Two paramedics as well as an Ohio fire chief and assistant chief have been placed on leave after an overdose victim was mistakenly declared dead.
Springfield Township Fire Chief Barry Cousino and Assistant Chief David Moore as well as the two unnamed medics are sidelined while an investigation is conducted, WTOL reported.
The two chiefs were not at the scene but firefighters were in accordance with an agreement with Lucas County to provide EMS to residents. The investigation will determine if crews followed policies and procedures.
On Jan. 2, the crews found a unconscious woman on a couch with an 'aggressive' dog nearby.
"Police and paramedics unsuccessfully attempted to lure the dog away to begin treating the woman. They also contacted the dog warden, who secured the dog after taking more than 40 minutes to arrive," according to a letter from Springfield Twp. Administrator Michael Hampton.
"The paramedics observed that the patient was cold and stiff. They found no pulse, which led them to believe she was dead," Hampton's letter to residents states.
After their examination, medics called their supervising physician who walked them through multiple steps to confirm the woman was dead.
Later, as a coroner's staff started examining the woman they "observed that the patient appeared to be trying to breathe."
They administered multiple doses of Narcan and started performing CPR. She was transported to a hospital where "we believe she remains in intensive care, Hampton's letter states.
"The situation is tragic. It shouldn't have happened, and we're very sorry that it did. Our internal investigation will certainly get to the bottom of what happened, and we'll provide the public with as much transparency as we legally can," Hampton told township trustees.
