From the official CHFD Press Release: At just around 9:15 AM, on Saturday, April 12, 2008, one Cherry Hill Fire Department EMT and one fire department Paramedic were struck by a motorist while working on another emergency scene in the westbound lanes of Route 70.
The EMT and Paramedic were operating on the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving four vehicles with five victims that required transport to a hospital. While they were loading one patient already on a stretcher into the ambulance, they were struck by a motorist. The vehicle went around the backed-up traffic and onto the shoulder where the EMS personnel were operating and struck them and their vehicle.
Both injured EMS personnel were treated on the scene by Cherry Hill Firefighters also working at the original accident scene. Additional emergency workers were called to assist with the two accidents. All patients from the original accident were transported to local hospitals. The injured EMT and Paramedic were transported to Virtua hospital where they are under observation with non life threatening injuries.
Chief Giorgio remarked: “Accidents involving emergency workers operating on a roadway can be career ending and often fatal. This incident highlights the risk our EMTs and Firefighters take every day performing their duties. Our EMTs respond to about 7,500 calls each year and accidents make up a decent portion of that total. We encourage all motorists to slow down and increase their awareness near accident scenes, especially when there are emergency vehicles and personnel operating. Sometimes, this increased awareness and care is the only protection emergency responders have while operating on our roadways”.
Of particular interest; one of the EMS workers struck is in training for the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride set to begin on May 17th, 2008. This 500 mile bike ride is a component of the Annual EMS Memorial held in Roanoke. VA. This ride has the multiple objective of: Remembering fellow EMS workers who have died in the line of duty, raise public awareness about EMS line of duty deaths and disabilities; honor EMS providers who work despite dangerous safety conditions; and others.
This incident is currently under investigation by the Cherry Hill Fire Department and Cherry Hill Police.
The EMT and Paramedic were operating on the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving four vehicles with five victims that required transport to a hospital. While they were loading one patient already on a stretcher into the ambulance, they were struck by a motorist. The vehicle went around the backed-up traffic and onto the shoulder where the EMS personnel were operating and struck them and their vehicle.
Both injured EMS personnel were treated on the scene by Cherry Hill Firefighters also working at the original accident scene. Additional emergency workers were called to assist with the two accidents. All patients from the original accident were transported to local hospitals. The injured EMT and Paramedic were transported to Virtua hospital where they are under observation with non life threatening injuries.
Chief Giorgio remarked: “Accidents involving emergency workers operating on a roadway can be career ending and often fatal. This incident highlights the risk our EMTs and Firefighters take every day performing their duties. Our EMTs respond to about 7,500 calls each year and accidents make up a decent portion of that total. We encourage all motorists to slow down and increase their awareness near accident scenes, especially when there are emergency vehicles and personnel operating. Sometimes, this increased awareness and care is the only protection emergency responders have while operating on our roadways”.
Of particular interest; one of the EMS workers struck is in training for the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride set to begin on May 17th, 2008. This 500 mile bike ride is a component of the Annual EMS Memorial held in Roanoke. VA. This ride has the multiple objective of: Remembering fellow EMS workers who have died in the line of duty, raise public awareness about EMS line of duty deaths and disabilities; honor EMS providers who work despite dangerous safety conditions; and others.
This incident is currently under investigation by the Cherry Hill Fire Department and Cherry Hill Police.
