lfsvr0114
Forum Crew Member
- 43
- 0
- 6
I was working for a rural EMS service and we were toned to the prison to pick up a patient having chest pains out of the infirmary. We got to the prison, went through the lock down where they check the ambulance to make sure you do not have weapons, etc. and proceed to the side of the building. We had to lock the unit and a guard made sure that all outside compartments were locked also. We took all our equipment inside and got the pt and proceeded to the ambulance to load and transport the patient. We get back to the unit and discover that our key will not unlock the door!
We try not to panick and the guard suggests that how about if they go in and get a couple of the inmates that are in for grand theft auto and see if they can break into the unit.
At this time, we are totally embarressed and flustered, not to mention it was the middle of the summer in Texas. So the guards emerge with some inmates and they ask which way do we turn the key to unlock the door, and we have no idea, seeing as how we never really paid attention to that detail. Well, the inmates could not get in!
I called the supervisor on the phone and told him the situation. You could tell that he was trying not to laugh and told us to break a small window and let them know so that we will be brought in for repairs after the call. Well, while looking for a small window, i noticed on the side door we had a small sliding window, and lo and behold it was unlocked. I asked my incharge paramedic (I was an EMT-I at the time), about just cutting the screen over the window instead of breaking a window. So, I cut the screen and since I am short, had one of the guards reach in and unlock the door. We loaded the patient and transported the patient without incident.
I called the supervisor back and told him we gained entry and he asked which window and i told him about the screen and that it would cost about 25 cents
to replace. Well, they never did replace the screen, but that was no big deal.
Found out later that day that they had just replaced the ignition in the unit and did not re-key the door locks (it was a Ford). The next shift, the door locks were fixed.
We try not to panick and the guard suggests that how about if they go in and get a couple of the inmates that are in for grand theft auto and see if they can break into the unit.
At this time, we are totally embarressed and flustered, not to mention it was the middle of the summer in Texas. So the guards emerge with some inmates and they ask which way do we turn the key to unlock the door, and we have no idea, seeing as how we never really paid attention to that detail. Well, the inmates could not get in!
I called the supervisor on the phone and told him the situation. You could tell that he was trying not to laugh and told us to break a small window and let them know so that we will be brought in for repairs after the call. Well, while looking for a small window, i noticed on the side door we had a small sliding window, and lo and behold it was unlocked. I asked my incharge paramedic (I was an EMT-I at the time), about just cutting the screen over the window instead of breaking a window. So, I cut the screen and since I am short, had one of the guards reach in and unlock the door. We loaded the patient and transported the patient without incident.
I called the supervisor back and told him we gained entry and he asked which window and i told him about the screen and that it would cost about 25 cents
to replace. Well, they never did replace the screen, but that was no big deal.
Found out later that day that they had just replaced the ignition in the unit and did not re-key the door locks (it was a Ford). The next shift, the door locks were fixed.