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Brakes on DC ambulance went unfixed for months

Crew members have been documenting an air hose leak that can delay the ambulance for up to 2 minutes. It’s finally being fixed

WJLA.com

WASHINGTON — When D.C. ambulances like Medic 31 respond to an emergency, a sense of urgency can make all the difference.

However, when one of the city’s ambulances has a significant mechanical flaw that has gone unfixed for weeks, it can put patience and first responders in further danger.

Documents obtained by ABC7 reveal that crew members have been documenting for months now an air hose leak that affects the brakes in the city’s Medic 31 unit, but the problem still hasn’t been fixed. Ken Lyons, the head of the Civilian Paramedics Union, works out of Medic 31. He says that this particular problem can actually delay the ambulance from leaving the station for up to two minutes since it takes time for the air pressure to build up.

Full story: D.C. Fire/EMS ambulance had unfixed brakes, despite reports