Paramedic Fired After Being Caught Inhaling Gas

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It was one of those things that been alleged to have taken place in many an ambulance in the UK by crews - particularly after a heavy night drinking the night before. Sniffing oxygen was notoriously done in the backs of vehicles so that crews could "sober up." Not something I ever did myself but I knew that this "quick fix" to cleanse the brain and the soul, not to mention the bloodstream, did go on.

In Wales, back in May this year, ambulance driver and Paramedic Richard Sanders, found himself jobless after being caught inhaling gas and air whilst on duty in 2006. This mixture is commonly used to calm traumatised victims, usually after a major incident as a fast and very effective pain relief. Better known to the profession as Entonox, many a woman who has given birth would have also been given the gas.

Yet in this instance, Sanders was found lying on a stretcher in the back of his vehicle inhaling the substance through a face mask. He was quite possibly drunk, although his colleagues who found him described Sanders behaviour as being with "slurred speech" according to the hearing by the Health Professions Council (HPC.) The board found Sanders had been grossly unfit to carry out his 12 hour shift duties that night.

The event took place on 27 March 2006, and his night shift had started that evening at around midnight. Speaking of the incident, the panel's chairman Derek Adrian-Harris, reported,

"This is a very serious breach. By rendering himself incapable during shift, Mr Sanders put patient safety at risk".

Sanders, who did not attend the hearing, was struck off the HPC register with immediate effect.

It was NOT reported if the ambulance man had been indeed under the influence of alcohol.