‘If he wants to ride to the hospital, he’s gonna have to come to the truck’ – Pittsburgh EMS crew talking about dying man during snowstorm. Public safety director – ‘… you get out of the damn truck and walk’.

Wow. If this were a Jewish journalist from the nice part of Pittsburgh, I’d expect some serious changes in Pittsburgh EMS. As it is, I hope this family gets paid. It won’t assuage their loss, but…

I guess Pittsburgh’s single-role EMS isn’t as good as people say it is.

Most of us think of the A,B,C’s as Airway, Breathing, Circulation. In Pittsburgh EMS it is Airway, Breathing, Can You Walk. This is terrible. I hiked through 2+ feet of snow many times to get to patients whose homes were a half mile away from where we could get the units. There is no excuse for this other than apathy.

After reading this story i would first like to express my condolences to the family that lossed there loved one this is tragic and sad… But on another note coming from a EMS provider who was on duty during the snow storm though in a different state with just as much snow… EMS is a service provided to the people by the city or township which is mandated by law, as part of this process the town or city is supposed to provide pre hospital care (EMS) Fire protection and law to the people who live with in the city as an EMT or a paramedic we do are best to help the community keeping in mind are personal safety, a crew or truck out of service due to what ever reason is no help to any one. during a snow storm roads are for lack of a better word crappy response times are delayed access is delayed resources needed to help gain access may be unavailable. sometimes in unsafe situations we are unable to preform the help needed why this emergency took 3 days i don’t understand but i believe that to be a exaggeration… the people involved she be more upset with the city for not providing enough plows or personnel to help keep access clear for emergency personnel to get to people in need of help. basically what im trying to say is this problem does not fall on EMS or fire but the city.. we cant do are job if we don’t have to the resources and shouldn’t be criticized for minding are own personal safety.

There is NO excuse or this! We do it all the time in a city other than Pittsburgh. If you can’t get in, you call the dispatcher and ask for a city plow to be sent. One person starts walking in to care for the patient and the other waits with the ambulance until the plow gets there and plows your way in! It’s up the the mayor to order that when EMS calls for a plow, they get it! It’s not rocket “bleeping” science guys!

I agree with Jeremy B. When confronted with horrific snowstorms, we are all in it together. Start at the top of the food chain. Start emergency response procedures beginning at the Govenor’s doorstep. I’ll bet his driveway was plowed.

Sounds like pure laziness, because they didn’t want to walk in the snow, or attempt to drive in. 15 inches of snow is not a personal safety hazard. I am sure that Pittsburgh has seen snow before.
I work in an area where large snow falls are common place. In the 18 years I have been a Paramedic (our services are not fire based, fire provides BLS D fib first response.), my partners and I have had to hike down a street many times to get to a call. I have ridden in on a 4 wheel ATV, snowmobile or 4 wheel drive pick up. We have used bystanders to help us carry out a patient, shovel snow, what ever.
The fact is, the crew should have called for help or looked to see if they could get help. 15 inches of snow is nothing to drive in either.
I feel sorry for the family. Combining the services isn’t the answer either.

I wonder what was causing his stomach to hurt?

Are you F-ing kidding me…Did you read this. This crew should be fired. If you cant make it to the patient on your own call for help. scene size up is part of our training. I know 15 inches of snow sucks. But saying the city is at fault is trying to pass the buck. People call 911 for help to come to them. Not to have to go to them. I know the truck is much warmer the the street and I am sure they heard ” abdominal pain” and thought BS but this is criminal. They had the knowledge, ability and duty to act…AND THEY DIDN’T

Awesome. I wish everyone would walk to my ambulance.

It is not fair for us to judge because we were not there.
the first thing that comes to mind is what would they have done if it was their mother in pain. Would they attempt to find a way of would they tell her to walk. Part of EMS is learning to adapt to the situation. If someone is in great pain and they live up three flights of stairs, are you gonna stand at the bottom and wiat for them. I am not sure about you but I have climed a many of stairs.

Guys,
please read the ACTUAL news article and not just this one that only highlights cretin information to excite and anger everyone. Below is the link.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10048/1036403-53.stm

also: Think before you post.

