The Big Payoff
Communities invest in rescue equipment. Volunteers
invest countless hours familiarizing and training with that
equipment for any emergency that may arise. So, what’s
the payoff?
On
Saturday, May 10, 2008, at about 10:50 a.m., the pagers sounded
the call for an overturned vehicle with two people trapped
at the corner of Terrace and Bell Avenues.
Hasbrouck
Heights Fire Department Rescue Truck, both ambulances, Engine
2 and ALS (advanced life support) paramedics responded within
minutes -- working in concert, each doing their assigned task
simultaneously.
Rescue
workers and EMS assessed the situation.
First,
the vehicle was stablized and glass was broken so that squad
members and EMS could access and physically stabilize the
victims. Rescue squad members crawled through the rear window.
All
of the Jaws of Life equipment -- spreaders, cutters and saws
-- were readied and two teams feverishly began cutting away
each front door.
As
the fire hydrant had been knocked over and water gushed, they
attempted to shut off the hydrant. Eventually, United Water
had to shut off the water. (The hydrant was repaired later
that day.)
Engine
2 stretched a 2" hose and ordered to stand by.
The
passenger-side door was removed first and the passenger was
gingerly moved and strapped onto a backboard, placed on a
stretcher and transported to HUMC by the HHFD ambulance.
The
driver-side door was a more difficult maneuver because of
the close proximity of the victim to where the work had to
be done. Protecting the victim, the door and vehicle columns
were carefully cut away, as well as the seat belt.
The
backboard was inserted through the rear window, the driver
was positioned onto the board, strapped in, and removed through
the rear window. ALS did additional first aid and the victim
was carried to the stretcher and transported to HUMC. ###
Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department
