Evening star., 1943-11-18
Plan Submitted
To Speed Calls
For Ambu|ances
Review Of Service
Is Suggested in
3-Point Program

3-PoInt Program
A three-point program for i'm
proving the central ambulance sys-
tenn, including a recommendation
for q review Of the service by a
which mapped it out last
will 60 before the Board Of
Commissioners tomorrow.
Growing out of an investigation
started by the Commissioners over
the reported delay of an ambulance
reaching Juvenile Court on Novem-
ber 5, the recommendations. SUBJ
mitted by Charles Stofberg, aide to
Commissioner Young, follow:
/. That the original committee
headed by DR.. John A. Reed, which
out the ambulance service,
be reconvened to discuss the sys-
tenn which has been in operation
since September /. DR.. Reed dis
cussed the Juvenile Court case last
Saturday with Mr.. Stofberg, but it
Is understood that their conversa-
tion did not include a review of the
whole system.
Urge Phone Listing Change.
2. That the telephone listing on
the cover Of the directory be changed
to Hobart 1922 (the central ambu-
lance centeD instead Of National
1913 (the police switchboard). Such
a change would make it urineces-
sary to relay calls from the police
switchboard to the ambulance sys-
tenn. Mr.. Stofberg said he under
stood this change would be carried
out.
3. That the police be notified OF
the existing policy of the ambulance
dispatch system regarding calls for
supplemental assistance. This rec
ommendation. it was explained, re-
fers to the rule that once a police
car has been dispatched, only the
police responding may call for addi-
tional assistance.
This is quite logically so,' Mr..
Stofberg declared, for many cit
izens. seeing the same incident,
might be telephoning ambulance
headquarters for the dispatch Of
equipment for a duplicate incident"
Prisoner Involved in Probe.
The present investigation involved
the case of a 17-year-old prisoner
who started to bleed from an old
gunshot wound while in the deten-
ton room of Juvenile Court. First
aid, the report said, was rendered
by DR.. Stanley GeshelI. United
States Public Health Service psy.
chiatrist attached to the court.
Court officials claimed that calls
they made through the police
switchboard to the ambulance GEN.
ter stated the circumstances of the
case and the need for an ambulance,
while the ambulance center said the
matter was reported as a shooting
and that hence scout car ambu-
lance was dispatched.
Admitting the conflict of reports,
the memorandum of Mr.. Stofberg
summarized the case as follows:
THE ambulance service states
that 1t was reported as a shooting.
We cannot ascertain as to the actual
report made. However, doctor
was on the scene to provide first
aid: a piece OF equipment. a police
scout car. responded Immediately;
the police were informed that an
ambulance had been called and
when it became apparent that an
ambulance was net on its way. the
police scout car requested same,
which vas Immediately dispatched.
DR.. Geshell Commended.
When the Casualty Hospital am
bulance arrived, there was no bleed
ing and the attending physician on
the ambulance gave the patient
caffeine sodium benZoate before taxi
ing him to the infirmary at the Dis
trlct Jail. DR.. Geshell is to
be commended for his prompt ac-
ton in stopping the flow of blood
and possibly saving the young mans
life. Casualty Hospital am
bulance, which has been performing
splendid service, responded as soon
as they were called and handled the
case in a very efficient manner"
Although Mr.. Stofberg said he
found that there was no delay in
the dispatch CT equipment to the
scene he suggested that when the
scout car officers were told that an
ambulance had been called they
should have told the doctor that
their scout car was acting as an am
bulance in this case"
Scout Car Officers Cited.
Mr.. Stofberg also released a re-
port from Capt. Robert C. Pearce,
head OF the first precinct, stating
that "the scout car officers used
good judgment throughout and act
ed in accordance with instructions
issued for ambulance scout cars"
Maj. Edward j. Kelly. superin-
tendent of police, also declared that
the members of his force have CO.
operated with the ambulance system.
L. G. Capossela. superintendent
of Emergency Hospital. a member of
the committee which drew up the
ambulance plan. has written the
Commissioners that when a new
plan is put into operation there are
always bound to be difficulties"
The report of MIR. Stofberg al.
ready has been approved by Com.
missioner Guy Mason.