Teenager Meets Rescuers

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

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

To wrap up National EMS Week events the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department held an event that allowed a 17-year-old male meet the rescuers that saved his life.

The event was held on Friday, May 20, at the Cranford-Graves Fire Services Building in Landover Hills.  Members of the media were invited to attend and document and report on the event.

Speakers included Fire Chief Marc Bashoor, Paramedic Battalion Chief Roland Berg, Tairik Johnson and his mother, Kenya.

Several representative of the County Public Schools were on hand to support Gwynn Park Athletic Director Linda Henson-Hobb who quickly an retrieved an AED and brought it to the victim.

On the afternoon of Thursday, March 31, 2016,  Fire/EMS units from the Brandywine station responded for a medical emergency at Gwynn Park High School, where a 17-year-old male had suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a basketball practice.  The victim’s father, Jermaine Johnson, was the first to reach Tairik and initiated CPR, when an off-duty firefighter from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, Fire Fighter/Medic Paul Beasley, stepped in to assist.  He continued with CPR until the school’s athletic director, Linda Henson-Hobb, arrived with an AED, which the firefighter used to adminiter a shock.  On arrival,  personnel rapidly assessed the patient and provided advanced life support intervention.  The young male was quickly transported to Children’s Medical Center, where he received aggressive medical treatment.  He was discharged after some time in the hospital and has since made a full recovery.  

 A “save” is always the ultimate goal of the Fire/EMS Department.  In too many instances, unfortunately, the outcome is tragic.  However, the cohesive efforts of everyone involved and the rapid prehospital care provided saved the teenager’s life.

Fire Chief Bashoor presented a Meritorious Service coin to Tarik for being a cooperative native, Fire Chiefs Awards to Jermaine Johnson, Fire Fighter/Medic Beasley and Hobb.

Emergency Service Awards were presented to the following PGFD personnel.

Medic 840 (Brandywine)

Fire Fighter/Medic Nicole Duckett

Fire Fighter/Medic Matthew Garbow

Engine crew from Brandywine Station

Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant Ryan Stevens

Fire Fighter James Makle

Fire Fighter Joshua Bynum

Fire Fighter/Medic Matt Garbow being interviewed by media.

Athletic Director, Linda Henson-Hobb (middle holding AED) with Kenya and Tairik Johnson.

L to R-Fire Fighter James Makle, Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant Ryan Stevens, Fire Fighter/Medic Matt Garbow, Kenya Johnson, Linda Henson-Hobb and Tairik Johnson. 

NBC 4 story, click here.