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Ridge VRS provides EMS stand-by at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration
By Lieutenant Scot Best
January 21, 2009
On January 20, 2009 at 0230, members from the Ridge VRS headed to the DC Fire Department Training Academy in A497 to report for duty as part of the Medical Strike Team for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. Following a brief training meeting, we were issued our credentials and assigned to stage at Engine 23/Ambo 23 on 21st and G St at George Washington University (along the parade route). Throughout the day, A497 responded to multiple calls including exposures (hypothermia), falls, asthma/trouble breathing, and arm/chest pain. Temperatures hovered in the 20's with winds gusting 10-15 mph all day. Despite being on the opposite side of town from the Capital, we still had to fight millions of people just to make our way through the streets. It was a zoo out there! The news media estimated the crowds topped 2 million. We were relieved of duty by DCFD around 2200 and back home by 2330.
The Ridge VRS was honored to be a part of this historic event.
Units:
A497 (Chief George Gatton, LT Scot Best, EMT-B/IV Tech Matt Durkin, EMT-B/IV Tech Dawn Moore, Driver Joe Greer)
Mutual Aid:
Lexington Park VRS, Seventh District VRS (Avenue), DCFD, Ambos from all over MD, VA, and beyond
A497 at the Lincoln Memorial
A497 at Engine 23 - Staging
RVRS crews at Engine 23 with crews from Lexington Park VRS
Trying to drive through the sea of people
Military HazMat Emergency Response Team at Enigine 23... at least that's who they told us they were.
On the scene at the Lincoln Memorial
We had to pass security check-points just to get to the patients.
The crowd on the Mall... Lincoln Memorial end.
A view down the Reflecting Pool
LT Best at the Lincoln Memorial (I couldn't resist)
Leaving the scene
Joe hangin' with the FBI and US Capitol Park Police (I asked, but they wouldn't give us those cool ear and cuff devices)
OFFICIAL DCFD 2009 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL BADGE
This is as close as we got to the Inauguration events (yes... that's a picture of the TV)
