Investigation into toddler deaths in Winthrop finds system was ‘taxed’ as ambulances were unavailable – NBC Boston

Months after the death of a child following a medical emergency in Winthrop, Massachusetts, a report found that ambulances were unavailable due to a “taxed” system.

The report is the result of an investigation by the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services following the Jan. 26 death of a 2-year-old girl.

Winthrop Fire Chief Scott Wiley was among those attending a home on Pleasant Street when the child needed medical attention. With no ambulances able to respond immediately, Wiley drove the girl in the back of his SUV to Massachusetts General Hospital while two firefighters performed CPR.

The child was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The death of a two-year-old girl has raised questions about the impact of staffing issues on the emergency services industry.

Winthrop contracts its emergency medical service with Action Ambulance, which provides two ambulances in the city. Both ambulances were already helping other people when they received another desperate call for help.

The closest was Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, which is at least 20 minutes away.

The state investigation found:

• Action Ambulance followed correct policies and procedures
• Action Ambulance dispatchers called for mutual aid several times
• Members of the Winthrop Fire Department attempted to reach another ambulance that responded to the call for help, but it was too late

According to the report, Winthrop and surrounding 911 systems were “taxed” at the time of the call.

Action Ambulance will continue to review its procedures. It is said that other authorities are more willing to cooperate and provide assistance in this case.

A spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said the EMS industry, like other parts of the health care system, is facing staffing shortages and resource challenges statewide and in the Bay State.

“It was obviously a deeply traumatic call for everyone involved,” Wiley said days after the incident. “The two firefighters sitting at the back did a really exceptional job in really difficult circumstances. They continued to perform CPR and heroically tried everything they could to save the life of a little girl, but unfortunately they failed.”

Despite a long career as an emergency responder, the call was difficult, Wiley said.

“It’s one of the hardest calls I’ve ever made, I’ve been on this for 33 years,” he said. “The death of a two-year-old child is difficult.” Him – he remains behind bars.

With no ambulances available to respond to a medical emergency, Winthrop Fire Chief Scott Wiley drove a 2-year-old girl in his own SUV to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.