Midway Fire files complaint against Rural/Metro
BY BRADLEY "B.J." DAVIS, JR. Gulf Breeze News bjdavis@gulfbreezenews.com

Midway Fire Department recently filed a complaint against Rural/Metro regarding an incident involving a woman needing medical attention at Wal-Mart on Friday, Jan. 26.

"The complaint details a lack of quality treatment and customer service which is a situation that occurs quite frequently in the Midway Fire District," said District Chairman Buck Thackeray in a letter to the Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners.

The complaint from Gulf Breeze resident Charlene Cleary claims she was shopping at the retail center when she came across a woman sitting on a bench who was having a hard time breathing.

"She was pale and looked ill to me. I asked her if she needed help. Her lips were blue and her face was pasty yellow," Cleary said. Cleary said store personnel called 9-1-1 at the woman's request and gave her a cool cloth.

According to the Cleary, Rural/Metro workers arrived on scene first, followed shortly thereafter by Midway Fire District employees. Cleary stated that at no time did she witness Rural/Metro workers take the woman's vitals, nor did she see them administer oxygen. Another witness claims Rural/Metro did not allow Midway Fire employees to assist.

"The fire department came upon the scene and asked [Rural/Metro] paramedics if they could help, and the response was 'no.' They strapped [the woman] down and quickly removed her from the store," said Lesley Johnson in a witness statement taken by Midway Fire District personnel.

Rural/Metro officials say proper protocol was observed.

"There was something of the patient's history that concerned [paramedics] and given that information, it was imperative they got the patient to the emergency room as quickly as possible," said Nikki Gast, Public Information Officer for Rural/Metro.

She explained that the patient's information was taken en route to the hospital, which also falls into EMT and paramedic protocol. She further explained that the request for assistance by Midway Fire District was denied because the first-responding agency is responsible for the patient.

Additionally, since Rural/Metro is the county's medical transport, it was also the responsible for getting the patient to an emergency room.

"The complaint or complaints by Midway Fire District concerning Rural Metro will be investigated by the county to determine what can be done to resolve this situation," County Commissioner John Broxson said.

The Midway Fire District recently lobbied to the Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners to provide ambulance service within its district. The county advertised a request for proposal for ambulance service agencies to bid on ambulance service including and excluding the Midway District to determine feasibility.