Originally Released: January 11, 2000
Contact: Larry Roberts, lroberts@som.umaryland.edu, 410-706-7590
Ellen Beth Levitt, eblevitt@umm.edu, 410-328-8919

MARYLAND EMS SYSTEM AND SHOCK TRAUMA ARE FEATURED ON THREE NATIONAL TV DOCUMENTARIES

The series highlights the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, the State Police Aviation Division, and Baltimore County Paramedics

"Critical Incident," a new series premiering this month on The Learning Channel (TLC), features Maryland's world-renowned emergency medical system in three documentaries, each an hour long. The locally produced programs, "Shock Trauma," "Sky Troopers," and "Hot Calls," will air back-to-back from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, January 16. The episodes will be repeated the same night from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

"Shock Trauma" gives viewers unique access to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where doctors and nurses take heroic steps to save the lives of more than six thousand critically injured patients each year.

In "Sky Troopers," the Maryland State Police aviation division races the clock with Medevac helicopters to transport patients within the "golden hour," when patients have the best chance of survival. "Hot Calls" follows the emergency medical technicians and paramedics of Baltimore County as they rescue the victims of life threatening injuries from car crashes and other types of medical emergencies.

The documentaries, shot entirely in Maryland, were produced by Emmy Award-winning Baltimore filmmakers Susan Hadary and Bill Whiteford, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Video Press Office, and co-produced by Fernando Tosti of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS).

"From the first responders to the hospital doctors and nurses, it takes a tremendous amount of teamwork and dedication to save lives day in and day out. It is gratifying work, but it's also physically demanding, stressful, and emotionally draining," says Whiteford, who worked side-by-side with Maryland emergency medical workers for more than a year to document their efforts on videotape.

"Shock Trauma," "Sky Troopers," and "Hot Calls" also focus on the patients and their inspiring stories of survival. "In many cases, they are getting a second chance at life because of the quick response and extraordinary skill of emergency workers, doctors and hospital staff," says Hadary. "We hope our documentaries will give the public a new appreciation for the extraordinary efforts of the men and women, both career and volunteer, who dedicate their lives to helping others."

The documentaries were produced in cooperation with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, the Maryland State Police, and the Baltimore County Fire Department.

A special screening will be held in appreciation for those who appeared in the documentaries. The premier event will be held January 16, 2000, at 7 p.m. at the Maryland State Police Aviation Division Headquarters, 3023 Strawberry Point Road, at Martin State Airport in Middle River, Maryland.

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