A new software system adds confusion to the already frazzled D.C. fire department. Last fall, new computer hardware and new software were installed in every fire truck and ambulance unit within D.C. Fire and EMS. But technical difficulties with the roll-out and a lack of training have only added to the problems plaguing the department. They have faced questions whether they have the equipment and staffing to respond to daily emergencies in the city. Deputy city administrator Kevin Donahue stated that it is not clear whether confusion from the new system contributed to a recent mishandled response. Earlier this month, the District emergency crews responded to a call of an 18-month-old boy choking on fruit. The first responders were located almost a mile away, even though a different fire truck was available just three blocks away. The toddler passed away less than a week later. While the investigation into the child’s death is still ongoing, one possible reason for the mishap involves a typographical error in the new system. Fire department staff are going through additional training on the system. Calls to the help desk from the fire department have decreased to about two hundred per month. One number that has remained constant is the time it takes rescue teams to get to a scene when someone is in need.
