Dover firefighters recognized for life-saving actions
DOVER — Dover firefighters received special recognition Sunday, Sept. 17 at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord.
The 30th annual ceremony administrated by the New Hampshire Fire Academy recognized the firefighters on stage with family and friends watching from the packed auditorium.
EMS unit citation
An EMS unit citation was given to the Dover Fire Department for its response on Blackwater Road near the Dover and Rochester town lines to a head-on collision between a pick-up truck heading north, and two motorcycles traveling together, heading south. Serious life-threating injures were treated on scene by responding personnel, saving both the lives and limbs of multiple patients. Those receiving the award were Assistant Chief David Hanna, paramedics Brian Jacques, Stephen Thunstrom, and Kayla Reno, engineer Mike Ryan and firefighter Megan Dionne.
Fire service unit citation
A fire service unit citation was given for the Dover Fire Department's response to a head-on collision between a minivan and a dump truck on Gulf Road near Cocheco Country Club. Multiple patients were treated by crews on scene, saving the lives of both passengers in the minivan. Complicating factors involved the required extraction of both patients using hydraulic rescue tools, often referred to as the “jaws of life.” A further complication that day involved a communication outage that affected the entire northeast section of the county, forcing on-scene crews to find alternate means of notifying area hospitals.
Hanna stated, “Both of these highstress emergencies were successful due to a coordinated team approach by all personnel on scene. Each member played an important and crucial role saving the lives of patients. These types of calls clearly demonstrate the level of training and dedication to duty of our firefighters and EMTs. Dover Fire has an amazing workforce that all Dover citizens can be proud of.”