Read more about the January 24th incident in Laurel and listen to the radio transmissions
PGFD press release on Glenarden Parkway incident
For the second time this year an investigation has been started into why a Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department crew pronounced a person dead who was still alive. This afternoon PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady released a statement confirming that two career paramedics assigned to Medic 846 (Largo) have been placed on limited public contact status after the crew’s actions at a home in the 8600 block of Glenarden Parkway in Glenarden “resulted in a delay of care”.
According to Brady, the call came in around noon today from the Glenarden Police Department indicating there was a possible dead man inside the home. Brady said the medic crew arrived on the scene within four minutes and concurred with police the elderly man was dead.
According to the press release, “At about 1:30 PM, an official from the County Police Department’s Forensic Services summoned the Fire/EMS Department to return to the scene as the adult male was displaying signs that he was alive. A different EMS unit arrived shortly thereafter and transported the patient to an area hospital.”
At last word the man was still alive.
Sources not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation say it is being investigated why the crew spent what appeared to be little time in their initial assessment of the patient, and possibly didn’t follow state protocols for determining if a person is dead. Other sources indicate there is a question whether the medics just took the word of the police officers and possibly never went into the room with the patient. One of the paramedics is described as “seasoned” while the other more recently became a medic.
The medical protocol issues will be covered in what the department calls a quality assurance review. According to Brady, the medics have already been interviewed by PGFD’s medical director.
The press release indicates there is a also a review by the Office of Professional Standards. That review will cover whether general orders and standard operating procedures were followed.
Brady says, “Actions of personnel are taken very seriously by the Fire/EMS Department. We will ensure a complete and through review and if warranted take whatever corrective action is called for to avoid any reoccurrence.”
Radio traffic from January 24th incident on I-95 in Laurel. Click here to read that story.
This is the second such incident for PGFD in a little more than two months. STATter911.com reported that on January 24 a man whose vehicle crashed and burned on I-95 in Laurel was initially pronounced dead on the scene. As crews helped police remove the body a short time later, it was determined the man was alive.
A quality review was also initiated in that case. While Mark Brady says that state law requires those reviews to be confidential, he can confirm a volunteer from Station 849 (Laurel Rescue Squad) received remedial training following the I-95 incident.
Brady tells STATter911.com that there were no inquiries from reporters about today’s incident. Prince George’s County officials say they released the information in an effort to be transparent about issues involving the service the department provides.
Also on STATter911 …
- Raw video & pictures: PGFD technical rescue with medical ‘Go Team’ on scene. Man trapped in machinery in Laurel, Maryland. – April 18, 2012
- PGFD report into 2009 fire that critically burned Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel McGown now made public. Read the entire report. – February 9, 2011
- Fatal house fire in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Chief says response plan worked after 54-inch water main break on Beltway. – January 24, 2011
- UPDATED: Northwest Fire District firefighters & medics talk about Tucson shooting. Plus, sheriff’s department radio traffic. – January 15, 2011
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Evidentally he was only “mostly” dead and that’s as far as the medics made it through medic school, they must’ve skipped the day they taught them how to tell if someone is “all the way” dead?
p pray to
g god we
f find you
d dead
Congrats to PG county for ensuring that we all know that poor training is not specific to only 1 department.
That dark cloud over PGFD will not go away. I know of three incidents that involved a “dead” patient.The two you mentioned and one by a company officer who is now in the upper echelon of the department.
These people are paid well to do their job and should be expected to do it properly or expect repercussions.No exceptions.
actually what was reported about the volunteer from Laurel Rescue Squad being “remedial trained” is bogus, Co. 810 did initial assessment.
one word…. complacency. Follow every S.O.P., G.O., and EMS Protocol like your career depends on it – because it does.
Again we see how some paid idiots can make a well run VOLUNTEER Dept. like Kentland look like crap.The guy will die on his own next time instead of calling the PG kiddie scouts as those so call prodfessional are called. The residents of PG deserve alot better! Why can we not get an all Volunteer staff of people who want to do the job the right way.
Didn’t any of ever read your bible, it speaks of miracles. To be names asaint by the Catholic church you must have performed a miracle.
I believe these instances are miracles, and someone brought someone back from the dead!! SO obviously there are emergency responders out there that are up for sainhood and they don’t even know it. God bless all of them.
well said doc
Aw geeeeez here we go again!.
well it’s about time the career personal are on the hit list, now the volunteers can sit and watch how this will play out..(cover up)
Again we see how some paid idiots can make a well run VOLUNTEER Dept. like Kentland look like crap.The guy will die on his own next time instead of calling the PG kiddie scouts as those so call professional are called. The residents of PG deserve a lot better! Why can we not get an all Volunteer staff of people who want to do the job the right way.
Spell check but you still get a C- for the effort.
Wow, just when you thought PGFD was out of the spot light for a little while….bam right back at you. Remember this, for as much you all want to sit here a bash each other those two medics could lose their job. If it was a volunteer EJ would repeat after vinnie pockets “It never happened”, and nothing would happen. Between DC & PG everyone should take a long hard look and learn from others mistakes.
Dr. K is on the money.
It is funny how the paid vs volunteer issue comes to light really quick. Since these individuals are paid then I guess there will be actual consequences taken by PGFD. If they were volunteers then they will be suspended for a week and then back to the shenanigans again.
Now that this all out in the air, how about we take a look at the article and learn from what could happen to anyone of us at any time. None of us were there and can’t definitively speak of what actually happened at the scene. I am not trying to defend anyone here. If the paramedics were grossly negligent then there should be consequences no matter what status you are (paid or volunteer). Anyway, sorry if I offended anyone but this is a subject that all of us can learn from. That is the best thing about this website.
Actually, if they were volunteers, they would have been immediately operational suspended by the county until the outcome of PGFD investigation. This is typically a six to nine month process.
Dr K,
one word…. complacency. Follow every S.O.P., G.O., and EMS Protocol like your career depends on it – because it does.
Name one person who has lost his job for failing to follow an S.O.P or G.O.?