Chuck Ryan Update, Blood Drive and Fund Raising Information

There are two updates from Washington Hospital Center this morning.  The first was provided by PGFD Acting Fire Captain Christian Wargo on behalf of the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation:

Mike Deavers from Rescue 3 was released from the Burn Center Sunday. He is doing well, still with dressings on his arms and follows up with the burn doctors in outpatient clinic next week.


Lt. Robert Alverado “Cadillac” Truck 13 was released yesterday (4/12/11). He also remains in dressings on his arms and hands but is expected to be back on the Guinness very shortly.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ramon Hounshell Rescue 3 had surgery on his arms for skin grafts to help heal his arm wounds. His arms will be re-evaluated by the burns surgeons Thursday to determine how his burns are healing.

Firefighter Charles Ryan Rescue 3 is still in the Burn Center ICU on a ventilator and received skin grafts to his hands Tuesday. He will return to surgery Friday for skin grafts to his legs. For the past few days Firefighter Ryan has continued to show progress with rehab, walking and exercising his arms.

The injured firefighters, their families, Local 36, and the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Please continue to keep these firefighters and their families in your thoughts and prayers. Please continue to check our website for updates. http://www.dcffburnfoundation.org


The second update comes from the President of the Riverale Volunteer Fire Department where Chuck Ryan serves as the Volunteer Fire Chief.  Steve Lamphier also includes information about an upcoming fundraiser.
As reported on Tuesday, Chuck underwent several hours of surgery on Monday. He is expected to go through additional surgery on Friday. I understand that the surgeries are for skin grafts. Chuck is on the respirator, but he is being weaned off of it. And, he still can not have any visitors.


The other DCFD firefighters are improving, and in fact, two have been released to go home. We all hope that Chuck, and the other firefighter will be released as soon as possible.

The officers and members of the Riverdale Fire Department greatly appreciate the Town of Riverdale Park's outreach. The Town will have a community card at today's Farmer's Market in the Riverdale Town Center starting at 3 PM. If you can't make it today, the card will be at town hall through next Tuesday, please come by and ask the staff to let you sign it.

The Town is also organizing a blood drive. From Mayor Archer: "on Wednesday the 20th anyone interested in going to the burn center and donating blood please join me at town hall and we will caravan down together. We will depart from town hall at 12:30. We will take the community get well card at the same time."


And finally, the Riverdale Fire Department is holding a fundraiser at Franklin's on Tuesday, April 19. Franklin's will donate 20% of your purchase, but you must turn in your itemized receipts to the host and ask that their receipt be added to the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser. The fundraiser lasts all day and includes dining, carryout and general store purchases. Franklins is located at 5121 Baltimore Ave Hyattsville MD. I want to make it clear that this fundraiser was organized prior to the occurrence of Chucks' injury. But, the department will consider the best use of the proceeds to assist Chuck and/or the burn center.


As always, thank you for your thoughts and support.

Steve Lamphier

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