
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 31, 1995                   TAG: 9510310095
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TAKE STEPS TO ALLOW EMT CREW ACCESS

Q: Recently, my mother-in-law had a reaction to medication, and her breathing passages swelled and closed. She managed to call 911 and unlock her door for the medical technicians, but then she passed out.

When they arrived, the EMT crew didn't get an answer at the door. They could look into the house and see her on the floor, so they came in and found her not breathing. The crew revived her and the next day she was OK.

The ambulance people told us that without an answer at the door they couldn't come into the house. It was only because they could see her on the floor that they were authorized to enter.

My question is this: Why can't they come in when 911 has been called? Is there anything people who live alone should know in order to cope with this possible dilemma?

B.C., Roanoke

A: There are a couple of things people can do if they live alone and are elderly or have a medical condition.

Roanoke's manager of emergency medical services suggests people arrange for a neighbor to have a key and let EMT personnel enter if necessary.

People in this situation who call 911 should tell the dispatcher that they are alone, that the door is unlocked and how to find the door. If possible, the caller should tell the dispatcher which room he or she is in.

All that talking may be impossible if a person can't breathe. But a victim may be able to say these things in cases of injury and some other emergencies.

If a call comes from someone who sounds to the dispatcher like a seriously ill person and he or she does not respond to a knock, the department's policy is to force entry if approval is granted by the city's EMS supervisor or the Police Department.

Calls to 911 are not always clear-cut emergencies like the one you describe.

A case in point: Recently a call came in from a home equipped with a medical alarm, similar to a burglar alarm. When the door knock wasn't answered, police authorized a forced entry.

They found no one at home. The emergency device had sent the alarm because of an error in its use.

The homeowner filed a claim for property damage incurred in the entry.

Viaduct uses

Q: Is there any way to restructure the remaining bit of the Hunter Viaduct and turn it into a parking lot?

M.B., Roanoke

A: A lot of suggestions have come in for ways to use that slab to nowhere, but officials don't like any of them.

City leaders don't want a parking deck in full view of the Hotel Roanoke. It's that simple.

They also mentioned the impact on Williamson Road traffic from vehicles leaving the site.

The city's plans for the viaduct are the same as they have been for a couple of years: Sometime in late 1997, when work is complete on the Second Street bridge that's getting under way this week, the unused part of the viaduct will be torn down.

Williamson Road will be closed for the demolition, so work will be delayed until the new route into downtown is open.

Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by CNB