Hank Investigates: Dangerous Delays

In Holyoke, candles in memory of a mother of 8…

Shooting victim Miriam Miranda died after waiting 30 minutes for the ambulance.

Friend Of Victim
"They took a long time to get here"

In Wrentham, Lilly Satterfield remembers her daughter Teala, the asthma attack, and the call to 911.

Lil Satterfield, Victim's Mother
"And he says ok we'll be right there."

But the ambulance that arrived on the scene was not equipped to save her.

Lil Satterfield, Victim's Mother 
"I watched my kid take her last breath."

And our statewide investigation found dozens of local emergency systems also in critical condition - staff shortages, emergency vehicles empty and broken, budget cuts forcing inconsistent care, and patients at risk.

Are there communities where you'd rather have a heart attack that somewhere else?

Dr. Charles Pozner, Regional Dir/Greater Boston EMS
"Oh without a doubt"

And if you ask: who's coming to the rescue and how quickly will they get there, we found the answer is - depends on where you live.

And as a result?

Dr. Charles Pozner, Regional Dir/Greater Boston EMS
"Patients may not get the best care"

Ambulance response - almost half of the committees we survey admitted it may take too long.

In Concord - a frantic 911 call.  Top notch EMTs rev up ambulance one and race to the rescue.

Concord has this second ambulance, but it's empty, the town can't afford a second crew.

If there's another emergency, dispatchers must scour nearby communities for help and hope it doesn’t take too long.

Do you think people realize there’s not always going to be an ambulance?

Chief Kenneth Willette, Concord FD
"I don't think they understand how emergency services are squeezed"

In Amesbury - as in many towns, firefighters double as paramedics and EMTs. And double duty can mean double trouble.

If they're fighting a fire, who's staffing the ambulance? If there’s a medical call,who'll put out the fire?

Chief William Shute, Amesbury Fire Department
"It's life and death. It’s always been life and death. And now it’s critical."

And when the ambulance does arrive, who's inside? Though ambulances may look alike, our statewide survey of staff and supplies found they can be dramatically different.

A basic life support ambulance – BLS - is staffed with EMTs. They can give limited care - bandages, oxygen, CPR.

An advanced life support ambulance – ALS - is staffed with paramedics who can handle a heart attack, administer dozens of drugs, insert a breathing tube.

Doctors know the survival clock starts when the ambulance arrives.

Dr. Charles Pozner, Regional Dir/Greater Boston EMS
"What happens to you in the ambulance can make a huge difference."

Teala Satterfield's first crew – BLS - could not save her.

The ALS crew, called from a neighboring town, arrived too late.

Lil Satterfield, Victim's Mother
"If they had arrived first, she was still alert, she was still alive, they would have saved her life, I believe that."

But there are no requirements for which level of care communities provide and we found one in three communities is licensed only to run basic service. To get the more expensive advanced crews they have to call someone else: a hospital, a private service, another town.

That means: delays.

Two thirds admitted patients may have to wait too long for advanced care.

We found all of these suburban towns - 156,000 people, 200 square miles - are sharing 1 full time and 1 part time ALS ambulance.

Chief Alex McCurdy, Littleton Fire Department
"The common fear is the system will become very overloaded."

And in towns like Lynnfield, the crunch is already critical.

Mike Feinburg Lynnfield
"Continually, fifty per cent of patients who need paramedic level of care won't be receiving it."

When you call 911--it's already a frightening emergency, but here's the more frightening reality - those on the other end of the line may be facing an emergency of their own.

Lil Satterfield, Victim's Mother
"Wait til it happens to you. It didn’t happen to their child. It happened to mine."

State officials admit right now they don’t know the extent of the problems.

A law passed several years ago requires communities to submit plans for local emergency care, but we found that information isn't even due for a year and half.