2 Investigators

Marathon Emergency Response Meltdown

Suburban Ambulance Transporting Fallen Michigan Runner Lost Its Way To Hospital

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The Chicago Marathon turned into a disaster course two weeks ago. Water wasn't the only thing that ran out; ambulances were also in short supply.

As CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini reports, the October 7 race was a scene of chaos. There was an ambulance shortage, dispatchers didn't have maps and in the case of fallen runner Chad Schieber, paramedics actually got lost.

Some are calling it an emergency meltdown. At the height of the heat and humidity, runners became dehydrated, collapsed and ambulances raced to help.

What you haven't heard about or seen is the chaos that erupted surrounding the emergency response.

The CBS 2 Investigators have learned maps to guide ambulances around marathon road closures were not immediately available. Dispatchers were heard over the radio shouting "We need maps! We have no maps down here!"

Twenty-eight private ambulances were hired by marathon organizers, but that wasn't enough. Chicago rescue crews were called in, but they were still not enough. Then 30 ambulances from 30 suburbs were sent to help.

One of them, from Niles, was heading to the ambulance staging area when it was flagged down near 15th Street and Ashland Avenue to help Schieber, a 35-year-old father of three and Midland, Mich., police officer. He was near mile 18 when he collapsed.

Paramedics put Schieber into the ambulance and tried to take him to the closest emergency room, which was only about six blocks away. But the emergency crew from Niles went the wrong way, and their report says their radio calls to get directions to a hospital were not answered.

You can actually see the University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital from where Schieber collapsed. It takes a minute and a half to get there. But the ambulance took between 8 1/2 and 14 minutes. Without help from city dispatchers the paramedics got lost, made wrong turns, and ultimately had to flag down someone for directions.

Barry Mueller is the Niles fire chief.

"They ran into another Chicago ambulance and they were given directions," Mueller said.

The Niles ambulance couldn't find UIC's ER entrance and didn't see signs for the ER at Stroger Hospital, either. Instead, they went across the street to the Jesse Brown VA, which is not part of Chicago's emergency hospital network.

"It was a disaster in the fact of preparation… improper preparation," said Dr. Stanley Zydlo.

Zydlo helped create standards for EMS services in Cook County and was in charge of medical services for Chicago's first marathon.

"That's poor preparation," he said. "Again first thing to go is communication, second is coordination and it looks like you had both fail here."

Zydlo says the paramedics did the best they could for Scheiber. The problem was poor emergency response planning in light of an extremely hot forecast.

Mueller says his paramedics did everything they could for Schieber. Another runner who was also a doctor helped provide care as well.

CBS 2 has no information whether he would have survived had he gotten to the hospital sooner.

Chicago's Office of Emergency Management says no radio transmissions were received from the Niles crew asking for directions. The department confirms there was a delay getting marathon maps to dispatchers.

Calls to marathon organizers have not been returned.

If you would like to help the Schieber family, you can make a donation to the Schieber Children's Trust Fund:

c/o CCC
1600 Swede Avenue
Midland, Michigan 48642

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