EACH YEAR NATIONALLY THE FIRE SERVICE ATTEND THOUSANDS OF ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS TRAPPED IN THE WRECKAGE OF THEIR VEHICLES. IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT WE TRAIN ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MEET THESE DEMANDS. BELOW ARE SOME PICTURES OF A TRAINING SESSION. THE SCENARIO IS OF AN UNCONSCIOUS PERSON TRAPPED IN THE CAR WITH SUSPECTED NECK INJURIES AND ONE PERSON BENEATH THE CAR WHO IS NOT BREATHING AND HAS NO PULSE.
The Vehicle has been stabilised and the
casualty under the car has undergone rapid extracation due them not having a
pulse and not breathing. Due to impact damage the car doors are jammed, one of the crew leans through a rear window to assess the driver and stabilise his neck.
As the driver is trapped, other crews assemble the Holmatro hydraulic
cutting/spreading tool.
(see below for facts and figures)
The spreader is used to burst
the door open. The casualty
is constantly being assessed
with their C spine being immobilised and receiving oxygen therapy.
With the door now open others were able to hold the casualties head whilst trigger
climbed through the window to gain a better position for neck stabilisation.
As the plan is to extracate the casualty on a spine board, it beneficial to create as much space as possible. To do this the door posts have to be cut and the roof taken off. Note the blue casualty shield between the casualty and cutting operations
Now the other side
After all the posts are cut the roof is easily removed
Trigger still stabilising the casualties head and neck.
