By Johnny Johnson
The Oklahoman
TULSA, Okla. — It’s not uncommon for emergency medical personnel to treat residual victims at some of the more grisly accident scenes. But some accidents are so bad that they affect everyone — from family members to emergency medical personnel — even the dispatcher who took the call.
That was the case with 2-month-old Zane Earles, who was found dead Monday — mauled by a Labrador puppy — after the infant was left in a baby swing inside a south Tulsa home.
Both the child’s mother and grandmother were taken by ambulance to St. Francis hospital after finding the infant. EMSA spokeswoman Tina Wells said she could not discuss the nature of their symptoms or treatment but said they were admitted to the hospital in “fair” condition. Both have been released.
Scene called horrific
After responding to the accident, Wells said two paramedics and the dispatcher who took the call decided to take the rest of the day off to clear their heads, and that EMSA assigned the responders and the dispatcher to take part in a “critical incident stress management” exercise.
“It’s basically a debriefing,” she said. “It lets people talk in a safe environment about what they saw, what they heard and what’s bothering them about it. It just helps them cope and sort through their emotions so they can stay healthy and return to work as the heroes they are, who continue to serve and do their job.”
EMSA usually provides a critical incident stress management exercise on a weekly basis, but Wells said Zane’s death was one of the more horrific calls that responders had been involved with.
Details under wraps
Police continued to investigate Wednesday. Prosecutors ultimately will decide whether any charges will be filed.
Police also are not releasing any details of Zane’s injuries, citing the sensitive nature of the child’s death.
Officers said Zane’s lifeless body was found by his mother Monday about 10:30 a.m.
The child had been left in an infant swing in a dining room when the father and grandfather left for work about 8:30 a.m. The mother and grandmother apparently were asleep in bedrooms at the opposite end of the house.
Initial reports indicated Zane was bitten numerous times by the black Labrador puppy, which was euthanized shortly after the incident.
Private funeral arrangements for Zane are pending with Fitzgerald’s Southwood Colonial in Tulsa. The death notice lists his parents as Linzy Earles and Tyler Ogden.
The home where Zane died is owned by Stan and Holly Earles, Linzy Earles’ parents, property records show.