Hello, Mechanicsville,
My Name is John Hicks. I am a Firefighter/Paramedic
in Los Angeles. I am also one of the
authors and the publisher for a book entitled "First
Responders Handbook of Humor."
It is directed towards law enforcement, firefighters
and emergency medical technicians that are America's
first responders. Being the best trained, and provided
with the latest in high tech equipment, they are the
elite in their professions; recognized around the
world as leaders in their fields. However, being the
best does come at a high cost. Along with the shining
reputations comes the dark side of the job; the long
hours away from home, the hectic training schedules,
and let's not forget the day to day operations of
dealing with the emergencies that most people are
running away from while they are running in. And while
most won't admit it, there is one danger though that
even they are not prepared to deal with--⬝Stress.

However, don't fear, for help is just a turn of the
page away. And, it comes in the shape of a book
written to address this particular problem! The First
Responders Handbook of Humor goes above and beyond
the call of duty providing the foundation for stress
relief. Not only was this book written by fellow first
responders, it was also written in an easy to read and
understand format, providing a valuable learning tool
to deal with stress, less any psychobabble or
legalese.

In this book, first reponders will be provided with
the necessary information to help balance out the
stress in your life. Plus, you also will get the extra
added bonus of enjoying the humorous stories and other
fun things provided by first responders across the
country.
If you can, please take the time to visit my website

www.QuietManPublishing.com .

I believe this could be a valuable tool for all
first reponders for reducing the stress in thier
lives. For any questions or bulk sales, please feel
free to contact me at 661-373-4886, and thank you for
taking the time to read this. Any help in spreading
the news would be appreciated,
Sincerely, John Hicks

Nice website , excellent and verry informativ !

best regards from Germany

Marcel

VFD Hermsdorf
http://www.ffw-hermsdorf1913.de

Congratulations Smoke On The Arrival Of Your Baby Girl ~ Leigha Elizabeth ~ On January 19th !

Dropping in to say hello to Leah and Katie. Were tubing down the river again and wanted to know if you can give us another ride?? Just kidding.

P.S. Can you bring Sara with you, we would like to meet her. Talk to yo soon.

First, I want to thank you for your help on December 23 with my parents house fire on Bosse Drive. We are all very grateful for all that you do. Secondly, I want to post on here that the siamese cat, Amanda, is still missing (just in case anyone reading this has found her). Thirdly, due to difficulties with insurance, it may be quite some time before they get any insurance money. There has already been an amazing outpouring of support from the community! THANK YOU. A fund has now been set up for them at Bank of America if anyone else out there can help. Checks can be sent to Langley Family Fire Fund @ Bank of America 28250 Three Notch Road. Mechanicsville, MD. 20659

We are looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend when we come down to cover your local!!! Hey Shea...you still owe me some Shrimp!!!

Keep up the good work people from down under, were all in the same boat no matter where you are.

Lake Albert Rural Fire Service
Wagga Wagga
New South Wales
Australia

Great Job, Ya'll have alot to be proud of. GREAT JOB>

Great site! I really enjoyed it. Our department covers about 400-500 people with about 20 members and 6 in service apparatus and 1 retired apparatus. Thanks for the opportunity to explore your site.

Congradulations to all the newly elected officers. Have a great year and stay safe! Keep up all the good work you do for our community.

Nice web site
just surfing and stumbled onto it
Thanks

your site is excellent please do visit our site also
Online" target="_blank">http://www.onlinehpicheck.com/">Online Hpi check

Great site! I am a firefighter here in Bristol, TN looks like you all have a very organized department. God be with each and everyone of you!

I wanted to say Thank you for all of your help and quick response to my accident on Dec 14th. (I flipped the Pewter Tahoe on 235....) I was VERY fortunate that I was as lucky as I was. Not a broken bone.... but a terrible headache in the morning! I am grateful to have had you all ready and willing to assist as you did and continue to do each and every day!

Thanks again!

Happy Holidays!

Renee Thompson

Hey folks I want to personally thank you for doing all that you could on the house fire 23 Dec. The owners are dear friends of mine, in fact I think of them as my second family. We've definitely shared tons of memories there in that home. ... But one thing is for sure the love and memories stay forever in our heart and will never be lost. Thanks again for doing all that you could do my dear second family. And thank god your efforts saved the property of their neighbors... God Bless you for all that you do and have done... From the Southern Iraqi desert...

Sincerely,
Avan Smith

Hello,
Happy Holidays to all. I am the aunt to Carol Nelson Craig
and Jerry Nelson of Mechanicsville. I have visited your great town
many times in the '70's and 80's. I attended a great field day and supper in 1981 with my sister Ginny Nelson and Gino. You folks are GOOD. Bless you all.

With respect,
Paula Doyle (Aunt Paula)

Firefighters and EMTs: THANK YOU!!!!!

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through station
All was quiet except for our snoring dalmation.
Our boots had been placed by the bunksides with care
In hopes that the shift change would finally be here.

