Firefighter Disciplined for Taking Burned Toddler to Hospital When Ambulance Didn’t Arrive
Some things make you shake your head, like hearing that a first responder was disciplined for doing what most of us would consider to be the right thing.
Major Corey Britt, a 25-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Fire Department, was removed from his position as senior company officer after a complaint was filed against the firefighter by EMSA, the emergency service that sent an ambulance to a Christmas Eve incident.
Britt arrived on the scene of a medical call for 3-year-old Quinn Amme. The child suffered second-degree burns to her lower body. When EMS failed to arrive more than 20 minutes later, and after several calls, Britt decided not to wait. He transported the young girl to the hospital on a fire department vehicle. Britt’s actions violated state law by transporting a victim, but they seem like common sense in the situation.
The department decided that Britt will keep his pay and rank but would face “internal corrective measures.” Sources said one of the measures was removal as a senior company officer.
Family members of the victim are offering support to Britt and said it was EMS that failed. Parents Corey and Kristen Amme said they were left waiting for EMS to arrive after their daughter was scalded with hot oil from a fondue pot.
Kristen said that after waiting with firefighters for over 20 minutes for EMS to arrive, she called a dispatcher back, was told the ambulance was still at least ten minutes away.
The grateful mother praised Britt’s decision to transport her and her daughter to the hospital:
One of several firefighters offering support for Britt told local news station KFOR News:
“None of the firefighters feel like this is fair. Yes, we know he broke policy, but he was only trying to help the child.”
We all want an officer Britt around when our loved ones are hurt.
