January 5th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Approximately 40 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to a reported cardiac arrest in the rural mountains of Western Allegany County Saturday evening, according to emergency services officials. 

 

“Just after 8 p.m. units from Allegany County Department of Emergency Services- Frostburg Station and Shaft Fire Department were alerted for a cardiac arrest at the intersection of Cabin Run Road and Oscars Farm Road,” Lt. Todd Bowman, public information officer for the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services said. “Our Joint Communications Center stayed on the line with the caller and got updated information on the location.”

 

The Joint Communications Center using the callers location were able to provide and send maps of the area to incident commanders scene, Bowman said. 

 

“Having our communications center provide this valuable information aided in the response to first responders in the field,” Bowman said. 

 

As fire and EMS units began arriving, they were directed down a farm road and into the woods, at the time this was only accessible on foot, according to Bowman. 

 

“Our firefighters and paramedics entered the woods with their gear and equipment on foot, guided by flashlights to the location of the patient,” Bowman continued. “It took approximately 35-40 minutes for crews to access the patient.” 

 

Additional resources were requested from Midland, Good Will, Frostburg, Potomac Barton, LaVale, ambulances from George’s Creek and Mt. Savage, along with the Allegany County Sheriffs Department, Frostburg Police and Maryland DNR Police. The Allegany County Department of Emergency Services Special Operations also responded. 

 

Aviation was requested for a hoist because of the remote, steep and wet terrain, but was not available. 

 

Maryland DNR Police is the investigating agency.