We've got to link to John Pekkanen's disturbing investigative piece in this month's Washingtonian magazine revealing utter dysfunction inside the District's emergency medical services agency. It's a very long story, but worth reading all the way through as it really rams home the point that fatal breakdowns within the fire department-led FEMS have resulted in undertrained and demoralized EMTs. The circumstances that led to the death of David Rosenbaum, it seems, were hardly aberrations. The report is also especially disturbing in light of the recent allegations reported by blogger Carlos in DC that the recent death of Jose Sanchez in Columbia Heights was not the result of indifferent neighbors but a failure of EMS response. Photo by yonas more ›

Last night WJLA went with a story about how 28 percent of the District's firefighters failed to pass the national registry exam for EMTs. The city's emergency responders are now required to pass the national test under an agreement reached between the District and the family of late New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum, who died due to EMT negligence. I realize that in post-Sept. 11 America, all firefighters are heroes and you're not supposed to say anything bad about them ever, but I'm about to break that rule. If you want to read some seriously whiny, high school-style complaining, read the story. Grown men who fight fires for a living took the time to tell a local TV news station that they feel this nationally accepted test wasn't fair and that the department didn't help them prepare enough. Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Crosswhite has the most reasonable reaction: "You have to take a look at yourself in the mirror and say did I do everything that I could do to pass this test? Did I study on my own? Did I ask for help?" The department allows those who failed the exam three more chances, so buckle down and study, guys. more ›