For Immediate Release

Monday, July 8, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Off-Duty East Kingston Fire EMT Provides Aid to Man Seriously Injured by Holiday Fireworks

EAST KINGSTON, N.H. — Chief Ed Warren wishes to commend East Kingston Fire Department EMT Alex Head for her efforts responding to a serious injury while she was off-duty celebrating the Fourth of July.

At 10:12 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, South Hampton Fire received a report of a fireworks-related injury at Tuxbury Pond RV Resort. Head was coincidentally already on-scene when the incident occurred and immediately began providing lifesaving aid to the seriously injured man.

The man suffered two severely injured fingers and a severed thumb, as well as a significant eye injury and facial lacerations. Head took charge of the situation, initiating care and organizing the scene — dramatically expediting the delivery of aid by responding units from the South Hampton, Newton and Amesbury Fire Departments.

“Each Fourth of July, fire departments can only wait for the inevitable report that someone’s been critically injured by a fireworks-related incident,” Chief Warren said. “In this case, Alex happened to be in the right place at the right time to provide essential aid to a patient in need. While the circumstances are unfortunate, the patient received excellent care and I want to commend Alex for her professionalism and quick actions.”

The patient was transported to Portsmouth Hospital by South Hampton Fire, with assistance from Amesbury Fire, where his thumb was successfully re-attached. He was subsequently transferred to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary for further treatment.

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