Firefighter hospitalized after electric shock in Md. station

WUSA9

BELTSVILLE, Md. — Fire spokesperson Mark Brady says that a Prince George's County Firefighter is hospitalized in "good" condition after receiving an electrical shock at a Fire/EMS Station on Wednesday.

According to Brady, the firefighter was unplugging a shoreline, a heavy-duty electrical cord connected from an outlet to a fire engine, at the Beltsville Fire/EMS Station 831. The shoreline is used when a unit is off but needs a continuous electric charge to maintain the heavy-duty battery system and for electrical components on-board, explained Brady.

Brady said it appears the wires pulled away from the protective housing and the exposed wires came in contact with the firefighter's arm. That produced an electrical shock that threw him to the floor.

Advanced Life Support paramedics responded and they and Beltsville Fire/EMS Station #831 personnel transported the firefighter to the Burn Unit at Washington Hospital Center where he currently remains.

The firefighter was unable to move his right hand, and was disoriented. He remains hospitalized at least through Thursday night because he still has not regained feeling in his hand and arm, says Brady. His condition will be re-assessed Friday morning.

Republished with permission from WUSA9