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  Rescue Story of the Month



   

Welcome to Our Monthly Rescue Story

Each month we plan to bring you a new Rescue Story. We encourage you and your department to submit a rescue experience in story form. If your story is selected, it will reach an international audience. Our goal is to encourage discussions about rescuer safety and rescue techniques in the international community with each Rescue Story we publish. The Rules for Submissions are straightforward. We encourage you to apply and gain the fame and recognition you deserve for a rescue job well done.

You can also read previous stories.
Just follow these links!
September 1997
October 1997
November 1997

Animation

"Trench Collapse in the
Borough of Little Silver"
by Firefighter Paul "Breezy" Wind
of Fort Monmouth Fire & Emergency Services

 

On February 25th, 1998 at 1418 hours, the Fort Monmouth Fire & Emergency Services was dispatched on a mutual aid assignment, for a trench collapse on Hance Roadin the Borough of Little Silver. Fort Monmouth' s Technical Rescue Team (Ladder 1 & Rescue l) responded under the supervision of Chief John C Erichsen and Deputy Chief Steve Roszkowski. Upon arrival, the rescue team gained information from the Incident Commander, Chief James Jiminaro (Little Silver Fire Department), and obtained patient information from Little Silver First Aid Squad and MONOC Paramedics. The rescue team then became a joint endeavor of the Little Silver Fire Department and Little Silver First Aid Squad, Little Silver Police Department, Fair Haven First Aid Squad, MONOC Paramedics, NJ State Police North Star (flight medics), and Fort Monmouth Fire & Emergency Services. The Fort Monmouth and Little Silver Rescue Team performed an immediate size up followed by a safety check.

The rescue teams first priority was to request all personnel be removed from the trench. The rescue team also requested Little Silver Patrolman Robert Frank to stop his endeavor to rescue the patient to allow the technical rescue team to perform shoring and stabilization of the trench. The rescue team set ground pads around the working side of the trench and had co-workers of the trapped patient begin moving the spoil pile further back from the collapse area. Observation at this time was a five foot section of the trench wall collapsed inward on to the worker (known as a shear wall collapse). The rescue team also took into consideration the down time of the victim as well as the instability of the collapsed area. The team requested MONOC to establish an open line with the ER Physicians (concerns of crushing shock syndrome) to keep the vital information of the patient in reach of the highest medical authority. Fort Monmouth's Rescue Team then requested on scene lumber to be assembled to the specifications requested as such (2x4's to be assembled into 4x4's and 3\4" plywood assembled into 1 1/2" sheets, ripped down to specified sizes). The resource of lumber was at an abundance do to the location of the incident (new townhouse development under construction). Once the rescue team set the panels and the cross braces for trench safety, Firefighter William Donahue of the Fort Monmouth Fire & Emergency Services then entered the collapse area and began excavating soil from the patient with the use of small shovels and 5 gallon buckets.

The patient at this time was trapped at his waist with approximately 3 to 4 feet of soil still entrapping him. He was stabilized with IV fluids, high flow oxygen, and monitored by paramedics and EMT's. The rescue team then began the operation of establishing a high anchor point for the removal of the patient. The point to be used was Fort Monmouth's Ladder 1 (Pierce 100ft. Aerial ladder) and a 4:1 rescue mate. At this time, Firefighter Paul Wind also of Fort Monmouth's Fire & Emergency Services entered the collapse area to begin patient stabilization through the use of a short Skippy Board. Rescue Personnel outside the collapse also assisted by lowering the equipment into the collapse area to Firefighters Wind & Donahue. Once the patient was stabilized on the Skippy Board, Firefighter Wind exited the collapse area. Rescue personnel then began the process of hauling the patient out of the collapsed area and transferring him over to a long board and stretcher. NJ State Police North Star (flight medics) also assisted in the hauling of the victim and took patient care over once he was removed from the hauling line. Patient was flown to Jersey Shore Trauma Center in Neptune, NJ. Rescue personnel then secured the scene for investigators.

This rescue was successful operation through team work of multiple organizations from multiple jurisdictions working for one common goal, "The Patient".

The entire Urban H.A.R.T. staff would like to thank Firefighter Paul Wind and the Fort Monmouth Fire & Emergency Services for sending in their story. If you or your department has a story you would like to share please E-mail it to us. We'll see you next month!

Information or Questions:
Firefighter Paul "Breezy" Wind
Fort Monmouth Fire & Emergency Services
Fire HQ's, Bldg. 282
Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703
(732) 532-3495
(732) 532-5187 Fax


E-mail any additional comments to: [email protected].
Thank you for your reply.

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Urban H.A.R.T., Inc.

 

 

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