EMT BUST IN HOSP FORGERY
By PHILIP MESSING
Last updated: 2:20 am
March 14, 2009
Posted: 2:14 am
March 14, 2009
A FDNY emergency medical technician was busted yesterday for forging a nurse's signature because he didn't want to stick around a Bronx hospital after dropping off a 5-year-old boy, authorities say.
Paul Casson, 28, rushed the boy, injured in a car accident, to Lincoln Hospital in December, according to the city Department of Investigation.
Sources said the nurse told him she would be right with him, but the medic became impatient and allegedly forged her signature on a "patient-care report" so he could bail.
Casson was suspended without pay.
From the NY Post 3/14
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
BAD MEDS TOO HOT TO HAND OUT
By GINGER ADAMS OTIS ( New York Post )
January 11, 2009 --
A piping-hot radiator placed next to a locker full of drugs in a Harlem EMS station made a state health inspector's blood run cold last week.
The ambulance unit's entire narcotic supply - 20 vials each of morphine, Valium and midazolam - was tossed after it was discovered that temperatures inside Station 16 had reached a steamy 92 degrees and were likely higher inside the metal locker, sources said.
The narcotics start to lose their potency - and run the risk of altering their chemical compositions - when temperatures top 86 degrees, according to the manufacturers' guidelines.
When a drug's chemical compound alters, "severe allergic reactions could occur," a Manhattan doctor told The Post.
"Heat changes the composition, and you don't know who's going to have a bad response," said Dr. Tom Bolte, a Midtown physician.
"It could be life-threatening for some patients."
Medics told The Post they've been complaining for years about the ancient heating system at Station 16 in Harlem Hospital and how it routinely bakes the facility - and the lock box - during the winter.
All Station 16 ambulances were taken out of service Thursday morning and sent to a neighboring EMS house to switch out their potentially tainted meds with new ones, sources said.
gotis@nypost.com
January 11, 2009 --
A piping-hot radiator placed next to a locker full of drugs in a Harlem EMS station made a state health inspector's blood run cold last week.
The ambulance unit's entire narcotic supply - 20 vials each of morphine, Valium and midazolam - was tossed after it was discovered that temperatures inside Station 16 had reached a steamy 92 degrees and were likely higher inside the metal locker, sources said.
The narcotics start to lose their potency - and run the risk of altering their chemical compositions - when temperatures top 86 degrees, according to the manufacturers' guidelines.
When a drug's chemical compound alters, "severe allergic reactions could occur," a Manhattan doctor told The Post.
"Heat changes the composition, and you don't know who's going to have a bad response," said Dr. Tom Bolte, a Midtown physician.
"It could be life-threatening for some patients."
Medics told The Post they've been complaining for years about the ancient heating system at Station 16 in Harlem Hospital and how it routinely bakes the facility - and the lock box - during the winter.
All Station 16 ambulances were taken out of service Thursday morning and sent to a neighboring EMS house to switch out their potentially tainted meds with new ones, sources said.
gotis@nypost.com
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Medics Caught on Tape Allegedly Decided Disabled Man Not Worth Saving
Medics Caught on Tape Allegedly Decided Disabled Man Not Worth Saving
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Two EMT workers in Britain were arrested after they were heard allegedly discussing whether they should bother to resuscitate a disabled man who had collapsed at home and subsequently died.
Barry Baker, 59, who lived alone, dialed 911 saying that he thought he was having a heart attack. An ambulance was sent to his house while a controller kept him talking on the line.
By the time the ambulance arrived at the house in Patcham, Brighton, Baker had collapsed, but the telephone line was still open and was being recorded.
It is alleged that staff in the control center heard the two medics making disparaging comments about the state of the house.
A police source, who asked not to be named, said that the medics were then heard discussing Baker and saying “words to the effect that he was not worth saving."
The source said that the two men were allegedly first heard commenting on the untidy state of the house and then saying that it was not worth bothering to resuscitate Baker.
They are said to have discussed what to tell ambulance control and decided to say that Baker was already dead when they got there.
