Nebraska Paramedics Investigated After 11-Year-Old Boy Handed Radio

March 18, 2010
OMAHA, Neb. --  Some Omaha paramedics are under investigation for letting a boy talk on an emergency radio. The 911 director called it an unauthorized emergency transmission. The boy's grandfather said they acted appropriately in trying to calm him down in an emergency. Joey Roth, 11, had never ridden in an ambulance until Tuesday, when his grandmother suffered a severe asthma attack. The family called 911.

OMAHA, Neb. --

Some Omaha paramedics are under investigation for letting a boy talk on an emergency radio.

The 911 director called it an unauthorized emergency transmission. The boy's grandfather said they acted appropriately in trying to calm him down in an emergency.

Joey Roth, 11, had never ridden in an ambulance until Tuesday, when his grandmother suffered a severe asthma attack. The family called 911.

The sixth-grader got into the front seat of the ambulance. A fire captain handed him the radio and Roth said, "On route to Immanuel. Code 2. Ambulance 21 at Immanuel," said his grandfather, Brett Roth.

Now, the fire department is investigating.

"Investigate what? I think captain made the right choice trying to calm him down," said the boy's grandfather, Brett Roth said.

The boy said he is worried about the paramedics and his grandmother.

"If I knew it would get them fired, then I wouldn't have done it. I feel bad for them," he said.

The paramedics involved haven't been fired. The matter is still under investigation.

The boy said the experience has made him want to be a paramedic when he gets older. As for his grandmother, she is recovering in a hospital and could be there for a week. She also has the flu.

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