Squad Works on Tedious & Complicated Extrication

 
By Chief Jonathan Riffe
December 29, 2012
 

Saturday December 29, 2012 at 0118 hours, Ambulance 69 (Morgal) was alerted for the auto accident at Route 261 & Locust Grove Road (102 Box). With unit's enroute, Communications relayed supplemental information that they were receiving reports of a person trapped in the vehicle. With this information, the Fire Chief (Riffe) & Squad 6 (Montgomery Jr) were added to the run. Units arrived on location and found a single-vehicle that had struck a large tree at a high-rate of speed. The single occupant was trapped in the driver's seat with the entire dashboard, fire wall and engine compartment on his lap. In addition, the patient who was in-and-out consciousness was also suffering from multiple open fractures and severely bleeding.

Squad 6 & Rescue 1 went to work with the HURST Jaws, Maverick Combi-tool and "O" Cutters removing the driver & passenger side door and "B" post. Once this was accomplished with a clear open picture and vantage point, it was realized that the patient's legs were trapped and a simple dash-roll would not free the patient. Crews meticulously went to work and used the 32" Jaws, placing them between the center console and dashboard/fire wall/engine compartment. The Jaws were slowly and carefully opened which gave a large opening for rescuers to gain access to the patient's extremities. Once accomplished, the Spreaders were left in place. The "O" Cutters were then used to cut the gas and brake pedals which freed the patient's legs. Finally, the seat back was cut with the "O" Cutters removing it from the seat bottom so the patient could be slid out. After approximately 15 minutes the patient was freed from the wreckage. The patient was transported priority 1 by aviation to a local trauma center.

At 0200 hours, the Huntingtown Volunteers returned to service.

A few pictures courtesy of Robbie Marshall, http://www.marshall3rd.com/

 
Units: Fire Chief, Squad 6, Ambulance 69