Patch Rides Along With Prince George's County EMS

Every wondered about the day-to-day work life of an emergency services worker in Prince George's County? 

Now is your chance to find out. In honor of EMS week, the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department has invited members of the press to join them on a ride along. I'll be joining the paramedic unit 830, located at the Landover Hills Station, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Thursday. 

In 2012, the combined PGFD/EMS department received 135,383 calls for service, with nearly 80 percent of those calls requiring medical services, according to PGPD spokesperson Mark Brady, sometimes providing the pre-hospital services that save lives. 

The Landover Hills team, who I'm joining Thursday, was the busiest paramedic team in the county in 2012, responding to more than 4,000 calls for service. It is also one of the 22 units in the county that has the capacity to provide advanced life support services. 

Earlier this year, two of the  fire fighter/medics from unit 830, John A. Bowman and Kacie E. Pressley, were recognized for their exemplary actions that resulted in saving the life of a baby during a complicated birth.

They unit was dispatched to a home in Cheverly for a woman in labor. Upon arrival, paramedics discovered the patient had a prolapsed cord, a condition that can result in infant death. Thanks to the quick and knowledgeable responses of Bowman and Pressley, the child survived. Read more about the incident here. 

So, I think it's safe to say I'll be hanging out with some real heroes today. Want to join us? Follow @RiverdalePatch on Twitter for updates throughout the day.