First on Scene

Boston EMS crews carry a carbon monoxide detector on their gear. The detectors can turn even routine runs into a massive evacuation. Deputy Superintendent of Boston EMS Ed Hassan joins Blair Miller to discuss the impact of these tools and the danger posed by carbon monoxide fumes.

When a 911 call is silent, it's up to dispatchers to call back and find out if someone is in need of help. In this case, a man stuck in the back of a garbage truck was in serious trouble as the compactor crushed his body again and again. It was up to dispatch to get him on the phone, it was up to police to find him, it was up to firefighters to rescue him and it was up to paramedics to save him. This is the story of a true team effort.

The first person you speak to in an emergency when you call for help is usually a dispatcher. Someone who gets the people you need where they need to be. In this episode, we talk with Dawn Heirholcer from Brewster Ambulance about a call she will never forget and the things she says to people to keep them hanging on.

From Boston 25 News, First on Scene is a new podcast all about the people who run toward danger and become heroes in our darkest hours. Host Blair Miller sits down for in-depth conversations with first responders to talk about the things they see every day.