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Allegany County Emergency Services Updates LaVale Incident

December 15th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Allegany County Department of Emergency Services personnel stationed in LaVale were dispatched for a reported medical emergency. Units arrived on scene and began treating the patient and suddenly became patients themselves. 

 

“EMS personnel arrived on scene and began treating the original patient,” Lt. Todd Bowman, public information officer for Allegany County Department of Emergency Services said. “As crews worked, one crew member became ill. Personnel on the scene requested additional EMS transport units.” 

 

It is believed that the first provider and then the second provider were exposed to an unknown substance in the residence that caused elevated heart rate, sweating, headache and near syncope, according to Bowman. 

 

“Crews on scene were using universal precautions, as they do with any emergency,” Bowman said. “The fire department was started to meter the residence and check for any obvious causes of the illness.”

 

LaVale Fire Department, along with ambulances from LaVale, Corrigansville and Bowman’s Addition responded to the scene. 

 

Three patients were transported to Western Maryland Health System in Cumberland for evaluation. Both DES clinicians were treated and released. The original patients condition is not known. 

 

“We want to thank our allied agencies for their support and quick response during this event,” Emergency Services Deputy Director Roger Bennett said. “Our personnel respond day in and day out to emergencies, it becomes challenging when we ourselves become the patients.”

 

Our personnel received decontamination, assessment and treatment by the talented and professional staff of the Western Maryland Health System. 

 

“We can’t say enough about the amazing care and treatment our staff received by the WMHS ED staff. Their dedication and pride to their community is unmatched,” Bennett added. 

 

“We want to emphasize that there is no immediate threat to the public. This was an isolated incident,” Bowman added. 

 

One Response to “Allegany County Emergency Services Updates LaVale Incident”

  1. December 15, 2019 at 6:13 pm, Mk said:

    Unknown substance hah. It was fentanyl. Just cause it is La Vale you don’t need to cover it up.

    Reply

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