Paramedics Rescue Boy On Oxygen From Burning Home

[akflightmedic]

Don't see this title often!!!!

Paramedics Rescue Boy On Oxygen From Burning Home

POSTED: 6:55 am EDT July 11, 2008

UPDATED: 7:31 am EDT July 11, 2008

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. -- Prince George's County paramedics rescued a disabled teenage boy who is dependent on breathing equipment from a burning home on Thursday.

The fire department said it responded just after noon to a report of a fire at the two-story Fort Washington home. Family members were attempting to get the boy out of his basement bedroom.

A paramedic crew was able to enter the basement and remove the boy from multiple monitors and breathing machines before carrying him to safety along with two other siblings.

The boy was transported to a nearby hospital because of his medical condition. There were no fire- or smoke-related injuries.

The fire caused about $50,000 in damage. Investigators concluded it was started by a child playing with a lighter.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.

And follow up information....

The box alarm stated a report of one person trapped in the basement. On the fireground channel, supplemental information reported "now two people trapped in the basement". Medic 847 was the first unit to arrive and reported smoke showing, second floor of a two story private dwelling.

The medics (no PPE provided) pulled a medical device dependant teenager and a sibling from the basement as well as assisted family members who were earlier trying to do the same.

Press release,

"Just after 12 Noon, Thursday, July 10, 2008, Prince George’s County Firefighters and Paramedics were alerted to a house fire in the Fort Washington area. Fire/EMS units responded to the 13200 Block of Park Lane and encountered a 2-story single family home with smoke coming from the roof and fire showing from the second floor.

Callers to 911 frantically described to public safety dispatchers that there was a teen-aged male located in a basement bedroom that has limited mobility, is attached to several monitors and breathing equipment and is dependent on oxygen. Family members were attempting to remove him from medical equipment and to escape the burning house. Dispatchers relayed the information about the occupants to responding firefighters and paramedics.

The paramedic unit from the Fort Washington Fire/EMS Station #847 was one of the first arriving units. The crew entered the basement and removed multiple medical monitors and breathing machines from the patient and carried him to safety along with two other siblings. The teen-aged male has an oxygen dependent medical condition so paramedics assisted with his breathing and transported him to an area hospital for continued treatment. There were no fire/smoke related injuries.

There were a total of 30 firefighters and paramedics that took about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire. The fire caused an estimated $50,000 in fire loss and the fire was determined to have been started by child playing with a lighter. The family of 2 adults and 4 children will be temporarily displaced and are being assisted by the Fire/EMS Department Citizen Services Unit."

[Kaisu]

Now who do you suppose educated that reporter? Nice to see that once in a while.