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St. Paul Ambulance Failed to Follow Backing Guidelines

8 comments

ON JUNE 21, FIREGEEZER REPORTED (HERE) ON THE UNFORTUNATE incident where a St. Paul, Minnesota, ambulance ran over and killed a 79-yr.-old woman while it was backing up in an alley.  Reportedly, the backup alarm on the vehicle was working, but the FD personnel admittedly did not have a “spotter” behind the ambulance at the time.

KSTP-TV is reporting today:

Reports released Monday say the St. Paul ambulance crew that ran over a 79-year-old woman on June 20 did not follow recommended department guidelines.

The reports indicated people on the scene all heard the sound of the ambulance alarm beeping as it slowly backed down an alley in the 1600 block of James Avenue before running over and killing Margaret Adele Kuehn.

Police say driver Thomas Tommio Murakami, 57, was going just one or two miles per hour and no one was behind the ambulance guiding down the narrow alley—a practice recommended in department policy.

KSTP has given this video report on the findings:

Read our discussion of this incident and another fatal backing accident HERE.

Posted by on July 28, 2009 • Filed under: ambulances
  • NORTH CHIEF

    I don’t know if they had a patient on board but having a hard and fast rule that you must have a spotter is impossible on an ambulance. You can’t get out and leave the patient. Do we need 3 people on the ambulance in case we have to back up? Safety policies have to take into account practicality. If I have a question backing I get out and look first and if its really close I will ask the attendant in the back to look out the windows if he can without endangering the patient, but thats about all you can do. We dont always have an engine crew or police on every call.

  • NORTH CHIEF

    I don’t know if they had a patient on board but having a hard and fast rule that you must have a spotter is impossible on an ambulance. You can’t get out and leave the patient. Do we need 3 people on the ambulance in case we have to back up? Safety policies have to take into account practicality. If I have a question backing I get out and look first and if its really close I will ask the attendant in the back to look out the windows if he can without endangering the patient, but thats about all you can do. We dont always have an engine crew or police on every call.

  • firetech1

    Rear view video cameras with 7″ diagonal screens that turn on automatically are available from many big box stores for $80-$120.

  • firetech1

    Rear view video cameras with 7″ diagonal screens that turn on automatically are available from many big box stores for $80-$120.

  • Ralph

    Sad but true, this happens. I am an upmost buttmunch when it comes to any vehicle operation. I managed a delivery company for many years and hated to pay claims for damages. We are all guilty of this, if I remember the story right, they didn`t have a pt.. They were backing to get to the right address. There was some confusion on where the pt was exactly. It doesn`t matter though. We do it at the station, on scene at the ER`s. I swear it seems we only use a spotter when a supervisor is around. Whenever I`m on scene with rescue or fire, I`ll pull one of them to spot me. I get razzed a bit, but I don`t care. Two weeks ago, we had a younger female basic (college student who knows everything, just ask her) hit a McDonalds…..WTF?…..Not the drivethru, the building……It`s all about making crews aware and holding to the rules…

  • Ralph

    Sad but true, this happens. I am an upmost buttmunch when it comes to any vehicle operation. I managed a delivery company for many years and hated to pay claims for damages. We are all guilty of this, if I remember the story right, they didn`t have a pt.. They were backing to get to the right address. There was some confusion on where the pt was exactly. It doesn`t matter though. We do it at the station, on scene at the ER`s. I swear it seems we only use a spotter when a supervisor is around. Whenever I`m on scene with rescue or fire, I`ll pull one of them to spot me. I get razzed a bit, but I don`t care. Two weeks ago, we had a younger female basic (college student who knows everything, just ask her) hit a McDonalds…..WTF?…..Not the drivethru, the building……It`s all about making crews aware and holding to the rules…

  • OhioFF/Medic

    Fire department and EMS agencies that have not adopted a backing rule/procedure/policy should implement one to prevent yet, another needless and preventable tragedy. These policies are paramount in ensuring the safety of its members, the safety of the citizens we serve, and to help to minimize damage to equipment and/or property caused by backing a large piece of equipment without a spotter. This mishap has not only changed forever the lives of those involved, but has opened up a fire department, and a city, to very costly litigation. Not to mention the medics themselves. The simple fact is that the cost of these accidents, even when there is no death or injury, can still be quite considerable. The fire department I work for lost a new medic for almost 4 months after it was backed into an overhang at a medical clinic. The medic had a rear looking camera on board, but the structure above it was out of the field of view. The damage to the medic, while not appearing significant at first, cost the department 4 months and $35,000 dollars. The backing policy was not followed in this incident. Furthermore, I must agree with North Chief. With a patient loaded, utilizing a ground “backer or spotter” may not always be an option. Looking out the window will do the trick. There are few excuses for not having a set of eyes at the back of a medic. ADOPT a policy if there isn’t one in place, IMPLEMENT the policy, and ENSURE strict adherence to it. STAY SAFE OUT THERE. Don’t open yourself, or your department up to these very costly and preventable mistakes.

  • OhioFF/Medic

    Fire department and EMS agencies that have not adopted a backing rule/procedure/policy should implement one to prevent yet, another needless and preventable tragedy. These policies are paramount in ensuring the safety of its members, the safety of the citizens we serve, and to help to minimize damage to equipment and/or property caused by backing a large piece of equipment without a spotter. This mishap has not only changed forever the lives of those involved, but has opened up a fire department, and a city, to very costly litigation. Not to mention the medics themselves. The simple fact is that the cost of these accidents, even when there is no death or injury, can still be quite considerable. The fire department I work for lost a new medic for almost 4 months after it was backed into an overhang at a medical clinic. The medic had a rear looking camera on board, but the structure above it was out of the field of view. The damage to the medic, while not appearing significant at first, cost the department 4 months and $35,000 dollars. The backing policy was not followed in this incident. Furthermore, I must agree with North Chief. With a patient loaded, utilizing a ground “backer or spotter” may not always be an option. Looking out the window will do the trick. There are few excuses for not having a set of eyes at the back of a medic. ADOPT a policy if there isn’t one in place, IMPLEMENT the policy, and ENSURE strict adherence to it. STAY SAFE OUT THERE. Don’t open yourself, or your department up to these very costly and preventable mistakes.