Brooklyn (12/9/09) - Two emergency medical technicians (EMT's) have been suspended, as the city Fire Department investigates allegations that they chose not to help a dying pregnant woman just steps from their Brooklyn headquarters.
EMT's or emergency medical technicians are the people who drive up in the ambulance and save you if you are injured.
Eutisha Revee Rennix collapsed while working at an Au Bon Pain restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn on December 9.
Rennix's co-workers say the two off-duty EMTs, Jason Green and Melissa Jackson, were buying bagels at the shop. They responded to pleas to help Rennix by saying others should call 911.
"Coworkers went over and asked them to help them in the back, and they refused and said they were on their break," said Cynthia Rennix, Eutisha's mother. "They told them to call it in. In the meantime, they were having their breakfast, and they bought their breakfast and they left."
A Long Island College Hospital emergency crew arrived minutes later but did not have the equipment to revive Eutisha Rennix.
Rennix's child, who was due in March, died after her mother. They were buried together last Friday.
Eutisha Rennix also leaves behind a three-year-old son, Jahleel.
The FDNY said Monday that the two EMTs have been suspended without pay, pending further investigation.
When asked if there was a case of burn out in the department, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said their actions were unacceptable no matter what.
"Burn out? They were sitting there having coffee, how can they be burnt out?" said the mayor. "They're human beings. Somebody's dying down the street and they say help them, and they just sat there. There's no excuse whatsoever, as far as I can see. I don't know what kind of burn out you can have."
Bloomberg added that the first responsibility of all EMS and FDNY workers is to save lives.
Jeff Samerson, a representative from the EMT and paramedics union said that the EMTs followed protocol.
"[Jackson] called 911. She didn't have an ambulance. She didn't have equipment. She does not work in the field as an active EMT in an ambulance," he said. "She is a dispatcher. She works as an emergency medical dispatcher. [Green] is also a dispatcher. These are people that are not in the field, that have not had patient contact in years. And they did the best they could."
Questions:
1) Where did the story take place?
2) When did this story take place?
3) What is an EMT?
4) What are the two EMT's names?
5) Why are the EMT's in trouble now?
6) Should the EMT's have helped the lady?
7) What was is excuse the EMT's are trying to give now?
Info from NY1
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