Firefighters Suspended for Taking Girl to Hospital

[WildBill]

It seems like another case of people getting disciplined for breaking the rules while trying to "do the right thing".

Two volunteer Stafford County firefighters have been suspended after they transported an 18-month old child to the hospital in a fire engine.
The father of the little girl tells FOX 5 he is grateful for the actions of those two first responders, who may have saved his daughter's life.

The suspended firefighters, Captain James Kelley and Sgt. Virgil Bloom, volunteer for the Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department in Fredericksburg.
They were the first to arrive when called to a location near a McDonald’s restaurant last Saturday because the child was having a seizure, Kelley said.

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/101039391-story

[Jago668]

What I want to say violates a couple of forum rules.

[puma guy]

This is what happens when no nothing, bureaucratic nincompoops are in charge. Totally detached - they have no experience of real life.

[pushpullpete]

So... good guys do something they probably knew they were going to get in trouble for & end up saving a life. Nice job gentlemen

To the powers that be, THEY SAVED A LIFE.

Send them home w a slap on the wrist & a stern talk for the procedural error and tell them not to be late for their next shift.

[pushpullpete]

This is what happens when no nothing, bureaucratic nincompoops are in charge. Totally detached - they have no experience of real life.

That and the whole zero tolerance & politically correct thing.

[WildBill]

So... good guys do something they probably knew they were going to get in trouble for & end up saving a life. Nice job gentlemen

To the powers that be, THEY SAVED A LIFE.

Send them home w a slap on the wrist & a stern talk for the procedural error and tell them not to be late for their next shift.

Your scenario is more likely, but I think that the fire department should change their policy, apologize to the two men, give them commendations and treat their families to a steak dinner with all of the trimmings.
... and after dinner give them a ride home in a fire truck.

[joe817]

A couple of the comments from the article sums it up for me:

"Sorry, policy goes out the window when a child's life is on the line." Totally agree!

"Does protocol come before a life? An 18 month old child was rescued. I’m really perturbed that they were fired. Shameful." Shameful. A gross understatement. The one's who are responsible for firing those 2 heroes should themselves be fired!

[JP171]

they should have been suspended and removed from duty permanently, they didn't save anything, nada nuthin. seizure disorders are common problems and are NOT life threatening, the child was post ictal and there was no emergency period. you don't know medicine then please keep it to yourself! Also should this have been texas and I saw this I would have filed a complaint with SDHS for malfeasance and violation of protocol and standard of care and if they had emt certs they wouldn't have them anymore

[psijac]

It is possible that her condition could have turned worse while en route to the hospital and the firemen would not know how to help her. Houston Firemen are also trained emts. I don't feel like I know enough medicine to quarterback this one

[JP171]

I have been a Paramedic in Texas for over 25 years, I know enough and I know this is/was a clear violation of too many things, and was and is medically unnecessary and even a danger to the child period. and if you care to check my number is 14469

[Jago668]

How is driving her to the hospital a danger to her? The dad could have done that, would you recommend that CPS take the kid away if he had because it was somehow a danger to her? I don't understand why you would want careers ruined over it. I don't understand how she was in no medical danger, yet she somehow needed an actual ambulance at the same time. JP171 you are coming off very four legged beast of burdenish over this. I can't imagine why it would be intentional, but you have done a poor job explaining why what they did was so horrible.

[Bitter Clinger]

How is driving her to the hospital a danger to her? The dad could have done that, would you recommend that CPS take the kid away if he had because it was somehow a danger to her? I don't understand why you would want careers ruined over it. I don't understand how she was in no medical danger, yet she somehow needed an actual ambulance at the same time. JP171 you are coming off very four legged beast of burdenish over this. I can't imagine why it would be intentional, but you have done a poor job explaining why what they did was so horrible.

[puma guy]

I have been a Paramedic in Texas for over 25 years, I know enough and I know this is/was a clear violation of too many things, and was and is medically unnecessary and even a danger to the child period. and if you care to check my number is 14469

Thanks for your service. I did check it out. Since the state lists effective dates of the highest rank achievement for licensees and your EMT-P license date is Feb 2007 - 9 years not 25 years. My son -in law has you by 2 years for his EMT-P even though he was an EMT-A for several years prior. I got my ECA cert in the late 80's and my ECA expired/active in 1996, I never did the ambulance rides required back then for EMT certification.

[Daddio-on-patio]

I read this article this morning and considered it from my perspective of a 911 paramedic. The crew acted in good faith, however, they acted with the assumption that dispatch was giving them correct information with regard to the ETA of the responding ambulance. Many, many, times dispatch information is incorrect. They have to process information which is given to them and relay that to those responding. Since the article described the responding department as having to ask dispatch for the ETA of the responding ambulance it appears they had no way to speak directly to them which adds another layer possible communication breakdown. Did they save the child's life? IMHO most likely the child's life was not in danger based on the information in the article. If the child was in a state known as status epilepticus she could easily have died in route. Did the crew act with good intentions? I believe so. Did they do the right thing? No. Should they be suspended? My opinion is no but that may be a consequence of breaking SOP's. I have not researched the capabilities of the responding ambulance service but this is what is pasted to the side of the unit I operate: MICU which designates it as a Mobile Intensive Care Unit. I have driven up on scenes when off-duty and wished there was something I could do for the persons injured or sick and I understand how helpless you feel and how you wish there was something you could do. The best option is, assuming 911 has been contacted, to assure your safety and the safety of those around you until appropriate personnel arrive. I knew this article would create interest on the forum because of the many members who have a bit of give-a-darn for people who help one another out of the goodness that is within them. All being said I am happy that the outcome of the story for the child appears positive.
Peace.