Category Archives: Aetna Appearance in the Media or Press

Aetna Responds: Car crashes into Wethersfield home; Portion of Route 3 in Wethersfield closed

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Credit: WFSB

Credit: WFSB

WETHERSFIELD, CT (WFSB) – A portion of Route 3 in Wethersfield was closed after a motor vehicle crashed into a home on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The crash was reported in the area of Maple and Prospect streets around 12:30 p.m.

Three paramedic ambulances were sent to the scene, according to Aetna Ambulance Service officials. At least two people, an elderly couple, were rushed to Hartford Hospital. Their conditions were not  released by police.

Police said the vehicle crashed into a power meter before hitting the house. Power was then cut to house before the couple was removed from the vehicle.

It is unclear how long Route 3 will be closed. Read the complete story here…

Hartford Firefighters, Paramedics Save Choking 2-Year-Old

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Aetna's responding Paramedic was Samuel Dybdahl

Aetna’s responding Paramedic was Samuel Dybdahl

From NBC Connecticut. Read the whole story here…

[continued…] The fire department posted a letter from Aetna Ambulance on its Facebook page, thanking responding firefighters for their quick thinking.

According to the letter, EMTs and firefighters were called to the city’s South End around noon Thursday. They found the toddler unresponsive with a “complete airway obstruction.” Firefighters performed chest compressions and the Heimlich maneuver.

Medical personnel worked with firefighters to remove the food from the child’s airway and give the toddler oxygen.

Aetna Ambulance director of operations Mark Hannegan said the emergency responders’ teamwork kept the child alive.

Hartford Fire Department - Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.“There is no doubt that without quick, calm and professional actions by all on scene, the child would have died,” Hannegan said in a letter to the fire chief thanking the firefighters of Engine 10. “The attending physician called and said that prehospital care ‘legitimately saved this kid’s life.’ He said that the child is doing well.”

Eleven Children Injured In School Bus Crash In Wethersfield

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IMG_2330Hartford Courant

by Christine Dempsey and David Moran

WETHERSFIELD — About a dozen children have been sent to area hospitals after a school bus crash.

See the original Courant article here...

Police, firefighters and seven ambulances were dispatched to the scene, 52 Prospect Street, shortly before 8:50 a.m., according to an ambulance company spokesman.

The crash has been declared a “mass casualty incident,” with all students on the bus being transported to hospitals, said David Skoczulek of Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

As of 9:15 a.m., 11 patients have been transported to area hospitals. Seven were sent to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, he said, two went to Middlesex Hospital, one went to Hartford Hospital and one went to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

The small bus appears to have collided with a Jeep Wrangler, which struck another car. The third vehicle then hit a fourth car.

The school bus reportedly collided with two cars, Skoczulek said. The extent of injuries is unknown.

The term “mass casualty incident” means that more resources are needed because of the number of patients. It doesn’t speak to the extent of injuries, Skoczulek said.

Read the full story here…

Courant Staff Writer David Moran contributed to this story.

Historical Photos: Aetna Ambulance Service #9

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HARTFORD —Unknown date (presumably early to mid 1960’s) and unknown location (although somewhere in Hartford). Howard Grady is visible working to move a patient with the assistance of bystanders. Many historical photos that revolve around trauma include bystander help and assembled crowds.

Aetna Ambulance Historical Photography Hartford

State Police Bring Toys to Kids in the Hospital

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BY AMANDA RAUS

Monday, Dec 22, 2014 • Updated at 5:16 PM EST NBC Connecticut

The look of pure joy on a child’s face melts the hearts of veteran troopers.

“This is a good day. We wish every day could be Christmas,” said Lt. Col. Butch Hyatt of the Connecticut State Police.

State troopers went door-to-door at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford on Monday, handing out toys to children in the hospital’s emergency department. From Barbie dolls to blocks, the wish lists were covered, and troopers raised more than $20,000 thanks to the generosity of people around the state.

“Every toy you see, and all the dollars in the check, come from the public from their hearts, so these children can have a good Christmas,” said Hyatt.

But the toy giveaway isn’t limited to Christmas. State police, the Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna Ambulance collect toys around the holidays as part of an 18-year tradition and hand them out year round. Read the full article here...

Historical Photos: Aetna Ambulance Service #8

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HARTFORD — Dated from 1950 and appearing in the Price and Lee Company catalog directory, this ad declares Aetna Ambulance, “A service that’s right Day or Night.”

Interesting to note that we still operate an exchange that ends in 6792.

Aetna Ad 1950

Four Hurt In School Bus Crash In Rocky Hill

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hc-rocky-hill-school-bus-crash-0501-20140430-001By DAVID OWENS, The Hartford Courant

Read the full story here…

12:09 p.m. EDT, April 30, 2014

ROCKY HILL — Four people with minor injuries were taken by ambulance to area hospitals after an accident involving a school bus on northbound I-91 in Rocky Hill Wednesday morning.

Three children aboard the bus complained of pain.

Several ambulances were dispatched to the crash, near exit 23.

Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna Ambulance Service crews transported three children to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and one adult to Hartford Hospital.

The bus was carrying sixth graders from East Haven‘s Joseph Melillo Middle School to the Connecticut Science Center, school officials said.

State police were investigating. The crash was reported at 9:51 a.m.

