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Slow Post-Snow EMS Response Blamed For Another Death
By
Garth Johnston
Published Dec 31, 2010
Modified Dec 31, 2010
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Dec 31, 2010
Modified Dec 31, 2010
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And another sad story from the aftermath of Blizageddon has emerged from the snow. 73-year-old Joel Grossman didn't feel great on Monday. Around noon he called 911 but because his situation wasn't life-threatening the dispatcher chose not to send an ambulance to his Kensington home. As the day progressed Grossman stayed in touch with the 911 dispatcher, but nobody was sent to him since it didn't sound too serious. And suddenly it was, and it was too late.
At some point after 6 p.m. a neighbor came home and heard Grossman crying for help. "He was screaming," the neighbor told the news. "He was lying on the couch and said he was in a lot of pain."
The neighbor called 911 again at 7 p.m. and the dispatcher sent an ambulance out—but because of unplowed streets the EMS crew couldn't get there until nearly 8 p.m., at which point Grossman was pronounced dead on arrival. The city medical examiner said Grossman died of natural causes from cardiovascular disease but that's cold comfort for his son. "They never got there. It's tragic. Things like this shouldn't happen," he said.
Tagged
9/11
blizzageddon
Blizzard
blizzard 2010
death
emergency response
EMS
non emergency
snow
Garth Johnston
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