The Bowie Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. (BVFD) is establishing and dedicating a new annual award to be titled the Thomas W. Hayden Award in memory of EMT Thomas W. Hayden. This award will honor Tom’s contributions to the CPR for Bowie program and to the citizens of the City of Bowie. Tom dedicated many hours to the furthering of the CPR for Bowie program by teaching life-saving skills to thousands of members of various fire departments, City of Bowie employees, as well as to the general public. Tom’s enthusiasm and teaching style was one that will never be forgotten or duplicated. This annual award will ensure that the legacy of EMT Thomas W. Hayden will live on.

The Thomas W. Hayden Award is given to recognize an individual(s) who has gone above and beyond the call of duty with regards to performing CPR and/or the CPR for Bowie program. (A PDF version of the rules and the nomination form can be downloaded here.)

Eligibility:

The BVFD will present the annual award to the most deserving individual(s) if he or she has met one or more of the following criteria within the area of responsibility for the BVFD:

• Used CPR skills to help any citizen in an emergency life threatening situation that resulted in the patient surviving for another day; or
• Has gone above and beyond the call of duty by becoming a certified CPR instructor for the CPR for Bowie program and has taught more than the minimum classes required by the American Heart Association to maintain their instructor certification; or
• Has promoted the CPR for Bowie program throughout the community; or
• Has made significant contributions to the CPR for Bowie program; or
• Someone who continually seeks further education with regards to CPR training and shares that knowledge with the members of the BVFD.

Additional Information:

Any person that resides, works or travels through the area of responsibility for the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. can be nominated for the Thomas W. Hayden Award. The qualifying rescue or activity must have occurred within the same boundaries and within the same calendar year (Jan 1-Dec31 of current year). Some examples of nominees include (but are not limited to) Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Police Officers, city employees, lifeguards, ordinary citizens. See the award eligibility specifications for the criteria defining a qualifying rescue or activity.

The person being nominated must be identified by name, address and contact information. The qualifying rescue or activity must be described in detail to include date of event, address of event and any other information to support the nomination. The qualifying rescue or activity must be documented by a verifiable means such as an EMS/FIRE/POLICE incident report, photographs, printed media story (from reputable source), substantiated by witnesses to even include a statement of facts from the person rescued if possible, or any other public source that can be verified as to the qualifying rescue or activity. Any information restricted by the HIPPA Act may be referenced but not released to the public.

(A PDF version of the rules and the nomination form can be downloaded here.)

Point of Contact: Cindy Loftus, bvfdInfo@gmail.com.