accomplishments of 2007 and look forward to a great 2008!

New Heart Monitor In Service

January 17, 2008

Company 6 along with the other Monroeville EMS stations took delivery of our new Phillips HeartSmart MRx Monitor/Defibrillator during a ceremony Tuesday evening. These new monitors were provided to us through the generosity of our local hospital West Penn Allegheny - Forbes Regional Campus. Forbes Regional purchased 28 new monitors for all EMS agencies that maintain their medical command via Forbes Regional Prehospital Services to increase the chance of survival during a cardiac emergency. "When it comes to treating a heart attack, time saved is heart muscle saved,” said Adrian D’Amico, M.D., chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Forbes Regional Campus.

This new monitor allows crews to take a more advanced "picture" of what electrical activity is occurring with the cardiac muscles and combined with the ability to transmit this information to the emergency department, doctors can prepare for the patients arrival much faster than before potentially saving heart muscle from dying. In fact, within 24 hours of receiving this new tool, it was used to treat a patient in cardiac arrest.

The members and officers of Company 6 greatly appreciate this gesture and thank all those involved in this process from West Penn Allegheny - Forbes Regional Campus including Tom Moser, Dr. Adrian D'Amico, Dr. Paul Beck, and Gary Harvat. Thanks for not only helping us receive this new monitor but for helping improve the chances for our citizens to survive a cardiac emergency!

Officer Appointments

January 14, 2008

Congratulations to those members appointed to be officers for the upcoming year. Good Luck to all and thanks for serving!

January 7 , 2008

It is with deep regret and sorrow to announce that while responding to an automatic fire alarm, Firefighter Harvey Jordan of Penn Hills Vol. Fire Department #1 (Company 221) suffered a fatal heart attack and succumbed to his ailment a short time later. The officers and members of Monroeville Fire Dept #6 extend our deepest condolences to both Harvey Jordan's family and the members of Penn Hills Vol. Fire Departments.