Capn Jimbo
The Godfisher
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 1712
Joined: Jan. 2004 |
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Posted: Jan. 03 2008,05:36 |
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Paramedics Did Job By Not Helping!?
That's right. Paramedics on the scene of a car/pond encounter in Manatee County decided to watch one of the two victims drown and prevented others from helping. I'm serious...
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Chaos reigned on Halloween night after a car drove through a dead end and crashed into a Bradenton retention pond. Two men from the car were in the water, calling for help. As their car sank, neighbors rushed over and dialed 911.
A Manatee County Emergency Medical Services lieutenant, Mark Jones, heard the call and sped to the scene; he was the first public official there.
By then, one man had drowned. The other was alive, thrashing in the pond.
Jones did not go into the water to help, and took no other action in an attempt to save the man. Neither did the ambulance crew that arrived next.
When the neighbors tried to jump in, the paramedics held them back. Both men from the car drowned.
The victims' family and friends turned on the paramedics. There was a tense exchange near the pond, and Jones reportedly broke down in tears.
But Jones' decision not to attempt a rescue was made "by the book," according to his supervisor, Manatee County Capt. Larry Leinhauser.
Jones and other Manatee EMS employees are not trained in water rescue, and did not have the proper equipment, such as a rope or flotation device, to attempt a rescue, Leinhauser said.
"He Jones did everything the way he was supposed to," Leinhauser said.
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Manatee county is now debating whether to equip the paramedics with "throw ropes" or similar equipment. But they will not offer the kind of "cross training" given in nearby counties that teach paramedics how to conduct rescues at fires and potential drownings.
Sure makes sense to me. There are several issues here:
1. The paramedics were fearful of becoming victims themselves, were not equipped with throw ropes. But how hard would it have been to use a pair of pants or a jacket to tow the struggling victim? There were multiple people on the shore, coulda tied several jackets/shirts together.
2. What prevented them from waiting until the victim stopped struggling, then immediately bring him in and administer CPR?
3. Surely they could advise them not to try, but what gave them the right to prevent others from attempting a rescue. Many rescues have been achieved by good samaritans.
What's your take? Kayak Jeff?
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Tight lines,
Capn Jimbo
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