Thank you,

I have the comments, and from what has been noted, there was in fact a total failure of the Public safety System. Three days and an innocent Lost Soul was sacrificed due to ignorance. When the initial 911 call came in why didnot the Dispatchers send Fire Service Resources ie; Engine/Truck or Rescue squad along with the EMS Personnel. I find it very difficult to believe and understand why wasnot a call made to the city Public Works Agency. The Dispatchers were aware of the weather conditions, Heavy Snow Fall/ blocked roads etc.
A request was in order to have a vehicle with a plow and/or 4-wheel drive capabilities sent immediately. The underlying key to this entire incident was “911 Emergency”. I am inclined to believe someone at some authority within the city Government could have/should have been in a position to render what ever assistance was required. This was an absolute shameful disgrace
to all Public Safety Fire/EMS Providers. “Bottom Line SAME DAY SERVICE TO THE TAXPAYERS”

Have a Nice Day

“Dispatch from Engine 5- can you have the patient walk out to us in the lobby? The stairwells are crowded with people, and our gear is heavy. Also, the patient’s hallway is hot with smoke and fire. I don’t want to endanger my crew.”

Pittsburgh EMS has demonstrated how not to do things time and time again. Being from that region, I can assure all of you that they are not an agency to model anything after.

100% LAZINESS and lack of concern for patient care!!

I’ve watched EMS unit after EMS unit in the Pittsburgh Metro area haul patients through 2 feet of snow–however they could get it done; but the key is–they were getting it done.

There has been exceptional news coverage of fire and EMS in the region working together to get it done during this record beaking snow storm.

Pittsburgh EMS should take a hard look at how it operates because Huss won’t tolerate it and now the public is aware of how poor of an agency they really are.

I have had the honor of working with Pittsburgh EMS for a little over a year, and they are a first rate service with mostly great medics. I wasn’t there, and don’t have all the information, so I hesitate to judge, but if it was safe for them to leave their rig on the bridge and walk three blocks, they should have, and there is no excuse for not doing so. This incident shows that there needs to be a higher lever of communication and coordination between the city services. PEMS works will with the fire department and police, but those aren’t the only city services. They should be able to communicate with the plows and their dispatch center so if a similar situation happens, a plow can be dispatched to clear the way for the ambulance. Why they didn’t work with the fire department or the plows, I don’t know, but they should have. Even the best services have a few bad apples, and that may be the case here.

Dave,

Thank you very much for brining incidents like this to our attention. I shared it with everyone on my Department. I can only hope we never see another story like this.

do people here really believe that it was the same crew over a period of 3 days who refused to walk to the patient?

Either pittsburgh has multiple lazy paramedic crews on the road who wouldn’t take a walk in the snow or the conditions really did mean it was not possible for them to get there.

The City of Pittsburgh the “Mecca of EMS”–now that’s funny!! But maybe if someone prays hard enough to them they’ll get an ambulance to come to their house.

The dirtbag should have walked himself out to the ambulance.

The saying goes “Opinions are like Aholes, everyone has one” Unfortunately, everyone is judging an entire bureau for a tragic event that happened in a difficult time. By reading the responses, it’s apparent to me, that no one in this forum was in Pittsburgh, working, that night. I was working, as a city medic that night, and can tell you that there were extraordinary measures taken on an overwhelming number of patients by a bureau of dedicated employees. Its easy to hide behind the anonymity of the internet and lambaste a system. The FACTS of the event have come out, which shows a breakdown of the event on many different levels. There were reasons that the crews did not make it to the patients home that will eventually come out as well. Does that help the Mitchell family now? Certainly not! Is it tragic that this was allowed to happen? Absolutely! I’m sure this was not the first time an event like this has happened to an EMS agency and unfortunately, I’m sure, it will not be the last. In the meantime, we have to move forward and initiate safeguards to prevent this same tragedy to happen again. If you must judge the performance of our bureau, please, judge us on the actual facts of the incident, not the sensationally-motivated media coverage.

