D.C. medic suspended following FD applicant death

By Matthew Cella
The Washington Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — D.C. fire officials have restricted the duties of the paramedic responsible for examining a recruit candidate who died Monday after a physical agility test at the department's training academy in Southwest.

Eric Allen, 23, of Temple Hills, died early Monday after complaining of trouble breathing when he completed a stair-climbing exercise in the facility"s hose tower building at about 10 a.m. Sunday.

Fire officials said he was examined by a paramedic on the scene and transported to Greater Southeast Community Hospital. He later was flown to Washington Hospital Center, where he died.

Fire officials yesterday confirmed they have placed the paramedic on no-patient-contact status as they investigate whether she appropriately assessed Mr. Allen's condition. Sources have identified the paramedic as a 20-year emergency medical services employee who has worked as a paramedic in the department for more than 10 years.

"That's standard anytime there's an event like that," said Battalion Chief Kenneth Crosswhite, a fire department spokesman. "We just want to make sure everything was done correctly."

Chief Crosswhite said an investigation was a standard procedure after an incident, but sources close to the investigation told The Washington Times of several irregularities in the patient care.

The sources said Mr. Allen had a heart rate between 150 and 200 beats per minute and had complained of shortness of breath, which should have made him a critical call.

But the sources said that after examining Mr. Allen, the paramedic ordered him transported to Greater Southeast in a basic life-support ambulance staffed by two lesser-trained emergency medical technicians. The patient was given a Priority 3 status, the department's lowest priority transport code.

Chief Crosswhite confirmed that Mr. Allen was classified as a Priority 3 patient and that he was transported to Greater Southeast in a basic life-support ambulance. He would not comment on whether the procedures were appropriate for the patient, saying that would be determined in the course of the investigation.

No cause of death has been determined.

The investigation is being conducted by the fire department's medical director, Dr. Michael Williams, and several senior staff members. Officials said there was no time line for completing the investigation.

Chief Crosswhite said fire officials have suspended the paramedic pending the outcome of the investigation of the department's Physical Agility Test. The series of physical tests determine if candidates are qualified to become recruits.

Officials said Mr. Allen had been through a medical evaluation Sunday morning before beginning the test.

Kenneth Lyons, head of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3721, which represents the city's civilian emergency medical workers, said fire officials had met with the paramedic and told her that her actions did not contribute to the firefighter candidate's death.

Chief Crosswhite called Mr. Lyons' statements "almost criminal."

"It's impossible to say that," he said. "We don't know all the facts yet."