A Letter To The Editor

On Thursday afternoon, June 19, 2008 I was listening to the scanner when Wicomico Central dispatched the Allan Volunteer Fire Company for an MVC involving a moped just a few minutes before 5:00pm. This incident was on Cooper Road not far from Riverside Drive Extended. Central advised a responding fireman that the patient was unconscious and Trooper 4 was available. The fireman (1520) told central to start the helicopter Trooper 4. Central told them Trooper 4 had a 15 minute ETA. The Ambulance with the Paramedic was on the scene around 5:00pm and the fire truck not long after. Around 6:00pm a fireman got on the radio and told command that the helicopter paramedic told them to tell PRMC the the unconscious trauma patient was a "priority 1, a serious priority 1." Central was told this information by command and central asked if the helicopter has left yet and command told them it was still on the ground. Keep in mind this was an hour after the Allan Volunteer Fire Department with the County paid paramedic was dispatched to the call for an unconscious trauma patient. One hour with this serious patient still on the scene of the crash. Can someone tell us what is wrong with this picture? A bystander could have picked this patient off the road and got him to the local trauma center in 15 minutes. He could have been at the hospital receiving definite care at 5:15 pm, but he was still on the scene for over an hour under the care of the Allan Volunteer Fire Department and their paid paramedic as well as the Maryland State Police paramedic. There goes the "Golden Hour." R. Adams Cowley is turning over in his grave. What were they doing that couldn't be done at PRMC's Trauma Center? To keep a trauma patient that was not trapped in a vehicle on the scene for over an hour is criminal. This incident needs to be investigated by the appropriate authorities.

So at some point after 6:00 pm Trooper 4 transports the patient to PRMC. At the same time the Allan Volunteer Fire Company BLS ambulance drives to PRMC to pick up their paramedic who must have flown with the helicopter. Guess what time the helicopter arrives at the hospital? Central acknowledged them at 6:20 pm. That was probably a normal drive to the hospital by the ambulance in less than 20 minutes. So that patient could have been loaded in the ambulance and transported to the hospital in less than 20 minutes with lights and sirens. WTF were they thinking? Did I mention criminal? This is a sad case of unadulterated negligence on all parties involved. I certainly hope the patient survives without any problems.

Someone should investigate this entire incident and take the appropriate actions. Everyone involved should be reprimanded and have their certifications stripped from them. Everything is taped and recorded and can be found at the 911 center before the tapes are erased. This is another case of renegade fireman doing any thing they want to without any oversight from the County. It is apparent that the Wicomico County has given the fire departments a License to Kill. If you live in Allan I feel sorry for you. The best thing you can do is put a for sale sign in your yard and move to another county.

None of this has been fabricated. It is an actual incident that someone should be asking questions about.