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Virginia Firefighters Suspended For Transporting Toddler on Engine Reinstated
The two Stafford County, Virginia firefighters who were suspended for having transported an 18-month old child to the hospital on an engine company, have been reinstated.
Captain James Kelley and Sergeant Virgil Bloom were reinstated yesterday as of 4 p.m. On February 27, 2016, they decided to transport an unconscious postictal toddler rather than wait for an EMS transport unit with an anticipated arrival time of 10-15 minutes. The transport was uneventful.
Captain Kelley was quoted by WUSA “I would not hesitate, I would do the exact same thing 100 percent 10 times out of 10. I sleep well at night knowing I provided good care to that young lady.”
I love it when bean counters are more concerned with counting beans than the actual mission.
While I share your sentiment, there are some state laws that prohibit this action. In Texas, transporting in a non transport vehicle, (except in times of disaster) can cost the AHJ tens of thousands of dollars in fines and other penalties. This in turn can affect the lives of thousands of citizens.
Then I guess the bean counters aren’t doing their job. Obviously they are incapable of thinking outside the box to allow exceptions to the rule with extenuating circumstances, They’re making rules for an EMERGENCY service. Are they too dumb to realize emergencies don’t fit into nice, neat little boxes?!? Never mind, don’t answer that.