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NEW: In baby Alijah’s last moments, a Rhode Island 911 call taker wasted crucial time & gave improper advice according to gut-wrenching audio reviewed by @ThePublicsRadio and @ProPublica.
Experts say Rhode Island’s 911 system is set up to fail. 1/ propub.li/2TlkjaX
Experts say Rhode Island’s 911 system is set up to fail. 1/ propub.li/2TlkjaX
The call taker told the family not to provide CPR if the baby was breathing.
That’s not right — but also, Alijah’s mom & aunt said he wasn’t breathing *eight* times over nearly four frantic minutes before she offering CPR advice. By then, EMS had arrived. 2/
That’s not right — but also, Alijah’s mom & aunt said he wasn’t breathing *eight* times over nearly four frantic minutes before she offering CPR advice. By then, EMS had arrived. 2/
It’s not an isolated incident. One emergency physician reviewed five 911 calls from the last year of Rhode Island residents who died following cardiac arrest.
911 call takers provided CPR instructions in *none* of them. 3/ propub.li/2ujQRYA
911 call takers provided CPR instructions in *none* of them. 3/ propub.li/2ujQRYA
In cases of cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR decreases the chance of survival by 10 percent. In Alijah’s case, it was four minutes between the start of the 911 call and the arrival of EMS. 4/
Gregory Scungio, the 911 center’s former acting director, defended the way in which his agency handled medical emergencies during an interview last year.
“We give pre-arrival medical instruction and it has worked very well for us over the years” he said. 5/
“We give pre-arrival medical instruction and it has worked very well for us over the years” he said. 5/
State officials said they can’t by law comment on the 911 call involving Baby Alijah’s family. They declined even with a privacy waiver signed by the baby’s grandmother, whose voice is on the 911 call. 6/
Side note: While reporting this story, @LynnArditi asked to see Scungio’s CPR certification. The state didn’t respond—days later he was reassigned.
His CPR certification expired in February 2016. (Scungio did not reply to an email seeking comment.) 7/ propub.li/2WcWLHa
His CPR certification expired in February 2016. (Scungio did not reply to an email seeking comment.) 7/ propub.li/2WcWLHa
Now Barbara, Alijah’s grandmother, can’t stop asking herself: “If that lady was more trained on the phone call, would my grandson still be alive?” 8/
Our investigation into Rhode Island’s 911 system won’t end here.
Have you called 911 for a medical emergency in the state? Be part of our reporting. 9/9 propublica.org/getinvolved/rh…
Have you called 911 for a medical emergency in the state? Be part of our reporting. 9/9 propublica.org/getinvolved/rh…
