An Open Letter to the Media:
On September 11, 2,001, the day that America came under attack by terrorists who had hijacked four planes, turning them into missiles aimed at the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon. Rescuers made up of police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics entered two 110 story buildings
known as the World Trade Center. For over 90 minutes these rescuers feverishly work to evacuate more than 25,000 individuals. Emergency Medical Services Personnel which is made up of both Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics were in the Towers providing treatment to the civilians suffering from smoke inhalation, medical problems including chest pains, burn patients and a host of other injuries and ailments.
In addition Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics we’re also rendering aid to firemen, and law enforcement officers who were suffering from exhaustion, as emergency medical personnel continued rendering aid the unthinkable happened the first tower collapsed trapping civilians, firefighters, police officers, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. Minutes later the second tower collapsed also trapping Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Police Officers, Firefighters, and Civilians. As time went on throughout the day and next day it became obvious that everyone who remained in the building were lost forever.
On this historically tragic day all news network’s including the following ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX News
Agencies transfixed the airwaves with images that displayed the utter destruction, and continually provided updated figures of the number of Police Officers and Firefighters who had lost their lives. As the days, months and now years have passed the media which includes newspaper organizations continue to omit
the critical role played by Member's of Emergency Medical Services, who on September 11, 2001, lost ten Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics who were also in the towers at the time the buildings collapsed. ten (10) Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics lost their lives and another 116 other Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics were injured.
Why have your news agencies fail time after time to include or acknowledge the heroic actions of the Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics who lost their lives in the Line of the Duty in addition to the 116 EMT’s and Paramedic who were injured. Many of the injured EMS Personnel continued to treat the injured suffering both Medical and Trumatic injuries. We also know from those who made it out of the buildings that many individuals who were working at the World Trade Center at the time of the attacks many off duty Part-time and Volunteer EMS Personnel these men and women were providing patient care and support and many other EMT’s and paramedics who were members of many volunteer EMS services who stayed behind to treat patients in the two towers, subsequently loosing their lives when they could have chosen to leave the buildings to find safety.
The media must correct their critical error in fairness to the omitted professional organization of emergency medical services who served with the highest degree of professionalism. The media recognize that two of the ten EMS personnel who perished on September 11, 2001 were members of the New York City fire departments EMS division, and additionally recognize the eight other EMT’s and paramedics who perished worked for several private emergency medical services agencies.
An emergency medical service is a critical part of the emergency services system, and it is time that this horrific and disgraceful omission is rectified. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are the highest train prehospital care provider’s whose actions and skills saved many individuals who were injured, suffered cardiac symptoms and suffered respiratory emergencies as a result of smoke, falling debris, and trauma.
The names of the ten Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics who lost their lives in the Line of Duty September 11, 2001.
Mitch Wallace, EMT, Bayside Volunteer Ambulance
Richard Pearlman, EMT, Forest Hills VAC
Mark Schwartz, EMT, Hunter Ambulance
Marc Sullins, Cabrini Medical Center
Mario Santoro, EMT-P New York Presbyterian Hospital
Keith Fairben, EMT-P New York Presbyterian Hospital
David P. Lemagne, EMT-P, Port Authority of NY & NJ Police
Carlos Lillo, EMT-P FDNY EMS
Ricardo Quinn, EMT-P FDNY EMS
FDNY EMS
FDNY EMS
FDNY EMS
Respectfully,
Dave
This Letter has been mailed to ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and MSNBC in addition to the Washington Post, USA Today, and the Detroit Free Press just to name a few
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