Knoxville Fireโ Department disciplines Three Employees After Mistakenโ Death Pronouncement
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Three Knoxville โfire Department (KFD) employees have been disciplinedโค following an โincident in july whereโ a woman wasโฃ mistakenly pronounced โdead, KFD assistant Chief Mark Wilbanksโ confirmedโฃ Monday.
On July 25th,โฃ at approximately 1:30 p.m., KFD responded to a call at a residence on rondo Road. First responders initially pronounced a woman deceased.However, a short time later, an investigator with the knox County Regional Forensic Center arrived and observed โขsigns of life. The investigator,โ Kenzie Sellers, administered Narcan, successfully โreviving theโ woman.
“We don’t train for this,” said Chris Thomas, chief administrative officer at โthe Knox County Regional Forensics Center, describing sellers’ speedy action.
Following theโ incident, the three KFD employees from Engine 15 were placed onโค administrative duties pending an internalโค investigation. That investigation has now concluded, with โFire Chief stan Sharp issuing an eight-day suspensionโค toโฃ each employee. Theyโ have as returned to duty after completing additional Emergency Medical Services โค(EMS)โ training, Wilbanks stated.
The Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services is currently conducting its own investigationโ into the matter, โคand wilbanksโ indicated that further disciplinary action mayโ be taken based on their โfindings.