“Obviously the crew did not realize that the phone was still connected and, of course, the 999 call was recorded on tape,” the source said.
Sussex Police confirmed that two men had been arrested and that a full-scale investigation into the incident was being carried out by the major crime team.
Baker, who used sticks to help to him walk after undergoing hip replacement surgery, made the emergency call to the South East Coast Ambulance Service headquarters in Lewes in the early hours of Nov. 29.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Two EMT workers in Britain were arrested after they were heard allegedly discussing whether they should bother to resuscitate a disabled man who had collapsed at home and subsequently died.
Barry Baker, 59, who lived alone, dialed 911 saying that he thought he was having a heart attack. An ambulance was sent to his house while a controller kept him talking on the line.
By the time the ambulance arrived at the house in Patcham, Brighton, Baker had collapsed, but the telephone line was still open and was being recorded.
It is alleged that staff in the control center heard the two medics making disparaging comments about the state of the house.
A police source, who asked not to be named, said that the medics were then heard discussing Baker and saying “words to the effect that he was not worth saving."
The source said that the two men were allegedly first heard commenting on the untidy state of the house and then saying that it was not worth bothering to resuscitate Baker.
They are said to have discussed what to tell ambulance control and decided to say that Baker was already dead when they got there.
“Obviously the crew did not realize that the phone was still connected and, of course, the 999 call was recorded on tape,” the source said.
Sussex Police confirmed that two men had been arrested and that a full-scale investigation into the incident was being carried out by the major crime team.
Baker, who used sticks to help to him walk after undergoing hip replacement surgery, made the emergency call to the South East Coast Ambulance Service headquarters in Lewes in the early hours of Nov. 29.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
EMT-HERO DAD DIES OF HEART ATTACK
EMT-HERO DAD DIES OF HEART ATTACK
By REUVEN FENTON and ALEX GINSBERG
From The NY Post
December 25, 2008 --
A Queens EMT who had saved at least two lives while off duty died suddenly after suffering a heart attack as he unpacked his car, his devastated wife said yesterday.
Wendell O'Brien, 42, who had been with the FDNY since 2001, had just returned home from Florida with his wife, Marcia, and children, Wendell Jr., 13, and Amanda, 11, when tragedy struck Monday.
"He made me want to live my life better," said Marcia, 40, a hospital administrator. "He was just amazing."
O'Brien, of Rosedale, was recognized by The Post for saving the life of a neighbor's child in 2003.
He rushed to the aid of Hannah Holguin, 9, who was choking on a bottle cap. He performed the Heimlich maneuver, then accompanied her to the hospital.
"I just feel heartbroken," said a tearful Hannah, now 14 and living in Tennessee. "We were so close. He was like a second father to me. He was my hero. If he wasn't there that night, I wouldn't be here."
Two years later, O'Brien helped stop a suicidal woman from throwing herself into the East River.
O'Brien's death "is a great loss to the department," said FDNY spokesman Steve Ritea. "He was a model employee and will be greatly missed."
A wake will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home, 179-24 Linden Blvd. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of God of Prophecy, 194-15 Linden Blvd.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
35 Rescue Saves the day!!!!!!
This post is a reprint from the FDNY EMS rant board ( though this is definitely not a rant...lol)
Rescue Medics save 14 from CO poisoning
« Thread Started on Dec 11, 2008, 11:53am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rescue Medics Save 14 from CO Poisoning
Rescue Paramedics Brian Frayne and Zarina Ronay of Station 57 saved the lives of 14 people who were ill from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in their home on Dec. 8, with the help of their newly issued CO detector tools.
“It was a horrible situation,” said Paramedic Frayne. “But we were able to use our training and our tools to help people when they needed it most.”
At 8:01 a.m. the paramedics were called to 433 Pulaski St. in Brooklyn for an unconscious victim. After walking three steps into the apartment, the paramedics’ new CO detectors sounded the highest possible alarm.
They called for backup and work quickly to vent the first floor apartment and get the five adults and 12-year-old girl out.
“Everyone thought they were fine,” said Paramedic Ronay. “We needed to convince them they needed to leave - don’t grab anything, just come.”
