Stoneham Fire Explorer Bike Team Supports Minuteman Hike

A release from the Stoneham Fire Explorers:

CONCORD, MA - On April 19th, 1775, the British troops retreated from Concord Massachusetts back to Boston. Exactly 243 years later, on Thursday April 19th, a group of Boy Scouts set out to follow the exact historic 20 mile route of their retreat, beginning at the Old North Bridge where the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired.

The Boy Scouts began their trek to Boston at 7:30 am under weather conditions that included heavy rains, and even snows for a brief period with temperatures that hovered just above 32 degrees. The Boy Scouts, followed the carefully researched trail, stopping at many of a the landmarks along the route that still exist to this day. The journey carried the Scouts through the towns of Concord, Lincoln, Lexington, Arlington, Cambridge, and Somerville.

Accompanying the Boy Scouts was the Stoneham Fire Explorer Program’s specialized EMS Mountain Bike Team. The bike team, also know as the R.A.B.I.T. Team (Rapid Access Bicycle Intervention Team), is made up of Fire Explorers who have been certified as First Responders and BLS Providers, who are able to assist in the treatment of minor injuries, or intervene when needed in the event of more serious medical problems ranging from heat exhaustion, to cardiac arrest. The team is equipped with medical supplies and has an AED at the ready.

Facing extremely unseasonable weather, and trail conditions that were soft and muddy in places, became challenging at times, but regular stops along the route proved extremely beneficial to the bike team, allowing them to get warm, and swap out wet outerwear. Never before had the bike team been deployed under such conditions, but as the day progressed, and rural trails gave way to suburban paved roadways and trails, the weather conditions also improved.

The Bike Team monitored the hikers progress, and assisted them in safe roadway crossings along the heavily travelled Massachusetts Avenue. While a few of the hikers dropped out along the way, none were due to medical issues. At lunch two young hikers needed the teams attention, one for a minor ankle injury, and one experiencing foot discomfort. Both were assisted and were able to continue on the hike.

The Scouts ended their journey at the 20 mile mark, after spending nearly 12 hours on the move. David Owen, the Boy Scout Unit Commissioner from Concord, Mass. thanked the bike team for its service. Owen noted that the team “was particularly helpful in having us progress through crossings safely in Arlington and attending to injuries at lunch.” Owen went on to say “Thank you very much for making today a success.”

The bike team was led by Fire Explorer Lieutenant Robert Herrick, and staffed by Fire Explorer Jack Albushies and Fire Explorer Donald Lancelotte. This was the very first bike team support mission for all three, and was the longest ever deployment for the team in both time and distance covered.

Photo by David DeLucia

Pictured from Left to Right: Fire Explorers Donald Lancelotte and Jack Albushies, with Lawrence Walford, and Fire Explorer Lieutenant Robert Herrick at Prospect Hill in Somerville.