I was absolutely horrified to discover that a call to 911 does not mean that you will necessarily receive the help that was called for (“911 call brought paramedics but no help,” Page 1, Feb. 21). Although I am sure the paramedics do their best when they find the person needing help, I cannot believe that they are not required to try to find that person by trying doorknobs or breaking down doors or windows. Because I have asthma, I could immediately identify with the crisis. But what about heart attacks, drug overdoses and other incidents? Many times people are by themselves and become incapacitated, unable to answer a knock on the door. It should be the mandate of the Chicago Fire Department that paramedics do everything humanly possible to administer the help they are so well-trained to do. To have the victim say, “I think I’m going to die–hurry,” and then they didn’t even try the doorknob, is chilling.
