PGFD Picks Official Name for Pink Medic Unit

HOPE is the new, official name of Prince George’s County Fire Department’s pink paramedic unit.

The pink unit stationed at the College Park Fire/EMS Station 812 launched on July 7 and since then, the fire department has been hard at work looking for the perfect name for the vehicles to promote awareness and a cure for breast cancer.

Out of 230 suggestions submitted through a social media campaign, with about 40 being eliminated because they didn’t meet professional standards, HOPE was the crowd favorite.

Fire department staff members read numerous emotional stories behind name suggestions, many based on the names of loved ones, but HOPE was the one suggested most often and the one county authorities believed to reflect the mission of the unit.

In a survey of nickname suggestions taken by the Fire/EMS Department’s career, civilian and volunteer membership, HOPE won by nearly 50 percent of the vote.

“HOPE seems to encompass the mission of our cancer awareness efforts and finding a cure,” said Fire Chief Marc Bashoor in a news release.

Runner-up nicknames were ROSE/ROSIE, PINKAMEDIC, SURVIVOR and COURAGE.

>>The HOPE unit promotes awareness and cure for breast cancer. Credit: Prince George’s County Fire Department