JUN - Bath Iron Works

Help! Call 2222 *
Members of BIW’s Fire and Emergency crews are shown l to r: Dave Witas, Tim Lee, Don
Fournier, Dale Prior, Bob McNally, Owen Cunningham, Jeremy Best, Larry Call, Dick Jarrett, Norm
Edwards, Marty Maxwell and Jeff Rumney.
On a Friday in late May, the BIW
Emergency crew was called to assist
a DDG 108 sailor who became ill
during an onboard training session. An
ambulance was quickly dispatched with
Larry Call, Richard Jarrett, Dale Prior and
Dan Sutton (all 2602) providing assistance.
Dan said, “The sailor experienced a medical
problem but chose to walk off the ship. We
transported her to the hospital and it turned
out to be a routine call.”
What was out of the ordinary is that
Dan Obie (D86) a BIW instructor conducting
the training, took a few minutes to
send Dan Sutton a note thanking the Fire
Department for what they do, and are prepared
to do, at all times. He said, “While
the shipboard production and supervisory
personnel reacted very impressively in prepping
the ship for egress and contacting your
people, I am again grateful for the presence
of the BIW Rescue Team that we have here.”
Dan Sutton said, “Our ability to provide
a first rate response comes from training.
Our primary first responders are our five
fire inspectors, those individuals mentioned
earlier plus Don Hill (D2602) on second
shift. Also, Fire Chief Dave Witas (D2602)
and all members of our fire brigade are
cross-trained and frequently step in and
provide high quality assistance.”
Dan explained that the department
answers on average, about 3 calls a week
related to injuries or medical conditions.
“We send two or three people on each call
and can be anywhere in the shipyard in
about 3-5 minutes. In a serious situation
like a potential cardiac arrest, we call in a
paramedic from the Bath Fire Department
because they can administer beta blocking
medications on site, rather than after the
patient arrives at an emergency room.”
When asked if they have used the
Automated External Defribrillators within
the shipyard, Dan said, “We have an AED
unit onboard our emergency vehicle and
we have actually used it twice. One of those
individuals is back to work and the other is
on medical leave. Both benefitted from our
getting to them quickly and having the right
equipment available.”
Dan continued, “If the call in May had
required that we remove the sailor from an
interior area of the ship using the techniques
of an assisted removal, we were prepared
to do that. Many of us have confined
space and high angle rescue training which
is absolutely essential if an incident occurs
in some of the tight areas onboard ship and
in the shipyard. We can also call on both
the Bath and Brunswick Fire Departments
for assistance.” It is worth noting that the
Brunswick Fire Department is the first
responder for an emergency at any of our
Brunswick facilities.
What is a routine call for our fire
department emergency crew is never
routine for the person in distress. Dan
Obie reflected that thought when he said,
“I am familiar with the sense of safety and
reassurance that I know this young sailor
experienced today when your people
arrived on the scene.”
His words also echo what we all feel
when reminded that we are supported by a
top notch crew of emergency responders.
“Please pass my thanks to your organization
for their action today, in the years past, and
tomorrow. Though they arrive and leave
and we go about our business, often without
even a thank you to them, it’s good to
know they are there.”
*In an Emergency
Fire or Medical
Situation
Bath
call ext. 2222
Hardings and Mallett
Park (EBMF)
call 1-222
CROF, James (SSSC),
BIP or Bisson’s
call 9-911
BIW NEWS | June 2009 | 7