On August 2, 2022, my 22 year old son, Colton Brown, lost his right to life after receiving no oxygen and airway management that put him into cardiac arrest. This is seen on two bodycam videos. He started with a normal pulse and ended in a body bag. The PCR (patient care report) stated death with no resuscitation-futile.  

Paramedics all over NC hold the power to make that decision alone. We have too many people dying at the scene of accidents and especially automobile accidents who may have lived had we provided two things 1) More training on airway protocol and airway management techniques and  2) Required CPR to resuscitate. EMT’s and paramedics do not receive enough training and support specific to airway management techniques to help at the scene of a trauma. 

No paramedic should ever make the decision that a situation is futile. Everything should be done to save a life. The goal must remain to keep the patient alive and get them to the hospital. No oxygen and airway management was given up until the point Colton went into cardiac arrest. Not one chest compression was given when he went into cardiac arrest and he did not have a DNR in place. Air Care was on standby and was never called. The EMT did not know how to get to the trauma hospital. We have to see immediate changes  to prevent unnecessary deaths in the future. The paramedic in charge received a promotion and the three EMS crew members are still going on 911 calls. This is unacceptable. 

We the people want everyone alive at the scene of an accident in Davidson County, NC, and every other county in NC, to have the right to resuscitation and to be given proper airway management. We insist on more extensive in hospital EMT and paramedic training for trauma cases. Proper airway protocol training and airway management techniques for trauma patients is a must.

Each county Medical Director and EMS system must be responsible for monitoring and regularly assessing EMT and paramedic competency in airway protocols and airway management techniques, including ETI.

Right now, the level of care can vary by county — and that is a problem.

There must be a consistent standard of care across all 100 counties in North Carolina, with proper oversight from NCOEMS.

At the time of Colton’s accident, Davidson County had a Medical Director working only 8 hours per month, raising serious concerns about oversight and accountability.

We call on the NCOEMS, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Devdutta Sangvai, Governor Josh Stein, and our state senators and representatives to ensure these changes, including bodycams on all EMS personnel.

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