Creating Order From Chaos, The EMS Response To The Sunset Park Shooting
by CrownHeights.info
It was still rush-hour in the predominantly Asian area of Sunset Park in Brooklyn, and commuters were still packed on the R train. The continuous rattle of the New York City Subway was about to be disrupted.
Using witness accounts and cell phone footage, the story of how the shooting that injured sixteen people, and sparked a manhunt that is still ongoing, can be recreated.
At approximately 8:30am, the shooter, identified as a black male wearing a construction vest, pulled out a gas mask and put it on. According to a fellow passenger, that was the first sign that something was wrong.
The shooter then lit several smoke devices, according to the police, and began shooting indiscriminately at the other commuters around him.
The train, which had been between stations, pulled into the 25th St and 4th Ave station spewing smoke and injured passengers across the platform.
That was when the calls started coming in to 911 dispatch.
The Emergency Medical Services Public Advocacy Council, EMSPAC, described the response of the Emergency Medical Personel, and how their quick action saved lives.
“Maimonides Medical Center EMS crews were the first four arriving units,” EMSPAC wrote. “40D2 was the first to respond to the mass shooting this morning within the MTA transit system. 43U arrived at the 36th station while 41L and 41W were next to arrive on scene at the 25th St station.”
With coordination and expert training, the crews treated patients at the bloody and chaotic scene. They were assisted by both firefighters and police officers to rapidly triage and extricate the many wounded commuters.
EMSPAC detailed the minute by minute chaos that surrounded the shooting.
“At approximately 08:32 am, EMS crew 41L was assigned to a SHOT call type at 25th and 4th Ave. At 08:38 am, they arrived on the scene and immediately identified one person shot in the lower extremity receiving aid from NYPD officers. While loading the first male patient into the ambulance, a second female patient walked up and asked for assistance. She was shot in the leg. During continued medical care to the first 2 patients, an MTA worker approached the crew and informed them there were several people still injured on the train and in the station. At this time, the crew split with one EMT continuing care for the first 2 patients while his partner took the jump bag and entered the station while advising dispatch of the MCI status. At this time no other units were on the scene. While moving through the station, the Maimonides EMT was pointed to a train car where they identified 4 more patients, 2 critical, 1 unable to walk but stable, and 1 walking wounded. At this time the EMT began rendering aid by placing a tourniquet on a male patient and continued holding pressure on multiple other GSW victims.”
“The EMT continued to assess and triage other patients including a critical patient who appeared to have been shot in the lower back. After approximately 3 minutes, the second EMS provider arrived on the scene, FDNY C32, to provide support for the EMTs while also assisting with patient care. After an additional 1-2 minutes, units 41W, 41Y, and additional MMC EMS and FDNY EMS units arrived to assist with further treatment of victims and extrication from the scene. All patients were removed from the subway platform and transported to local area hospitals.”
An FDNY EMS Lieutenant summarized the situation noting that “There are 16 patients so far, 10 with gunshot wounds and 5 in critical but stable condition thanks to the work of Maimonides 911 EMS personnel. Included are an 18 and a 15-year-old both in stable condition.”
The miracle behind this shooting is that after treatment at local hospitals, not a single victim was listed as being in life threatening condition and there was not a single fatality. For that, the EMT and Paramedic crews from Maimonides Medical Center are being lauded as true heroes.
“Without ballistics vests or other protective equipment during a dangerous active shooter event
that would cause many people to flee, they quickly arrived on the scene and, without
hesitation, gained access to the patients and rendered life-saving aid,” EMSPAC pointed out.
A spokesperson from EMSPAC, Paramedic Michael Combs states, “It doesn’t matter the
motivations behind today’s act of domestic terror, it shows that EMS is always ready to respond
no matter what agency is outfitting the ambulance. EMS from all agencies are on the front line
and always ready to rise to the occasion when it comes to saving lives.”
Maimonides EMS contributes approximately 450 EMTs and Paramedics to New York City’s wildly stretched thin EMS system where the FDNY covers approximately ⅔ of all available 911 units.