Once they evacuated the family, Paramedic Ronay treated them as Paramedic Frayne ran to the second-floor apartment. When he received no answer, he forced entry and was able to pull another family to a second ambulance that had arrived.
Five children were among those living in the second-floor apartment, including an infant who was “cherry red” from the CO exposure.
Once outside, the grandmother from the first apartment said her son was still inside. So Paramedic Frayne returned to search the apartment.
In a small room under the staircase, Paramedic Frayne found a man sleeping. He tried to wake him, but the man was unconscious from CO, so the paramedic dragged him from the apartment to the street.
Firefighters had arrived at that time and finished the searches. Although they vented the apartment for 10 minutes before fire units arrived, firefighters still were getting CO readings of 500 parts per million (ppm), a dangerously high level (FDNY members consider levels more than 9 ppm dangerous).
Rescue Paramedics Brian Frayne (left) and Zarina Ronay of Station 57.
Paramedic Frayne and Ronay transported the family of five from the first-floor apartment to Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn.
After arriving at the hospital they also learned a young boy in the family also had been feeling ill that morning, but was sent to school. The paramedics sent an ambulance to pick him up and bring him to the hospital for treatment.
“This would have turned out to be a really bad job later on in the day,” said Paramedic Ronay. “I’m just glad it turned out the way we wanted it to turn out and I hope they’ll all be OK.”
In all, 14 patients were transported to area hospitals. It was determined the high CO levels were caused by a faulty gas burner in the basement.
“The rewards you get on this job are fantastic,” said Paramedic Frayne, who spent 10 years working in retail. “You don’t always get a thank you, but you feel good [after jobs like this one] and it reinsures you that you made the right choice to join EMS. I’ve been with the FDNY for 15 years and I’ve loved every year of it.”
The Department recently received a grant from Homeland Security for the purchase of CO meters for all EMS members.
Learn more about how to keep your home safe from CO poisoning.
Brian and Zarina are on 35R2. Both are excellent medics. I ended up getting assigned to the job after they called for help. In the text it read that there were only 2 pt's,boy,was everyone in for a surprise when they got there. In the end,everything turned out for the good. Job well done to all
Rescue Medics save 14 from CO poisoning
« Thread Started on Dec 11, 2008, 11:53am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rescue Medics Save 14 from CO Poisoning
Rescue Paramedics Brian Frayne and Zarina Ronay of Station 57 saved the lives of 14 people who were ill from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in their home on Dec. 8, with the help of their newly issued CO detector tools.
“It was a horrible situation,” said Paramedic Frayne. “But we were able to use our training and our tools to help people when they needed it most.”
At 8:01 a.m. the paramedics were called to 433 Pulaski St. in Brooklyn for an unconscious victim. After walking three steps into the apartment, the paramedics’ new CO detectors sounded the highest possible alarm.
They called for backup and work quickly to vent the first floor apartment and get the five adults and 12-year-old girl out.
“Everyone thought they were fine,” said Paramedic Ronay. “We needed to convince them they needed to leave - don’t grab anything, just come.”
Once they evacuated the family, Paramedic Ronay treated them as Paramedic Frayne ran to the second-floor apartment. When he received no answer, he forced entry and was able to pull another family to a second ambulance that had arrived.
Five children were among those living in the second-floor apartment, including an infant who was “cherry red” from the CO exposure.
Once outside, the grandmother from the first apartment said her son was still inside. So Paramedic Frayne returned to search the apartment.
In a small room under the staircase, Paramedic Frayne found a man sleeping. He tried to wake him, but the man was unconscious from CO, so the paramedic dragged him from the apartment to the street.
Firefighters had arrived at that time and finished the searches. Although they vented the apartment for 10 minutes before fire units arrived, firefighters still were getting CO readings of 500 parts per million (ppm), a dangerously high level (FDNY members consider levels more than 9 ppm dangerous).
Rescue Paramedics Brian Frayne (left) and Zarina Ronay of Station 57.
Paramedic Frayne and Ronay transported the family of five from the first-floor apartment to Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn.
