The Redmond Fire Department's (RFD) Team Isabella was recently awarded $10,000 for winning this year's Hot Shot Crew Challenge.
The challenge brought in donations that funded the Equipment and Training Grant from the Medic One Foundation. This grant allows RFD to purchase a child simulation mannequin so paramedics and firefighters can train for medical and traumatic emergencies with children.
The inspiration for Team Isabella came from 14 year old, Isabella Oosterhof's desire to give back after she survived a sudden cardiac arrest last year. The Hot Shot Crew Challenge organized by the Medic One Foundation is a social media fundraising challenge that supports paramedic training, equipment and research in King County. Team Isabella won against 10 other teams competing for the grant with 359 votes against second place Team Softy with 176 votes. Each vote was equal to a $10 donation. Overall, the eleven teams raised more than $10,000 for the Medic One Foundation.
To energize the challenge, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins issued a friendly wager to Redmond Fire Chief Tommy Smith, suggesting that if Seattle won the challenge, Smith would have to go to the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) and cook a dinner for the fire crews.