Historical Photos: Aetna Ambulance Service #7

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HARTFORD — Date unknown, likely mid to late 1950′s (comment if you can discern the make, model and year of the car). Note the extent of the damage to the car in picture one and the delivery of what could be last rites in picture two. It is unknown if the pictures are unrelated.

Aetna Historical 062

Aetna Historical 024

Snow made for a tough day for emergency crews

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)– This snow made for a tough day for emergency crews around our state to get to medical situations that could be life or death.

WTNHSome ambulance crews went out with help in the form of a snow plow leading the way. Read the original WTNH article and see the video here…

Kevin pushed the ambulance through 6 to 8 inches of slop on the roads as he heads to a call in Wethersfield. It has been a busy evening for this crew.

“We had a gentleman who had his fingers cut off in a log splitter today, thankfully we haven’t had any snow blower accidents yet today. We had a cardiac arrest this morning,” said Matt Campbell, Aetna Ambulance.

And now they are heading lights and sirens to a slip and fall patient in Wethersfield. The problem isn’t the snow, Kevin is used to driving in it and the plows are clearing the way… it’s the other drivers.

“A lot of people, they don’t want to get stuck in the snow, so they don’t want to move over for you, and a lot of people don’t need to be out,” said Kevin Mathiau, Aetna.

But they are out and they are clogging the roads so for big storms like this Aetna Ambulance brings on more crews and more equipment so they can spread it around and shorten response time.

“We will stage ambulances all over the city, we have 2 or 3 in every part of the city. The crews know already to slow down, take your time,” said Mark Hannegan, Director Aetna Ambulance

Telling an EMT or paramedic to slow down isn’t in their nature, but safety is and as long as they can get the patient into the ambulance quickly they can stabilize them for a long ride ahead. But with un-shoveled walks and un-plowed side streets crews sometimes have to carry the patient out to the main road rather than risk getting the ambulance stuck.

“We had to carry out a patient on a back board and there were 4 people on it, and it was a 200/300 yard carry, and it makes it difficult without any snow clearing,” said Mathiau.

“We pride ourselves on speed, and to get to the hospital efficiently and safely, and in this weather it is very difficult to get there safely so it takes a lot longer,” said

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 8

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Emmet Kellyby Sam Porcello

Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

(Note: This post was written in the Summer of 2013) After advancing through the Regional competition at Torrington High School in March 2013, I participated in the State History Day competition at Central Connecticut State University on April 27th.  During the interview portion of the state competition, the judges were intrigued by the photo of the two “doctors” loading a patient into an ambulance, and specifically asked about them.

The exhibit was awarded first place, so I will be participating in the National Competition at the University of Maryland in College Park from June 9-13.   In addition, each year at Nationals, one student from each state is nominated to display their exhibit at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.  I am honored to have been selected this year, so the story of the Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance will be on display at the museum on Wednesday, June 12.

Thank you again.  Please know that I will be thinking of all of you in June when I compete for Connecticut, and am proud to share this part of Hartford history with others.  The story of Aetna Ambulance is remarkable.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 7

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efe459069aby Sam Porcello

Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

The fact that the business grew and continues to be strong today is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of this family.

Thank you to Aetna Ambulance and the Grady family for all of your support and your patience, providing photos, information and answering all of my questions.   Mrs. Grady and her daughters even came to cheer me on at the Regional competition!  Mr. Titus’ first-hand account of the fire was chilling.

After advancing through the Regional competition at Torrington High School in March, I participated in the State History Day competition at Central Connecticut State University on April 27th.  During the interview portion of the state competition, the judges were intrigued by the photo of the two “doctors” loading a patient into an ambulance, and specifically asked about them.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 6

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by Sam Porcello

Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

bb20d332c8One of the things that surprised me the most during my project research was the fact that the Gradys concealed their ownership of Aetna Ambulance, afraid that, 20 years before the Civil Rights Amendment, people would be reluctant to do business with African Americans.  As Mrs. Grady recounted:

“(My family) found it difficult to get loans to finance their business.  My dad was a local artist and would use what money he received from selling his paintings into the ambulance business.  He was also a barber!  They would conceal their ownership in the following ways: 1) By calling their business Aetna [ostensibly named, with permission, after the insurance company that they worked for] instead of Grady Ambulance because they knew that the general public would probably not do business with them because of the color of their skin; 2) When they appeared in photographs together helping patients they were careful not to have their names recorded or their actual relationship to the business recorded.  People would believe that they were only the ‘ambulance attendants’ which was the intention.”

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 5

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by Sam Porcello

Hartford Circus Fire - Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

Mrs. Grady was really helpful and supportive, and provided me with photos and additional information about her family. She also referred me to Robert John Titus.  I was fascinated to learn how the Grady brothers, who received some basic medical training in the Navy, were inspired to begin a full time ambulance company following the Hartford Circus Fire.  They saw a need for the service, and became only the second private ambulance company to serve Hartford.

More importantly, Aetna Ambulance was the first private ambulance company in Hartford to provide formal medical training to its employees.  The Gradys didn’t stop there, reaching out beyond Hartford to help train other ambulance services.  Mrs. Evans wrote to me that:

“My Aunt Jean was a member of the Red Cross and was a medical instructor. She helped state wide ambulance employees including Ambulance Service of Manchester, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill Volunteer Ambulance Service members retain their licenses…as Emergency Medical Technicians.”