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Such bs. I'd be ashamed of myself for not going out to save someone because of 'policies.' I'd gladly get fired for doing the right thing.
An "island" city with no protocols for "land to sea" rescues within the police/fire dept... really? WTF? Talk about BS...
I'm guessing opinions might be different if one of the police or firefighters died trying to save him because they had inadequate gear and training.
Possibly true but is that what we should expect of people to sacrifice their lives if they know they likely aren't going to save that person? What I am getting at is why yes these guys were cowardly and bureaucratic one issue that is being largely overlooked is why was Alameda unable to afford training and equipment for water rescue for their emergency staff?
I guess fire fighters don't do that already? http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=firefighter+saves+suicide+attempt I've pulled some one out of a mangled car on a freeway. I would have tried to do something to help out if I was around the scene
wtf? Not one of the emergency or personnel or any of the SEVENTY FIVE witnesses tried to help? During the span of an entire hour? At least the firefighters had a somewhat valid (albeit stupid) excuse. That's pretty messed up...
Umm if I choose a career in which my job description requires putting my life in danger for others then yes, yes I would. This guy is an unsympathetic figure, but did you read the part about the firefighter saying he would follow protocol rather than save a drowning child???
I think the bigger issue here is why an island city doesn't have its safety personnel trained for off-shore emergencies. Did they expect to NEVER have something happen off their shoreline?? Bureaucracy is so asinine. On the flip side though, this guy already wanted to die, and I would be afraid he would try to fight me even if I did try to save him. I'm not the strongest swimmer, so at that point, I would have probably been an onlooker as well....not out of a lack of compassion though.
75+ people watching a man die for an hour. What a sick and pitiful nation we're becoming. THIS has got to CHANGE.
I agree. Everyone seems to be complaining that the firefighters didn't do anything, but what about all those other people? I don't have to be a hero because there are others here to do it? Instead I'll text to my friends/family what's happening. I'm not sure but to become a firefighter I don't think you have to know how to swim. They do, after all, fight fires and are trained minimally in life saving techniques. They aren't EMT or the Coast Guard.
