ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Fire Department has launched an investigation into one of its EMTs after comments caught on camera went viral on social media.
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The 34-second video, which was originally posted to Reddit’s “Am I Overreacting” forum by a woman who wished to stay anonymous, came after the woman said she called 911 because of her elderly mother’s abrupt change in behavior last week.
The woman told other users that she became annoyed after the EMT called her and dismissed her concerns, so she went into the camera system inside her mother’s home to check what they said to each other.
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One EMT could be heard saying the daughter was “flipping out,” prompting another one to respond, seemingly directing his comment toward an off-camera female colleague.
“This is a society – you guys started voting, everything got weaker,” he said.
While the video did not appear to be edited, it did not provide any context to the statement. The only information available came from the woman’s comments, which were reviewed after she deleted the original video and post.
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After users, including some who identified themselves as EMTs, wrote in encouraging her to file a complaint, the woman said she planned to reach out to the department Monday.
She said her mother was seeing a doctor to get a diagnosis despite the EMTs chalking up the behavior change to ageing and dementia.
“I’m not trying to have a gotcha moment,” she wrote. “I was legitimately seeking to help my mother who already had two strokes and a heart attack… He didn’t know her past medical history and was rude for no reason, and was rude to a colleague for no reason and was making irrational connections to political views about why I called in care for my mom.”
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Shortly after WFTV inquired, an OFD spokesman emailed a statement.
“We are in the process of beginning an administrative investigation into that incident. The comments and alleged actions made by the officer do not reflect the beliefs held by OFD,” Jesse Canales said in part. “All our personnel take an oath they will uphold the highest standards set before them regarding patient care, communication with patients, and incident response upon joining our department. We expect all our personnel to take their oaths seriously and comprehend they must put the interest of the public first above all else.”
WFTV reached out to the woman for additional context. The OFD statement did not identify the EMT, nor did it address whether he is still actively treating patients.
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