A South Park episode just happened in real life and it was in LBN

[TroubleMan]

http://www.thekcrachannel.com/education/4049149/detail.html

WTF!!!???

This sounds just like a South Park episode. I can imagine Mr. Garrison and the principal having a discussion to leave Timmy in a burning building because "the rules" say so.

Then I see Mr Garrison handing Timmy a fire extinguisher and saying good luck. Then Timmy looks around at the rising smoke and flames and says, "Timmay?"

Of course Kenny dies in the fire (You Bastards!).

......

Actually this is no laughing matter...how could these people be so stupid to leave kids in a burning building, because "it's policy." But I keep laughing at it because it really does sound like a South Park episode ..... If I was the parents, I would be really pissed.

[annabanana]

1. Jiminy Christmas........

Those poor kids..makes ya just want to smack someone upside the head!

[TroubleMan]

2. Yeah it's so ridiculous, I thought it was a joke

but sadly it wasn't.

[Elidor]

3. That is seriously messed up!

"WBAL-TV in Baltimore said there is a policy at Westminster High School for what to do with the two students in wheelchairs in case of a fire. The policy said because their classrooms are on the second floor, teachers are to lead them to the second-floor stairwell and leave them there…"

"Good luck," LOL. Idiotic school administration. Thank god no one was hurt.

Every time I see that website, I think: the KRAK-channel? :wtf:

[ucmike]

4. if its any consolation, ma'am, he was on time for lunch.

[NYC]

5. Perhaps this will cause a change.

Robin, Cassie and Tom all said they think the common sense solution is move their kids' classes to the first floor. They said they were told the second floor is best because it's closer to the lunchroom and therefore more convenient.

"He won't be late for lunch, but he'll burn if there's a fire," Robin said.

[Ladyhawk]

6. Eeek...that's our local NBC affiliate.

"Local" as in three hours away or so. :)

[AlCzervik]

8. about 10 miles away from is the kcra channel.

[Placebo]

7. Well the wheelchair people WOULD slow us down...

and potentially cost lives.

...

I'm just SAYIN'!!!

[RagingInMiami]

9. That's attempted manslaughter

Their parents should sue

[indigobusiness]

10. Policy is for

wonks.

[MotR]

11. Wouldn't it be better to

post this story under it's original headline?

School Emergency Policy: Leave Wheelchair-Bound Kids Behind

Seems to make more sense to me.

[TroubleMan]

12. It wasalready posted in LBN like that-I wanted to discuss the similarities

between what happened and a South Park episode.

[DulceDecorum]

13. People in wheelchairs

are rarely considered when evacuation plans are made.

But in defense (!!) of the staff working in institutions, I must say that the fire regulations dictate what is supposed to happen and those staff who disobey it or show signs of doing so, are soon terminated.

In one group home that I have heard of, it seems that the powers that be had decided that that only one person was to evacuate the two residents who were in wheelchairs.
The staff person was instructed to push both wheelchairs at the same time.
You go try that sometime.
This same staff person was also charged with evacuating the other two residents who were both very unsteady of their feet and needed physical assistance to walk.
There was another staff person besides the wonder-worker but since this other particular individual had a myriad of disabilities themself, they were only required to self-evacuate.

This particular agency also had a bomb policy that all employees had to read and sign. Upon receiving a bomb threat, they were to remain in place and call a supervisor and await instructions. They were specifically instructed not to evacuate the building. If the first supervisor did not respond within ten minutes, they were to call the next highest supervisor and so forth.

The State was aware of both policies and apparently has no problem with them.

[TroubleMan]

14. I would rather be fired

That's one of my major problems...I won't follow rules if they don't make sense.

I raise hell if they tried to fire me, and I'm sure the parents would rally for me and get me hired again.

[DulceDecorum]

15. Most people think like you,

and that is why NO-ONE works in human services for very long.
The turn over is VERY high.
Most workers leave before a year is up.
Those group homes can be scary places,
because all the Pollyannas leave
and the Rosa Klebs stay.
As for the parents,
don't let anyone kid you that they have THAT much clout.

I remember one instance where one resident came home from hospital with a superbug. These things are very infectious and there are very very few drugs that can deal with them. Meanwhile another resident had contracted a totally different superbug some time before.

So the staff became really concerned and looked up CDC and Public health guidelines for coping with the situation. So the company sent down a veep to tell them to cease and desist with the infection control measures that the staff had just instituted in accordance with CDC and Public health guidlines.

The state agency charged with the care and feeding of the residents in this particular group home, sent down a representative who requested that the staff respect the residents human right to infect everything they touched and stop scaring everyone with the infection control measures which included persistent glove-wearing, constant handwashing, and regular disinfection of all surfaces.

By the time the dust settled, a few staff had moved on and another resident had DIED from yet another infection. PLUS, the two superbugs have now combined. Incidentally, since these particular superbugs are transmitted by direct contact, (shaking someones hand, or touching something they touched LAST WEEK) the stuff is coming shortly to an object near you.

In defense (!!) of the staff who remained, superbugs are now pan-epidemic in the US and UK and the authorites have long ago given up trying to contain their spread.
MRSA
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=19422005
VRE
http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=3403
VRSA
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_999126.htm
VISA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/scotland/439492.stm