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5-year-old thanks Md. responders for breaking rules

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Fire-EMS Article

December 23, 2011

5-year-old thanks Md. responders for breaking rules

Rescuers took her to hospital in their fire truck while performing CPR, rather than waiting extra minutes for ambulance to arrive

By Scott Broom
WUSA9


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CLINTON, Md. — A five-year-old girl who nearly died during an asthma attack November 28th thanked the three Prince George's County firefighter/paramedics who's quick action saved her life.

Christina Luckett handed out personalized plaques featuring her picture and photo to firefighter/medics Edward Scott, William Philpott and Clinton volunteer firefighter Ashley Butler as she met the rescuers inside the firehouse.

The trio also received Emergency Service Awards from Prince George's County fire chief Marc. S. Bashoor.

The rescuers took the unusual step of racing Christina to Southern Maryland Hospital in their fire truck while performing CPR, rather than waiting a few extra minutes for an ambulance to arrive. She had stopped breathing and had no pulse.

She was released from the hospital 3-days later and has fully recovered.

"Thank you!" Christina exclaimed before the formalities. "They helped me feel better."

Republished with permission from WUSA9


Comments
The comments below are member-generated and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EMS1.com or its staff.
Adam Burke Adam Burke Saturday, December 24, 2011 9:57:44 AM I couldn't think of a better reason to break the rules. Great Job!
Garrett Dave Miley Garrett Dave Miley Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:04:35 AM Great job! Another life saved by quick thinking.
Mark Hill Mark Hill Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:15:32 AM Way to adapt and over come. The Mission of being a Patient Advocate should always take precedent over a rule. Great Job brothers and sisters. Keep up the good work. Fire medic, MFR. Florida
David Mann David Mann Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:23:34 AM great job guys.
Sherry Miller Sherry Miller Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:39:23 AM Thank you for a fantastic job! As a parent, my Thanks to you also.
Justin Broach Justin Broach Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:53:29 AM GREAT JOB! DO WHATCHA GOTTA DO BOYZ!
Jessica Razo Jessica Razo Saturday, December 24, 2011 11:02:28 AM Our humble heroes.....God Bless Each and Every Firefighter/Paramedic out there.....without you all some wouldn't be celebrating Christmas this year.......Hats off to you.....
Diana Hodgkins LeClair Diana Hodgkins LeClair Saturday, December 24, 2011 11:39:59 AM Way to go guys! Thank God for your quick thinking.
Jim Freund Jim Freund Saturday, December 24, 2011 12:01:14 PM The end results.....common sense works when it's applied. Great Job!
Shon Jacoby Shon Jacoby Saturday, December 24, 2011 12:09:24 PM It is better to ask forgiveness than permission. Never doubt your decisions if you side on your patients well being. Shon J. Registered Respiratory Therapist. ACLS. PALS. ADLS.
Adam Swartz Adam Swartz Saturday, December 24, 2011 12:54:03 PM Awesome
Jessica Razo Jessica Razo Saturday, December 24, 2011 4:36:08 PM I am honored to be a firefighter/paramedic wife....it takes a special kind of man to do what they do.....they are angels sent by God to protect us His humble believers.....what a beautiful love!
Shon Jacoby Shon Jacoby Saturday, December 24, 2011 6:48:29 PM ok, I feel a clarification is in order due to the legal cannibals that seem to troll about. 1. online medical and protocols, 2. Delayed response time of Advanced EMS providers, 3. radio contact so that the ambulance and fire crew are working in tandem, 4. parent permission to transport with hazzards and contraindications explained. 5. adequate crew to change compressors at regular intervals. If the bases are covered and you are willing to risk a lawsuit that could bankrupt your service and place YOU liable above the limits of a good samaritan law if the outcome is poor then transport. Ok legals covered. Now the comment. This obviously isn't mom driving while on the cell with 911 and dad performing compressions and rescue breaths on a soft seat cushion in the dark. These are professionals either paid of volunteer that are trained to perform quatily BLS and have gone well above the call of duty. Do not judge from behind the desk.
