2 heroic firefighters got suspended for rushing a sick girl to the hospital in a fire engine
For the bulk of the population, a "split-second" decision is what happens at a restaurant when the waitress is coming over to take your order and you still haven't decided between the chicken or the beef.
For firefighters — whose quick decision-making consists of either running into a burning building or not — it's a little bit different.
Two men with the Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department in Fredericksburg, Virginia, utilized their well-honed quick thinking skills to save the life of an 18-month-old girl having a seizure -- but WTTG reports that their possibly life-saving actions resulted in anything but praise.
On February 27, Captain James Kelley and Sgt. Virgil Bloom answered a call about a child having a seizure at a McDonald's restaurant.
When the duo arrived at the scene, they determined the girl was in need of immediate medical care -- but according to WUSA, the ambulance was reported to be about 15 minutes away.
Not believing the girl would be able to wait that long, the two men did what anyone in that situation would do -- they rushed the child to the hospital.
Luckily, according to the girl's father Brian Nunamaker, his daughter has made a full recovery.
Noting how important timing is when reacting to seizures, Nunamaker and his wife accredit their child's wellbeing to the two heroic firefighters and the fast-acting medical staff at the hospital where she was treated.
%shareLinks-quote="As a parent, you feel extremely helpless to be unable to assist the most important person in the world during such a time of emergency." type="quote" author="Brian Nunamaker" authordesc="father" isquoteoftheday="false"%
Though their quick reacting saved the 18-month-old's life, Kelley and Bloom found themselves disciplined for their actions.
According to Kelley, the two were suspended because their fire engine is not licensed for medical transport.
Though the bold move ended in reprimand instead of praise, both men still stand their ground, confident in their split-second decision.
%shareLinks-quote="I would not hesitate, I would do the exact same thing 100 percent 10 times out of 10. I sleep well at night knowing I provided good care to that young lady." type="quote" author="Captain James Kelley" authordesc="volunteer firefighter" isquoteoftheday="false"%
When reached for comment, a spokesman from the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department said that 'a potential regulatory compliance issue is under review by the Fire and Rescue Department and the Virginia Department of Health."
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