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Updated: 11:04 PM Oct 10, 2007
Ambulance Company Speaks out After EMT Arrest
An EMT was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence of drugs with a patient in the back.
Posted: 10:04 PM Oct 10, 2007Reporter: Michael Wooten Email Address: michael.wooten@wsaz.com |
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50 Comments 
It’s an arrest that shocked many people in the region. An EMT was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence of drugs with a patient in the back.
A day after the arrest the EMT's employer is speaking out. Jan-Care Ambulance Services has been transporting patients for nearly four decades. This is the first time an EMT or paramedic has been arrested for DUI.
The company does not want one isolated incident to tarnish its reputation. When it comes to safety Shane Wheeler says Jan-Care puts patients first.
The ambulance service's reputation hit a road block when one of its EMT's was arrested and charged with drug abuse DUI.
"Those actions of that individual shouldn't represent how everybody at Jan-Care is or how everybody in the EMS industry is for that matter," Jan-Care Ambulance Chief of Field Operations Shane Wheeler said.
Wheeler says protecting the public starts with new employees who must go through an extensive background check and the monitoring doesn't stop there.
A small camera acts like big brother, recording the road and the driver. It tracks any bad behavior in front of or behind the wheel.
Drivers are also monitored through drug-testing. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals says in general, drug testing is an invasion of privacy, but there are exceptions if there is reasonable suspicion that an employee is doing drugs or if the employee’s job involves public safety.
In Jan-Care's case, both forms of testing are legal. David Rotter also agrees with random testing. He owns Patriot EMS, a Jan-Care competitor, but he says this recent arrest should not reflect the industry.
"Thousands and thousands of ambulance trips occur everyday without incidents, and this is something that while unfortunate, the responsibility belongs to an individual and not the industry itself," Patriot EMS Chief Operations Officer David Rotter said.
Right now, Jan-Care performs drug tests on employees if the company suspects any weird behavior or if it gets a complaint, but beginning in a few weeks, Jan-Care will also start random drug testing, which again is legal because public safety is at risk.
Many ambulances services do not perform drug testing at all. Jan-Care says this is another instance in which it is putting public safety first.
Every Jan-Care employee also gets a drug test before they're hired.
Latest Comments
Well, here it is, seems that the drug test came back POSITIVE for HYDROCODONE in his urine???? I was there in the court room when this was discovered and the defense is now trying to suppress the test??? The ambulance driver told the officers he had a head cold! When have you ever heard of somone taking Hydrocodone for a head cold? Must have really been hurting??? Now what do all the "bleeding hearts" have to say? Seems like the officers knew what they were doing? Or should we be allowed to "operate a motor vehicle" while taking this DRUG or numerous others that IMPAIR your ability to drive?
First:you people need to get over it.(James) hes was just a driver!!! he wasnt a emt or paramedic! he has no training!!!! you need to come to grips with the fact that hes just a driver! another loser got caught breaking the law get over it. Second: people need to focus on the good emts that bust their butts for nothing. Its a passion and they love helping people but nine out of ten calls are b/s calls. so if people dont like the fast driving then DONT CALL 911 FOR A TOOTH ACHE OR A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT!!! People really need to support local FF/ems/police they get paid little or nothing to save your butt!!!! be greatful they care not focus on the one loser!!
TO JAMES I AGREE WITH ALOT OF YOUR COMMENT BUT I DO TAKE OFFENSE TO BEING CALLED AN AMBULANCE DRIVER. IF SOME ONE DRIVE A FIRE TRUCK THEY ARE FIREFIGHTER NOT FIRE TRUCK DRIVERS. IF SOMEONE DRIVES A POLICE CAR THEY ARE POLICE OFFICERS NOT POLICE CAR DRIVERS. IF YOU ARE AN EMT OR PARAMEDIC THEN YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE IS ALOT OF TRAINING INVOLVED.
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