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Ambulance Dispatch Delay Being Investigated

2 comments

AN EXPERIENCED 9-1-1 DISPATCHER IN PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA, is on administrative reassignment today after an incident where an ambulance was not dispatched until 14 minutes after the call came in.

The incident took place on Friday night when a caller reported that a 91-yr.-old woman was in cardiac arrest.  The dispatcher who is also a supervisor, took the call and immediately sent a police unit and a fire engine that was staffed with three EMT’s and one Paramedic.  But for some as-yet-unknown reason, the ambulance wasn’t dispatched until much later.

This video report from WZVN-TV has the full story, but the newscasters appear to be trying to blame the dispatch error for the woman’s death, despite the timely arrival of the paramedic engine crew:

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Posted by on March 11, 2010 • Filed under: ambulances, dispatch, EMS Topics, Videos • Tagged: , ,
  • B.Morgan

    The dispatcher did get some one capable of dealing with the call on scene right away. I think there is a lot more to this story. The media often loves to jump on this type of story.

    My spouse, a former reporter told me once that at times the media is more intrested in selling a story them then reporting all the facts.

    Many years ago in Rocky Mountain National Park we responded to a report of a man down. It was a 30 minute response and we found the older gentleman down and cold on the ground. As we got ready to start CPR a very polite older English woman, his wife stepped foward and said in a firm but nice way, Leave him be. He led a long, full life and this was a beautiful place to die and he went peacefully. What would you have done? (This is pre-cell phone and radio comm's were poor).

  • B.Morgan

    The dispatcher did get some one capable of dealing with the call on scene right away. I think there is a lot more to this story. The media often loves to jump on this type of story.

    My spouse, a former reporter told me once that at times the media is more intrested in selling a story them then reporting all the facts.

    Many years ago in Rocky Mountain National Park we responded to a report of a man down. It was a 30 minute response and we found the older gentleman down and cold on the ground. As we got ready to start CPR a very polite older English woman, his wife stepped foward and said in a firm but nice way, Leave him be. He led a long, full life and this was a beautiful place to die and he went peacefully. What would you have done? (This is pre-cell phone and radio comm's were poor).