A Detroit paramedic says that he is being brought up on departmental charges after giving a blanket to a cold, elderly man, Charlie LeDuff reports for Fox 2.
"Something that would seem like a common everyday courtesy, something that any man or woman would do in the city of Detroit, give a freezing man a blanket, I'm being punished for it," said paramedic Jeff Gaglio. At a house fire two weeks ago, Gaglio gave the blanket to the resident, who was brought outside wearing only his underwear.
EMS Chief Jerald James told Fox 2 employees can't be allowed to give away state property of any kind without permission, though LeDuff reports the blankets were donated to the department.
The cash-strapped Emergency Medical Service is battling problems that seem larger than blankets. The understaffed department has to make do with out-of-date ambulances, according to the Detroit News, and brings in $8 million less annually than its budget, in part due to the large number of uninsured Detroiters who aren't able to pay for their services.
As usual, Detroit newsman LeDuff's eccentric style adds flair to the video, as he interviews Gaglio while curled up in his bed and wears a blanket as a cape in front of EMS headquarters.
Watch the video above and see Fox 2 for the story.