After arriving at the hospital they also learned a young boy in the family also had been feeling ill that morning, but was sent to school. The paramedics sent an ambulance to pick him up and bring him to the hospital for treatment.
“This would have turned out to be a really bad job later on in the day,” said Paramedic Ronay. “I’m just glad it turned out the way we wanted it to turn out and I hope they’ll all be OK.”
In all, 14 patients were transported to area hospitals. It was determined the high CO levels were caused by a faulty gas burner in the basement.
“The rewards you get on this job are fantastic,” said Paramedic Frayne, who spent 10 years working in retail. “You don’t always get a thank you, but you feel good [after jobs like this one] and it reinsures you that you made the right choice to join EMS. I’ve been with the FDNY for 15 years and I’ve loved every year of it.”
The Department recently received a grant from Homeland Security for the purchase of CO meters for all EMS members.
Learn more about how to keep your home safe from CO poisoning.
Brian and Zarina are on 35R2. Both are excellent medics. I ended up getting assigned to the job after they called for help. In the text it read that there were only 2 pt's,boy,was everyone in for a surprise when they got there. In the end,everything turned out for the good. Job well done to all
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
FDNY LT. DIES FIGHTING STATEN ISLAND BLAZE
Comments: 0 Read Comments Leave a Comment By MATT NESTEL, JAMIE SCHRAM and ALEX GINSBERG
Lt. Robert Ryan
Last updated: 2:35 pm
November 23, 2008
Posted: 1:38 pm
November 23, 2008
A veteran Fire Department lieutenant was killed battling a Staten Island blaze early this morning after the ceiling of a burning home collapsed on his head, the FDNY said.
Lt. Robert Ryan, 46, was rushed from the scene of the fire at 39 Van Buren Street in the New Brighton section, to Richmond University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
"He was a brave man who lost his life protecting the city," Mayor Bloomberg told reporters, who asked all New Yorkers to pray for the fallen firefighter.
Ryan and four other members of Engine Co. 155 were on the second floor of the burning house when the ceiling gave way, knocking off the lieutenant's oxygen mask and helmet and sending him into immediate cardiac arrest, officials said.
The 17-year member of the city's Bravest was injured once before in the line of duty, resulting in an assignment to desk duty for about a year.
In total, 25 units and about 100 firefighters responded to the two-alarm blaze, which broke out just after midnight.
Officials said the initial investigation indicated that faulty wiring was the cause of the fire.
Neighbors on his block -- already named for an FDNY captain who died in the 9/11 attacks - were in shock this morning.
"He always said the job was wonderful and he wouldn't give it up," said neighbor Rita Formica, 62, a schoolteacher. "He always said that."
Ryan leaves behind a wife, Kathleen, two children, Kayla, 12, and Chris, 7, and two stepchildren, Alex, 10, and Emma, 8.
"She's just lost her husband last night," another neighbor said of Kathleen Ryan. "She just got home from the hospital and she's beside herself."
CITY'S AMBULANCE CHA$E
By SALLY GOLDENBERG
Last updated: 3:28 am
November 26, 2008
Posted: 2:47 am
November 26, 2008
First gas, then milk, now ambulances.
The city is raising the cost of an ambulance ride - with transports for the most critical patients going up to $850 per ride - as part of Mayor Bloomberg's orders to slash costs to raise revenue and plug future budget holes.
Basic Life Support rides will increase to $515 from $475; Advanced Life Support will jump to $750 from $600 and Advanced Life Support for the most critical patients will go up to $850 from $700, FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta told a City Council Public Safety Committee hearing Monday.
Last updated: 3:28 am
November 26, 2008
Posted: 2:47 am
November 26, 2008
First gas, then milk, now ambulances.
The city is raising the cost of an ambulance ride - with transports for the most critical patients going up to $850 per ride - as part of Mayor Bloomberg's orders to slash costs to raise revenue and plug future budget holes.
Basic Life Support rides will increase to $515 from $475; Advanced Life Support will jump to $750 from $600 and Advanced Life Support for the most critical patients will go up to $850 from $700, FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta told a City Council Public Safety Committee hearing Monday.
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