It is possible that the EMS crews/Emergency Communication are at fault and could have prevented this individual’s unfortunate death. However, before you completely condemn them from news reports (which we all know are always never wrong) let the full investigation take place. During times of a local or regional weather related emergencies, it may be necessary to triage calls and dispatch crews based upon priority levels. It makes little sense to dispatch an ambulance and potentially place both the crew and ambulance into unnecessary danger for a medical condition that is not critical and does not require immediate medical intervention. Until an autopsy and incident investigation can be completed, can we or should we fully judge the actions or inactions of an entire EMS operational system.

Pete