BELLINGHAM, Wash. (KOMO) — Mayor Kelli Linville said a training exercise went horribly wrong for a group of city firefighters when they mishandled a body.
Crews set out to practice their intubation skills, but the fire chief called their actions unprecedented and wrong.
When firefighters race to a call they have to be ready for so many situations – including helping unconscious patients to breathe. However, Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Newbold said the preparations staff took at Fire Station 1 crossed the line.
“I believe that this ended up to be completely misguided,” Newbold said.
In July, a body was brought to Fire Station 1 to await transport to a funeral home. Before the body was taken away, city officials said a group of 11 firefighters used it to practice intubations, where a tube is inserted down the throat to open an airway.
“When you have someone who has passed away and their family isn’t there to take care of them, we are the caretaker and we did not do our duty,” said Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville.
Several firefighters came forward later to report what they did.
