More Philly FD Woes!
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― When no other emergency units were close enough for a medical rescue, a Philadelphia firefighter took matters into his own hands. He saved a woman's life, but now he is in trouble of his own.
"If this man did not react the way that he did and so quickly, I would not be standing here," Michelle Smith said.
The man Smith is referring to is a lieutenant with Engine #72 in North Philadelphia. The lieutenant is in trouble for actions he took when he responded to Smith's 911 call. Smith was at a friend's house in Logan when she had an asthma attack.
The lieutenant transported Smith to the hospital in a fire truck, which is against department policy.
According to sources, the squad that responded called dispatchers who told them the ambulance was 12-15 minutes away.
However, Smith said that she did not have that much time, saying, "I don't think I had five."
The lieutenant has been taken out of his fire house and transferred to another engine company.
"It's an outrage, I understand rules are rules, in some cases, you have to make exceptions," Smith said.
The captain at Engine #72 has placed the lieutenant's name in for an award for saving Smith's life.
Officials from the Philadelphia Fire Department declined comment. The firefighter's union said they are waiting to see if any disciplinary action will be taken before they comment on the incident.
The TrekMedic adds:
5 more medic units and we STILL have this issue?? Three things come to mind:
1 - Nearest unit was 12-15 minutes away? Was it another broken hangnail "emergency?"
2 - Mayor Nutter - you can put 100 more trucks on the street, but you 9-1-1 call-takers need to TRIAGE the calls - life-threats before hangnails!!!
3 - I thought the duty of the PFD was to save lives and prevent property destruction. The L/T was a paramedic; he did what was in the best interest of the patient. If they followed policy, we'd be looking at yet ANOTHER lawsuit for malpractice. THINK, Nutter, THINK!!!!
Labels: EMS, Philliness
posted by TheBitterAmerican @ 11:55 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Imagine what would have happened if that firefighter had said, "Oh, I'm sorry ma'am, it's against PFD policy to take you to the hospital in a fire truck." And then she died. Would the city have stood behind him then? Doubtful. There is no way this guy could have handled this situation without unfortunate repercussions.
Also: what you said, Trek.
Obviously, the PFD brass has already forgotten the New Year's Day fiasco in NE Philly!!
Do these desk-jockeys even engage a brain-cell before pulling the trigger?
They didn't put five more squads up. Only two, and one was already in operation part time.
They made one of the Deputy Chiefs wives a EMS Chief in a position doing nothing that never existed in the first place. Nice huh? Look for her to become a Deputy Commissioner for EMS now that the Charter has been changed.
Beginning to see the problem yet?
When I heard this on the news, I could only shake my head! He saves a life and he is in trouble. That is what is wrong with this world.....no common sense. Let's see....wait for an ambulance and let her die, OR save her. Yeah, there is a real tough one!
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