I think it's clear that I don't see eye to eye with the Salisbury Fire Chief David See. However, there are times in which I feel credit is due, especially when it comes to cases like this.The other day we did a Post about the Wi Middle School Teacher Mrs. Townsend who had been innocently struck by a car and injured quite badly. I've been told, (not confirmed) she may have broken her nose, one knee broken in three places and a broken femur, all serious injuries.
Mrs. Townsend had to be transported to Shock Trauma in Baltimore for surgery and rehabilitation, all of which I'm told will take at least 8 months. Mrs. Townsend obviously will not be going back to Wi Middle School this year.
Nevertheless, there used to be a policy in the Salisbury Fire Department that if someone working for the department was injured and needed transportation to Baltimore, as an example, the trip was free. That rule changed and ultimately Firefighters have been charged for these trips since some time in the 90's, I believe.
I have been informed that Chief See made an internal decision recently to go ahead and transport Mrs. Townsend to Baltimore at no cost whatsoever. Regardless of the reason why, it is a decent and honorable thing to do.
That being said, Chief See, my hat is tipped to you. We know you've experienced a very difficult week here at Salisbury News and while we may not agree on many issues, this one is certainly one in which I personally respect and everyone out there should know how I feel. I will give credit where credit is do.
14 comments:
That's wonderful! My prayers are with her and her family...and thanks to Chief See. That's one thing that I like about you Joe, you will give credit where credit is due!
Kudos Chief See.
Thats a good thing to do. Many local volunteer departments transport their own on occasion. This is the right thing to do in a members time of need. Your members give so much for free throughout the year and seldom ask for anything in return. I had heard Salisbury members had received bills in the past and didn't understand it. Thanks go out to Chief See. It shows that he does care sometimes.
Ms Townsend is facing a lengthy recovery period with the injuries she sustained. I had heard the same report as you Joe and thanks for pointing out the good deed of Chief See.
If someone is down through injury
or illness I am proud of the way this community reacts to help others. There are little things each of us can do to help our neighbor.
Thank-you Chief See, and Joe thanks for keeping us informed.
While I think it is unfortunate that this happened to Mrs. Townsend and I look at all the students that will miss out on what she has to pass along to them (although I'm sure the long-term substitute will pick up adequately), I can't help but to think that there is something up here. Please correct me if I am wrong as I do not know all of the policies regarding transportion of patients, but do you think that this free ride possibly has something to do with the delayed response time because the ambulance was stuck at a bridge (which is what I am aware of)? Do you think that Chief See is trying to right a wrong here by provided long range transportation at no additional cost?
"at no cost whatsoever"
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... gotta be a cost somewhere
Dave C., do you also see dead people in your bedroom when you try to sleep at night? While I haven't read a single thing that confirmed the draw bridge was up when the ambulance was responding to this accident, if it was, so what? No fire department can predict the unpredictable. Many times the first responding ambulance is out of service because it's already out on a call and the next closest has to be dispatched instead. There are times when an ambulance gets a call for service and there is something mechanically wrong with it, requiring the next closest be dispatched instead. In life, nothing is perfect and do-do happens. To suggest this guy See - and I wouldn't know him if I bumped into him - is trying to "right a wrong" is ridiculous.
That little bell ringer can ring my bell anytime :)
My Mom broke her femur bone about ten years ago. EMS got her from PGH to University of Maryland Shock Trauma in less than an hour and a half by ambulance because the storm was so bad choppers were grounded.
Kudos to the Chief and all of Salisbury's emergency responders. Police, EMS and Firefighters paid and volunteer.
Chief See, good on you and thank you for showing some compassion, whatever the reason.
Joe, this isn't the first time I've read on here where you are giving Chief See credit for doing something good. The very picture you used on this post was another time you thanked him for his volunteer service to the Salvation Army.
Anon 1:31 PM,
Joe's original post yesterday regarding this event stated, "There was a long wait, longer than usual, (so I'm told) and they were told the Ambulance was allegedly stuck at the Bridge and couldn't get through."
Now, idiot, if you know ANYTHING about what has floated around Salisbury regarding the location of the new Station 16 in proximity to the draw bridges then you would know what I was talking about. Cheif See, among others, said that there was a minimal chance that an ambulance/emergency vehicle could get caught up at the draw bridges due to the Station's new location. That being said, the minimal chance has occurred and this time it was fortunate that the situation, while severe, was not life threatening. Now that the odds have presented themselves, what actions are going to be taken to prevent future delays such as this?
Sure, you can't "predict the unpredictable" but you sure can prepare for and prevent these incidents.
So, my Anon 1:31 PM idiot, know what you are talking about, read more than one blog posting and if you "wouldn't know [Chief See] if [you] bumped into him" then look at the picture associated with this posting. You're probably one of his money spending cronies anyway!
The bridge was not up, traffic slowed the engine response. The ambulance was A-1, which was in the area, and got there quickly. Get your facts straight. The slowdown in general is due to gawkers and people who forget to pull to the right when an emergency vehicle is behind them.
anon 4:22
I was in the busy traffic area at the time this incident happened. The ambulance/fire truck was head of me and city police a couple of cars behind me. People did try to move to the right or left to get these emergency vehicles through. But if u have ever been in that area around 7:30 or 8:00am it is horrible. There was no where for cars to move. They/we did the best we could. Until u have experienced this, I would watch what u say about people not moving over.
I sure hope Mrs. Townsend gets all the great healthcare up there and a speedy recovery.
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