Unions: D.C.’s Broken Ambulances Too Hot to Handle

Rend Smith — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:02:44 +0000

This week, the District has been besieged by relentless heat. It’s uncomfortable, perhaps even more so, for those on the verge of death. When that's the case, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and registered nurses think D.C. ambulances shouldn't be a very uncomfortable 107 degrees. In a statement released today, union leaders for those groups are urging Mayor Vince Gray to fix some of the District's broken emergency transports:

"Last week, seven of the city’s Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department 25 basic life support ambulances—or 28 percent—were out of service. Many ambulances suffered from dysfunctional air-conditioning systems. One ambulance without a working air-conditioner was ordered back in service by a deputy chief even though a Department of Health inspector ordered it off the road after finding the patients’ compartment was 107 degrees. Another ambulance had a makeshift box fan to try to cool the patient compartment when its air-conditioner did not work."

The labor groups that signed the letter—National Nurses United, the DC Nurses Association, and the D.C. Fire Fighters Association Local 36—say they're bringing up the hobbled transports because the city is ub its "second heat wave of the summer" weather season and “it is simply unacceptable for patients in need of emergency care to either not have an ambulance to transport them when needed or to have to be transported in an ambulance without a functioning air-conditioner."

We've reached out to the mayor's office for a comment. In the meantime, try not to get sick in the heat—a stifling and stuffy ride to the hospital may make it worse.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

Fire Chief Rubin Taunted At Hearing

Jason Cherkis — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:43:35 +0000

On March 4, testimony got heated at the Fire Department's oversight hearing. After Dennis L. Rubin testified before Councilmember Phil Mendelson's Judiciary Committee, Firefighter Chris Sullivan took his turn at the witness table.

Mendo asked Rubin to remain in the room so he could hear Sullivan's testimony. Rubin complied. He then proceeded to take a verbal beat down.

Sullivan ran down his personnel file for the better part of six minutes. His testimony mirrors that of a lot of other firefighters. There are scores of firefighters who are seething over Rubin's handling of personnel issues. This is one of those cases. Sullivan claims that he was wrongly charged with going AWOL in April of 2008. He went on to say that he was found not guilty.

This led to other charges. A stint on administrative leave with pay and details out of his firehouse. And more in-fighting all over very minor charges it seems. But then as Sullivan concluded his testimony, he turned to Rubin and other fire department officials and went off.

Sullivan held up a picture of his young son. He then turned and showed it to the fire department officials.

"Would you be man enough to tell my little boy what you did to me?" Sullivan asked. "You're laughing. It's not funny. Your day's coming. Your day's coming. You'll have your chance in federal court, don't worry. What's the smirk for?"

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Rubin was not man enough to answer Sullivan's question or respond to his allegations. Mendo then broke the tension in classic wonk style: "Mr. Sullivan does that conclude your testimony?"

"Yeah for now," Sullivan muttered.

"Is there something funny you want to share?" Sullivan asked the fire officials.

Sullivan then got up to leave. But not before getting in one last taunt at his bosses: “You wouldn’t be smirking out front would ya?”

“Mr. Sullivan I will call security,” Mendo warned, smacking his gavel.

No word if there was some kind of throwdown outside the Wilson Building.

City Desk » D.C. Fire/EMS

Unions: D.C.’s Broken Ambulances Too Hot to Handle

Fire Chief Rubin Taunted At Hearing