PINK MEDIC NICKNAME - After All is Said and Done - There is "HOPE"

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

On July 7, 2014, the day the new Pink PGFD Paramedic Unit was placed in-service, the Fire/EMS

Department announced a social media campaign to help select a nickname.  The response was over whelming.  Nickname suggestions poured in through Twitter, Facebook and Email.  There were 230 suggestions submitted with about 40 being eliminated for not meeting our professional standards.

The staff read many compelling and emotional stories behind nickname suggestions.  Many suggestions were based on a loved one’s name.  Names associated with someone currently suffering from breast cancer or had fought a brave and valiant battle but did not survive.  We read many hopeful stories about those that have survived and live to fight the battle for a cure.   We only wish we had as many pink units to name after every one of these people.  However, we think we have selected a nickname that everyone will agree is appropriate for our mission; awareness and a cure for cancer.

There was one nickname that was recommended more often than any other in our social media campaign.  The nickname fit our requirements of being one or two words and related to our efforts in raising awareness of breast cancer and other cancers as well.

In a survey of all nickname suggestions by a cross section of the Fire/EMS Department's career, civilian and volunteer membership one nickname was voted #1 by nearly 50% of the membership participating in the survey.

After reviewing the entire list of suggested nicknames and the resulting data, Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor declared the official nickname for the Pink Paramedic Unit stationed at the College Park Fire/EMS Station 812 is “HOPE.”

Chief Bashoor stated, “HOPE seems to encompass the mission of our cancer awareness efforts and finding a cure.  I feel the nickname is a perfect fit.”

The social media campaign proved to be very successful and the Department would like to thank everyone that cared enough to think of a name and joined in the competition.  Because there were a large number of people that submitted the nickname HOPE, we will award the official Pink PGFD work shirt to the person that submitted the name first.

The following nicknames were runner-ups to HOPE;

ROSE OR ROSIE

PINKAMEDIC

SURVIVOR

COURAGE