[nfbmi-talk] baltimore fire dep apologises

[joe harcz Comcast]

BCFD Apologizes Over Service Animal Dispute

 

Baltimore Paramedics Nearly Refused Service

 

POSTED: 4:30 pm EST November 29, 2011

UPDATED: 4:43 pm EST November 29, 2011

WBAL-TV's Pat Bourque

Graham said paramedics arrived at the scene of a Nov. 11 accident and gave him an ultimatum.

 

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore City Fire Department issued a formal apology Tuesday to a man to whom paramedics nearly refused to provide emergency medical

services.

 

Curtis Graham, a former Marine who is blind, uses a service animal to help him get around. On Veterans Day, Graham and his dog were invited to participate

in the city's Veterans Day Parade, but a car struck them as they crossed a street en route to the staging area.

 

When paramedics arrived, they told Graham he would have to leave his guide dog on the sidewalk or he would not receive Fire Department emergency service.

 

City officials sent two representatives of the Fire Department's EMS Division to apologize to Graham.

 

"I accept the apology from the Fire Department because they are going to extend this training to more paramedics so they know in the future, in case anything

like this happens again, they know that the service dog have to go with that person," Graham said.

 

Graham's guide dog remains so traumatized that he had to be sent back to school to be retrained. Graham is now making due with a cane.

 

http://www.wbaltv.com/r/29882363/detail.html