EMS >>>
By GARY LUDWIG
Smile – You May Be
On Camera!
Do Something Wrong on a Call and the World Can Watch You on YouTube
L
ast year, my two teenagers were us have seen the collision of two St. Louis, the opposite is also true. Do something
with me in the car on the night of MO, fire apparatus at an intersection while wrong and as the saying goes, “a picture
the Fourth of July. In most com- both were running “urgent” to a house fire. is worth a thousand words.”
munities, nighttime on the Fourth of It is clear from the video that one engine Patient confidentiality is the main
July is busy with fires and EMS calls. As had a green light and the other had a red reason why cameras and video recorders
we were heading home, an emergency light. The video was ram- should not be used by
call came in for a house fire only a cou- pant on the web among firefighters when treat-
ple of blocks away. As one who does not fire professionals soon af- The use of camera ing or transporting pa-
shy away when an emergency is within ter it was released. If you tients. In 2007, a para-
close driving distance, I proceeded to have not seen it, it can be and video phones medic found himself
the scene. From a block away, I could see found on YouTube.com. in trouble after posting
there was a “working fire,” as evidenced
by the large glow in the night sky.
Police officers have
been using dashboard
and their ability to pictures of accident vic-
tims on his MySpace
As I rounded the corner, I saw a two-
story frame house fully involved in flames.
cameras to record traffic
stops and other incidents,
transmit images page. His actions caught
up with him when a
Being the first emergency responder on and firefighters are start- man whose 16-year-old
the scene, I properly positioned my car so ing to do the same. Most, from emergency son was killed in a traf-
it would not block access for the engines however, are not using fic accident was charged
and trucks that would be coming in. I also dashboard cameras. Rath- scenes can be with assault after he
told my children to stay in the car. How- er, they are placing video beat up the paramedic
ever, they could see the action from their cameras on the dashboard good – and bad. for taking pictures of
vantage point. of apparatus and upon ar- his deceased son. The
After the fire was knocked down, I rival at a scene, they point paramedic denied tak-
went back to my car to leave the scene. the apparat