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Car into pond in Arlington Heights 7-25-13 (more)
The Chicago Tribune recently covered a follow-up investigation into an unfortunate incident from last week involving an elderly man who tragically drowned after driving his car into a local pond. The emergency dispatcher who received a 911 call from an Arlington Heights resident after he crashed his car into a pond failed to guide him on how to exit the sinking vehicle, reportedly going against the protocols of the dispatch agency.
The elderly man was eventually rescued by fire department divers after they broke through a window, but he passed away shortly afterward. Safety experts suggested that getting him out of the car before it fully submerged might have increased his chances of survival.
In response to this, the dispatch agency responsible for handling the six 911 calls related to the accident, including a lengthy conversation with the victim, Henry Laseke, 89, has initiated an inquiry to ensure all standards and protocols were adhered to. According to a statement released by the Northwest Central Dispatch System, they are looking into whether proper procedures were followed.
In the recorded call, the dispatcher can be heard repeatedly asking for Laseke's address while advising him to stay calm and informing him that help was on its way. Two minutes into the call, Laseke desperately pleaded, “Hurry up, I’m sinking. The water is coming up...â€
Throughout the entire conversation, the dispatcher never instructed Laseke to attempt opening his car door or window to leave the vehicle. These instructions are part of the protocols developed by Priority Dispatch Corp., a Utah-based company providing emergency protocols and training to the Northwest Central's 70 dispatchers. Michael Thompson, a consultant for Priority Dispatch Corp., explained that dispatchers should instruct callers to "unfasten your seat belts, open the car door, and get out of your vehicle" in such situations. He emphasized that anything else would be counterproductive.
Cindy Barbera-Brelle, the executive director of Northwest Central, confirmed that the agency uses Priority’s protocols but refrained from commenting on the specific details of the Arlington Heights case. She stated that Priority is "in the business of defining the protocols, and we follow them as they are written," adding that these are the available protocols they refer to when processing calls.
The incident occurred around 7 a.m. on Thursday when Laseke seemingly lost control of his 2013 Cadillac SUV and ended up in an 8-foot-deep retention pond close to his home. Neighbors reported seeing Laseke speaking on his phone inside the SUV as it floated in the water.
Thompson noted that while dispatchers usually seek an address for most emergencies, the approach changes when dealing with a sinking car. He remarked that any agency not prepared to handle such situations might be neglecting its duty to customers.
Experts pointed out that nationally, there are no mandatory standards for emergency dispatch protocols. However, most agencies tend to follow common guidelines regarding emergency medical incidents, like what actions to take if someone appears to be having a heart attack. A sinking vehicle is categorized as a "technical rescue," requiring specialized skills, and isn't typically included in general guidelines provided by the National Fire Protection Association, as stated by Ken Willette, a division manager for the Quincy, Mass.-based organization.
Both the Arlington Heights police and fire departments are also reviewing the incident. Fire Chief Glenn Ericksen mentioned that he couldn't discuss whether dispatchers are obligated to guide callers on safety measures. Nevertheless, he highlighted two critical instructions for someone trapped in a sinking car: undo the seatbelt and open a window.
The National Safety Council reported that hundreds of people die annually due to vehicle submersions. In such scenarios, the emphasis should always be on escape since vehicles can sink rapidly, faster than emergency teams can reach the scene. John Ulczycki, a vice president with the council, suggested that he would have inquired whether Laseke could swim to safety.
A previous post about this incident can be found HERE.