Forcing Entry to Get to Paitents

[nypamedic43]

I have forced entry with my partner before. The gentleman called 911, and told dispatch that he was having severe chest pain and the phone went dead. Our station was right down the road from the address and we got on scene before PD did. The patient would not answer the back door, so we went around to the front door and could see the man sitting in his chair, with the phone in his hand, partially dressed....the front door was unlocked, but had a chain in place. My partner went to the ambulance and got a screwdriver, by this time PD was on scene, the situation was explained and PD said go for it. All we did was simply pry the chain lock off the door frame and opened the door. Unfortunately the man was asystole, and since it took us a few minutes to get the door open, it was too late to try. But we waited with PD for family to arrive and took care of their needs.