Snow Delays Leave Baby Brain Dead

The Pediatric Ambulatory Service of Elmhurst Hospital Center, in less snowy weather (nyc.gov)

Its unsurprising, considering the many still-unplowed streets, but still very sad to learn that EMS response times are still being hindered by the snow. For example: yesterday a three-month-old baby was left brain dead when rescuers were unable to arrive as promptly as normal, and then had to carry the child in by hand when their ambulance got stuck 30 yards from a hospital.

The story is simple and sad: Addison Reynoso was being watched by a babysitter when he suddenly lost consciousness. The babysitter got a neighbor to call 911 around 1 p.m.. Soon after the baby's parents arrived and began to perform CPR. The mother reached another 911 dispatcher at 1:12 p.m. and EMS arrived about 1:24 p.m. The family brought the baby down the ambulance which then started the two-mile trip to Elmhurst Hospital. But before they got their the ambulance got stuck and the baby had to be carried the rest of the way. He arrived at the hospital at 1:42 p.m. "The main street outside of the emergency room wasn't cleaned yet," the boy's father told the Post. "We had to get out of the ambulance and run."

Later an FDNY source told the paper that "the weather hampered our efforts. The snow did impact this." The baby, who was apparently suffering from a respiratory infection, is currently on life support as his family decides how to proceed.

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By Garth Johnston in News on December 31, 2010 1:54 PM

Comments [rss]

tbs222

Yes, I just think it is important to reemphasize the point that the delays are not the result of our EMS system. Ambulance response times were deplorable because ambulances could not traverse the adverse road conditions.

ides_of_march

These union scumbags should be brought up on charges. They have blood on their hands as far as I'm concerned.

Spirit of 76

But according to "thefacts," unions are the best thing that ever happened to Western civilization. They are the source of everything right about the workplace and life in general. Without them, we'd still be spending 100 hours a week cowering in our caves making flint spear points.

fosiacat

wow, so since we're learning that its the result of the fucking sanitation workers union's silent protest of budget cuts, who is held responsible for this, and when will they be pressing manslaughter charges?

sluggo

This, and all other deaths and EMS delays because of snow accumulation, is on Bloombergs head.

m015094

While you're tossing blame around, maybe you should blame "God" for creating the snow in the first place or maybe the parents for leaving a 3-month old with a respiratory infection with a babysitter.

Rocknrope

Terrible story. I'm also surprised that there were no similar stories during the February snowstorm of this year, when it snowed 20 inches as well, and then rained causing everything to freeze over. Perhaps it's because it was February and the city was more prepared that time.

Or perhaps this time the media just gives a shit.