By Rob Richardson -
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GOOCHLAND, VA (NBC12) - When you're being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not the paramedics around you are certified. But, a Goochland man is charged with impersonating a paramedic.
Officials say Adam Tatum, 33, could have seriously harmed a patient, Tatum now faces two charges of impersonating a paramedic.
Things were getting stressful at the Goochland Rescue Squad in Oilville. They'd sounded the tones requesting a paramedic twice -- but, no volunteer had responded. The emergency: A woman possibly having a heart attack.
Rescue workers thought the third time was a charm.
Authorities say Tatum called and offered his advance life saving services. Minutes later, he met the ambulance for a ride to St. Mary's, along the way he gave the patient medicine, and authorities say tried unsuccessfully to insert an IV.
The patient thought it was strange, so did the other paramedics.
Through some quick checking and phone calls, authorities say they determined Tatum wasn't a paramedic.
He was arrested when the ambulance returned to Goochland County.
"First off, you have to question their motivations, why are they doing this that would give me concern," saus Goochland Sheriff Jim Agnew. "But, the second thing is, you have someone who gets on an ambulance and pretends to something he isn't and does life threatening procedures that he doesn't know how to do ... You could put a patient at risk."
The patient survived.
Tatum faces a trial later this month.
Officials say Tatum impersonated a paramedic not once, but twice.
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