There are moments in any EMS
career that stand out.
Sometimes, events transpire
that place not only patients, but their
caregivers, at personal risk. One such
moment occurred on the evening of
June 2, 2006, for 20-year veteran
EMS Lieutenant Robert White.
While on patrol in Manhattan, he
responded to a hostage situation on
East 122nd Street. En route, he monitored
the police frequency and heard
reports of numerous shots fired and
one female victim. Additionally, it
was reported that a male--barricaded
in a fourth-floor apartment--was holding
children hostage. Lieutenant
White contacted the Manhattan North
Dispatcher to ensure that units
responding were aware of the danger.
Arriving at the scene, Lieutenant
White ensured that all members operating
on the scene were not within the
perpetrator’s line of sight. He established
a staging area on the northwest
side of Lexington Avenue and East
122nd Street, limiting EMS exposure.
He found that both children were out
of the apartment and on the fire
escape.
It was reported that the male had
taken a neighbor hostage and was
armed with an AK-47 and a hand
grenade. The police reported the location
of the injured female and an
NYPD patrol unit escorted Lieutenant
White and EMTs Keyla Celaya and
Juan Lebron toward the front of the
building where the victim was sitting
and bleeding.
Using the building and garden
walls as cover, they made their way
toward the patient. As they positioned
themselves, the male perpetrator
threw objects out the window. Any
attempt to extricate her required that
someone step out from cover. Despite
the danger, Lieutenant White placed
himself in harm’s way and pulled the
patient to safety. Beneath the shelter
of the building’s front awning, EMTs
Celaya and Lebron began treating her
for numerous stab wounds before she
was transported to Harlem Hospital.
During this incident, the
Lieutenant focused on two things: the
safety of the members operating and
the needs of the patient. In that hostile,
uncontrolled environment, he
acted quickly and decisively. For his
actions, Lieutenant Robert White is
presented with the Chief James
Scullion Medal.--KF |
