DSU Fines and Orders Measures After Bacău Tragedy Where 15-Year-Old Student Died at School

A 15-year-old student died at school in Bacău, Romania, after choking on food during a break. The incident has ignited major controversy over the emergency medical response.

The Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) conducted an inspection after the tragedy. Their investigation focused on the emergency medical services in Bacău County, including the County Ambulance Service (SAJ), the Emergency Resuscitation and Treatment Unit (UPU) of the County Emergency Hospital, and the Bacău County Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (ISUJ). The inspection also covered the gymnasium school in Vladnic, Parincea commune, where the incident occurred.

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In data de 22.05.2026, o echipă de inspecție a Departamentului pentru Situații de Urgență s-a deplasat la sediul structurilor care asigură asistența medicală de urgență la nivelul județului Bacău (SAJ Bacău, UPU –SMURD a Spitalului Județean de Urgență Bacău, ISUJ Bacău), precum și la sediul Școlii Gimnaziale din localitatea Vladnic, comuna Parincea, județul Bacău (locul intervenției), în vederea verificării modului de asigurare a asistenței medicale de urgență la nivel prespitalicesc, activitatea fiind desfășurată în coordonare instituțională cu Ministerul Sănătății, în conformitate cu atribuțiile legale ale fiecărei instituții.

According to the DSU, the initial emergency call was received at 12:31 on May 20, 2026, reporting an unconscious child. Ambulance dispatchers provided first-aid instructions until medical teams arrived. Despite the reported symptoms indicating a major emergency (Code Red – child not breathing), an ambulance with only an assistant was initially dispatched. A medical team with a doctor was available but was directed to the scene later, arriving at 14:22. The DSU noted that alternative resources, such as a medical team with a doctor or an air ambulance, should have been considered earlier. The investigation found no evidence that an air ambulance was alerted, despite two being available.

The DSU's findings highlight potential procedural failures in the emergency response. The student, identified as Robert from Buhoci commune, died during a break between classes. The controversy centers on whether the available medical resources were deployed effectively and promptly enough to save the boy's life.

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La momentul apelului existau disponibile la nivelul stației centrale a SAJ Bacău: un echipaj medical de urgență cu medic și mai multe echipaje medicale de urgență cu asistent. Un alt echipaj cu medic era în misiune la Iași. La nivelul județului nu era operațional un echipaj de terapie intensivă mobile SMURD, din cauza lipsei de personal medical de la nivelul UPU Bacău. Deși simptomatologia raportată se încadra în categoria urgențelor majore (Cod Roșu – copil care nu respiră), a fost alertat inițial un echipaj medical de urgență cu asistent.