By EMS1 Staff
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — A paramedic who says she was unfairly suspended over a drowning incident has returned to work.
CBS DFW reported that AMR paramedic Liz Day was suspended for violating policy after jumping into the water to try and save drowning victim Xzavion Epps.
Day, who was the first to arrive at the scene, said she was unfairly suspended because she received permission to accompany a police officer into the water as long as they were both wearing life jackets.
“In a situation like this seconds matter,” Day said.
Epps did not survive the incident, and Day said she submitted an incident report to her supervisor.
“I was called into our Dallas office and was advised I’d be placed on administrative leave without pay pending an investigation,” Day said.
Officials told Day her response to the drowning incident violated AMR policy.
“It basically states that an employee is not to enter a dangerous environment without it being made safe to do so first by either police or by fire,” Day said.
Day said that the environment was as safe as it could have been because she was wearing a life jacket and had permission from police.
“Public safety itself is an inherently dangerous job and in a situation like this our first priority should be in saving lives,” Day said. “It was just very frustrating to do something and feel like I did the best I could this was the outcome.”
The Melissa Fire Department reported that Day was never given permission to enter the water, according to an AMR spokesperson. AMR did, however, acknowledge there was confusion during the incident and they have since reinstated Day. She will also be paid for shifts she missed during the suspension.