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Reminiscences of James P. Martin, 2002

Creator: Martin, James P., 1951-
Project: September 11, 2001 oral history collection.
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :transcript: 43 pages sound recordings: 2 MiniDiscs (77 min.)
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

Deputy Chief, Emergency Medical Services

Scope and Contents

Born in New York City; family background: grandfathers worked in ambulances; education: Ohio University, BA in graphic and industrial design; career history: ambulance corps full-time, graphics and sign work part-time, EMS [Emergency Medical Services] in 1978; present career; deputy chief, Division II in the Bronx; September 11th: casualty collection point in Brooklyn, chaos on radios, crowds on Brooklyn Bridge, eerie silence on radios, dispatchers in shock, momentarily in charge of operations, wondering if chemical or biological agents, arrival to site, trying to reassemble hierarchy, no patients, lack of mobility from East to West of World Trade Center [WTC] site, concern for emergency service community, EMS removes bodies and accounts for remains--medical examiners no longer operational, few survivors--morgue established on Vesey Street; WTC site work: setting priorities to recover living, managing volunteers oblivious to environmental dangers, demolition site injuries; emotional reactions: absence of EMS crew satisfaction in saving lives versus firefighter heroism of giving life, avoiding emotions at home, availability of counseling services; lack of public and media attention to EMS; on-going concerns about lack of hazardous material training for EMS and fire units

Subjects

Access Conditions

Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2006

Using this collection

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