Left To Die: Did Off-Duty NYC EMTs Refuse To Help?

[Thor]

off topic, but; do you own a pool alarm??

As far as a public servant goes, if it is their profession, they SHOULD have rendered assistance. In many states, off duty cops are required to render assistance in most situations (ones in which they are present). I don't see why it should be any different for EMTs and firefighters.

[NHSparky]

off topic, but; do you own a pool alarm??

As far as a public servant goes, if it is their profession, they SHOULD have rendered assistance. In many states, off duty cops are required to render assistance in most situations (ones in which they are present). I don't see why it should be any different for EMTs and firefighters.

In that case, I agree, because they ARE in fact better trained and equipped to handle such emergencies.

ETA: As far as the pool goes, I'd go farther and install a pool FENCE, one with an alarming gate.  But that's just me.

[docstew]

A person who KNOWS CPR won't just stop and perform CPR on a person just because they passed out. A trained individual would check the ABCs.

As far as the intent of your question, just because a person is trained in CPR doesn't mean they are legally obligated to utilize their skills. I would suggest, though, that a person trained in standard first aid/ cpr would be morally obligated to render assistance. I hope that these idiots have nightmares for the rest of their life and burn in hell for eternity for their complacency, failure to render assistance and the two deaths they allowed to happen through their neglect.

there's a big difference between someone who is CPR certified (although now the correct term is BLS, Basic Life Support) and a registered EMT.  An EMT has a legal obligation to act, while Joe on the street has a moral obligation.  There are many instances of EMT's off duty in their POV (with something identifying them as EMT's on the vehicle) being sued for driving by an accident.  Many EMT's will either carry supplies in their vehicle for that instance, often at their own expense, or they will not identify their vehicle that way.