The lights were turned down and the TV was off
The rigs had been washed and the floors had been mopped.
Firefighters and Medics lie nestled in bed
While visions of homelife danced through their heads.

When out of the darkness, arose ringing and light
The Klaxton brought tidings of something not right.
The Firefighters and Medics were dressed in an instant
Aboard their trucks and racing into the distance.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Reflected the lights in a hellish, red glow.
The sirens, they wailed while the Federal screamed
Moving too slowly, as if in a dream.

The wreckage was there and came slowly in sight
Lending fear, pain, and loss to our silent night.
Each of us thought of our own Wife, Daughter or Son
Each prayed in silence, "Let me save at least one."

We leaped to the task without further a thought
And for more than two hours we worked and we fought...
To free the two drivers who hadn't been thinking
their driving would suffer after a full night of drinking.

The smoke of the flares, and the stench of the blood
The screaming of metal as we rolled back the hood.
The cry of one driver, the whine of the Jaws
Putting fear aside, we never gave pause.

With one driver out, and the other pronounced dead
We focused our efforts on keeping our heads.
C-spine and backboard and IV in place
We loaded him up and we started the race.

The monitor showed a heart rate to slow
BP revealed a systolic too low.
Level of consciousness rapidly dying
Despite all of this...the Medics kept trying.

Atropine, Dopamine, Epi and more...
to keep our reason for being from opening death's door.
We fought and we prayed and tried all that was known
While trying to believe fault wasn't our own.

The sun, she was rising as we reached the ER
We'd given all that we know, and all that we are.
The Doctors pronounced with barely more than a glance.
And gone in a blink, was the patient's last chance.

The ride back to the station was quiet, and then....
Despite what we'd been through, the singing began.
At first it was one and then all followed suit
This effort together was merely the fruit...

Of a labor that however needlessly bared
Was one of a million we knew we had shared.
As we sang out the words of the song, "Silent Night"
We acknowledged to ourselves that we put up a good fight.

The punch of the clock, the start of a car
we all realized and loved who we are.
And on Christmas morning, as we all drive away...
We know we'll all try in a couple of days...

To give someone back their one chance to live
Now matter how hard or how much we must give.
So please, when you pray on this new Christmas morn
Add something for us, and for all that we've borne.

HEY

HELLO EVERYONE JUST WANT TO SAY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ON THE SITE AND ON THE FIRE GROUND. HOPE THAT EVERYONE STAYS SAFE OVER THE HOLIDAYS. I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. HOPE TO SEE YA'LL IN FEBRUARY.

I really like your web site. We are going to start ours and you have given us some good ideas. Keep up the good work

Just checking out the site. I have to say that this is the BEST that I have seen yet! From looking at the site, it is obvious that this department is Truly dedicated in what the profession is all about. Stay Safe and and keep up the good work.

FYI: December 8 was the day Santa came to Country Lakes on your fire engine. Thank you for the time and effort for the children, however, I think you should know that that was the evening of the Mechanicsville Elementary School Christmas Program for the kindergarten through second graders. That is the age that wishes to see Santa and they were all at the school. Maybe next year you could have someone check that program date out for you. Thank you and again the people in Mechanicsville thank the MVFD.

We would like to thank the members of Station 2 and CO 29 who were on the call yesterday, 12/14, in Laurel Grove. The person that was trapped is a family member of ours and we are grateful for your quick response as always. Keep up the good work, you guys are awesome!

Thanks again,
Magen Thompson, Jimmy and Riley Barnes

TO THE MEMBERS OF CO 2, THANKS FOR LETTING ME STAY AT
YOUR FIRE STATION LAST WEEKEND AND LETTING ME RIDE AS PART OF
THE CREW, MAYBE I WILL STOP BY AND VIST WHEN I HAVE SOME TIME OFF.
OUR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IS COMEING UP,I WILL TRY AND INVITE YOU.
TAKE CARE YOUR BROTHER IN FIREFIGHTING .

A special thanks to Chief 2, Scottie, Todd and all the crew for coming out to our home to check the CO level. We had CO detectors going off on two levels and you all put my mind at ease by giving us the all clear. Thanks again for coming out and for all you do for our community!

Thank you Santa for taking the time out to ride on top of the fire truck through our neighborhood tonight. We look forward to it each year!!!

This is a fantastic website. Thanks for putting your SOG's up in word format. I have used them as a reference to improve ours. Working at getting our website in shape. Yours is the best I've seen. Good reports for members and the public. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.

We would like to wish ALL of the Brothers and Sisters at the "Deuce" a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!!

Hope to see all of you soon!

Sam & Heather

Hey Ray Ray,

Come on man, stop eating like Pettit. You look like a bloated Hog...........

Excellent site. As we move toward starting our own department's site, we've been using your set up as a model. I think it's one of the best (if not the best) out there right now for department sites. Great work!

Diane and Family,

I want to offer my condolences on your loss. Paul was a good man and he will be missed. You are in my thoughts and prayers.