Gamber & Community Fire Co. Chief Chad Hastings and EMS Captain Todd Tracey awarded a Unit Citation to members of the fire company on Monday, June 19, 2023, at the June company meeting. The citation recognized their efforts in saving the life of a local 5-year-old boy after he had fallen into a swimming pool and went into cardiac arrest. The incident occurred at a residential pool in Gamber.

The ambulance crew members were Shane Shifflett and Matt Bowles. Utility 13-1 crew members were Emily Franklin and William "Billy" Dunton. Fire Captain Frank Smith also responded to assist.

On Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 3:13 pm units from Gamber and Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department (Medic 127), and EMS 103 stationed out of Winfield Community Fire Department were alerted for a 5-year-old in cardiac arrest after he fell into a pool. This was classified as a near drowning as family members pulled the child from the water.

Ambulance 139 responded in less than 1 minute and arrived on location within 3 minutes. Utility 13-1 from Gamber responded in 4 minutes and arrived 3 minutes later. The crew from A139 arrived and confirmed the patient was in cardiac arrest. The family advised he had fallen into the pool with an unknown downtime. A139 took over CPR from the family. Within 2 minutes the patient was resuscitated and began to cough up water and open his eyes.

The crew then moved the patient into the ambulance for more advanced care with assistance from Sykesville’s Medic 127 and EMS 103. The child was taken by ambulance to Liberty High School where a Maryland State Police helicopter was waiting. The child was then transported by medevac to Johns Hopkins Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Baltimore. An engine from Sykesville handled the landing site.

Due to the quick actions of the family and fire department units, the patient has already been discharged from the hospital and is on the road to recovery from this incident.