In response to the comment That Dirt bag as was commented, was in fact a Human Being. This Innocent Lost Soul was entitled to the best level of professional Emergency Response help as any other Human Being. That remark was totally uncalled for. You are out of line with that disgusting ignorant juvenile mentality. Facts be known Heavy Snow on the ground. Roads impassable. Three Days and no help rendered. This innocent soul stated on the 911 calls he couldnot even walk down his stairs much less down the road. Bottom Line the EMS System which is designed to conduct the highest level Standards to serve the Taxpayers, FAILED. Plain and Simple. There is enough blame to go around. Even the Public safety Director expressed his displeasure. A 911 emergency is treated the same to everyone. You should know, or at least I would hope you do when
a Taxpayer/citizen dials 911 he/she are experiencing the worst day of their life. They expect and are most definitely entitled to have Emergency Response Professionals, provide their skills and expertise. as far as the same EMS Vehicle on all three days. No and anyone with common sense realizes this fact. Your outlandish remark referring to a deceased citizen as a Dirt Bag, you should be ashamed of yourself. I hope you donot use theterm Professional with your job. The Paramedics who sat inside their warm vehicle while this man was in pain and eventually took his Life are not Professionals. As far as the Woman cancelling the Paramedics she in all probability spoke with deep emotion of not receiving any help. Disciplinary Action I hope is in order. The Communications personnel couldhave done more realizing the weather conditions and access. Their job is an answering service. They should have used their Professional skills and understanding of the situation and made contact to other Primary city Resources. To begin with Dispatch an Engine and a second Primary Service with additional Staffing to assist the Paramedics. Their job from the instant they make contact with a Taxpayer reporting a 911 Emergency can be defined as “CRISIS INTERVENTION”. Any reassurance they could have expressed to that man could have helped him. The Emergency Responders outside in their vehicle should have exited their EMS Vehicle along with Fire Dept. Staffing and walked towards this man’s residence. Bottom Line here, what message do you think was sent to the citizens of Pittsburgh? Next time any significant snow fall heavy snow accumulation roads covered etc. A citizen just might now think don’t dial 911. Help maynot come. Your Stero type vile words against this innocent soul who lost his Life through Negligence, Lazyness and just plain ignorance. I hope you can look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself. “Are you a True Professional who holds his Moral Standards to a High Level of tolerance, with your conduct as a Professional” Where are your Priorities? What is wrong with you?

Thank You

shouldn’t they have looked for the one on fire

A lot of people have been spreading lies about this series of calls.

There were 3 dispatches of ambulances while the patient was presumed to be alive.

Each time the ambulance became stuck in the snow about a quarter of a mile from the patient’s residence.

Each time the ambulance was canceled by the caller or the 911 center.

First call. Medic 5 was dispatched. The 911 call was placed at 02:09 02/06/2010. Call canceled by caller at 03:57 02/06/2010.

Second call. Medic 8 was dispatched. The 911 call was placed at 04:53 02/06/2010. Call canceled by caller at 06:23 02/06/2010.

Third call. Medic 7 was dispatched. The 911 call was placed at 11:18 02/06/2010. Call canceled by dispatch at 21:31 02/06/2010.

Fourth call. The next day 911 was called for a DOA. Cause of death is not yet known. Total time from the first 911 call to the end was close to 31 hours, not 3 days. The fourth 911 call was placed at 07:56 02/07/2010. The call was closed at 08:51 02/07/2010.

At no time did EMS refuse to transport anyone. There was one inappropriate comment by a paramedic, but only to dispatch. During a very difficult weekend, working continuously under adverse circumstances, making one inappropriate comment should not cause the readers of this Statter911 to soil themselves. The comment, while inappropriate, has been taken completely out of context.

Supervisors were involved in these calls. Attempts were made to get plows to the bridge to clear it of snow/ice, so that the ambulance could get to the residence.

It appears that, after being canceled, EMS continued to dig themselves out of the snow. When they were clear of the snow, they were dispatched to other calls. It appears that all available crews were continuously assigned to calls during this time.

6 medics, several supervisors, snow plows, and others were involved in three attempts to get this patient to the hospital. Two dispatches were canceled by the patient. One dispatch was canceled by the dispatcher after the emergency physician called to check on the patient, since the patient was no longer in pain and had fallen asleep.

In spite of having experience in fire and/or EMS, a lot of people commenting here have jumped to the incorrect conclusion that this was 2 lazy medics. The disgrace is that we have so many people incapable of thinking beyond the headline.

The laziness I see is that we have too many people too lazy to think for themselves.

Sounds like “Rogue” is doing a little CYA

First of all condolences to the family of this man that passed away. I work in Pa in a rural area where we get into some deep stuff. Does anyone know why the news said about there was downed power lines to this residence? Seems no one else heard that part? If there was and 15″ in. of snow maybe that is why the paramedics did not enter that area? We are taught our safety always comes first. Like most everyone feels the city should of provided help to plow this area out.If this is a true statement on 10 calls in 3 days for the same residence didn’t someone contact city officials to get to this man? Someone needs to answer some serious questions.