Tom Paranzino Tom Paranzino Mon Dec 26 06:17:45 PST 2011 These were FF/PARAMEDICS providing ALS in an Engine as opposed to the bus. Seems appropriate. Well done.
Tami Ramirez Tami Ramirez Sunday, December 25, 2011 9:19:22 AM It's not breaking the rules when your life depends on it...just like the ambulance driver who hit a man (who should not have been driving in the first place due to being illegal alien with no license) in Oklahoma city, the ambulance driver was going 10 miles over the speed limit TRYING TO SAVE SOMEONES LIFE! if it were your mother brother sister, dad, husband, wife, OR CHILD, you would have wanted to get them to the hospital as quick as possible. I am outraged that this ambulance driver was fired over it...Ya'll know how many people pull over for you with your lights and sirens on...very few...
William Defeelinit William Defeelinit Sunday, December 25, 2011 12:24:10 PM This is what its all about...Thank god common sense ranked higher then butt saving...GREAT JOB GUYS.
Monday, December 26, 2011 8:09:42 AM The downside of this, and there is always a downside, is that transporting via fire engine will be used by some pursuing their own agenda as evidence that the ambulance did not arrive as quickly as it should have. Moreover, had the girl died, these caregivers would be considered as evil-doers who blatantly violated the protocols designed to protect helpless patients. Had she died, they would not have been heros but villians. We need to FIRMLY keep this fact in mind at all times. As compared with the ambualnce, did the fire engine have: as much room for treatment, as many supplies, the same speed and accident-avoidance capability, the same facilities for safely securing the patient and caregivers, the same medical and communications gear, etc. Clearly not.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 9:46:38 AM Thank you for using common sense and good judgement, you did what was right and today a little girls is alive. I bet her Christmas this year is the best yet. Keep up the excellent work and be safe.
Wilson Blackie Wilson Blackie Tuesday, December 27, 2011 8:07:22 PM Congrats to their quick thinking. In our county we are capable to deliver pt's in our rescue. We constantlymeeting up with paramedics down the highways. For medics to reach us is over 30 minute ETA or more.
James Quagliano James Quagliano Tuesday, December 27, 2011 8:47:22 PM As a commander once told me.... "Right or wrong, make a decision" This is definitely the RIGHT decision that was made. Congrats to all 3 and especially Christina!
Andy Hastings Andy Hastings Tuesday, December 27, 2011 9:15:20 PM really awesome job to the fire/ems brothers and sisters me as a parent see no problem with what they did. I am also in fire and ems. again I commend you all.
David McMahan David McMahan Tuesday, December 27, 2011 9:45:43 PM Great work by the Clinton VFD and PGFD. I know first hand that the CVFD and PGFD have done CPR and transported in the fire engine before because I did it as a member there on a 7 week old (my first CPR gig...I'll never forget it). Congratulations on a save and a job well done. David McMahan, Life Member. Clinton VFD
Chris Harrington Chris Harrington Wednesday, December 28, 2011 6:22:58 AM Way to go guys keep the good work up.
Anthony Messer Anthony Messer Wednesday, December 28, 2011 11:39:04 AM The lines aren't always clear for sure. As stated, err on the side of patient care and you will be right. Also, I had much rather be in court explaining why I did. something rather than why I did nothing!
Sherry Miller Sherry Miller Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2:56:29 PM The well being of a patient should come first. These heroes did the right thing. As a parent, I would want this kind of 'love' being shown to my children. Again, I thank you for a fantastic job!
Marty Munro Marty Munro Wednesday, December 28, 2011 5:04:59 PM Luckily it was firefighters that broke the rules because they can never do any wrong. If it was just some paramedics on an ambulance, they would have been fired, and somehow charged criminally with attempted murder.
Tamie Olmsted Tamie Olmsted Friday, December 30, 2011 9:25:31 AM If you have to break the rules to save a life, so be it!
Shelley Kye Burton Shelley Kye Burton Sunday, January 01, 2012 1:46:15 PM Great job!
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