January
28, 2004
Worker
pinned worker in Lancaster County, PA
By Jim Damm /Eden
Fire Co
| After another winter storm dumped about
4 inches of snow on our area, snow crews were out plowing streets and sidewalks
when a twenty-eight year old man slipped and became entrapped in the bobcat
he was working with.
The 911 caller reported the man was being
crushed and he was turning purple. An environmental rescue was dispatched
and the following units responded on the initial dispatch: Engine 2-4-1,
Rescue 2-4, Squad 2-4-1, Engine 2-11-3, Medic 6-12-8 and Ambulance 2-13-3.
Lancaster City's Rescue Engine 3 was added based on the additional information. |
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| Engine 2-4-1 was returning from another
call and went en-route immediately. The engine arrived on the scene in
less than 5 minutes and other units arrived just minutes later.
Crews from all arriving units went to work
stabilizing the bobcat and assessing the patient. Lancaster City Engine
6-4-3 set up an airbag operation to lift the bucket, while 2-4, 2-7, and
2-11 units continued the complex stabilization procedure. Crews then worked
cautiously to raise the bucket slowly off the patient; utilizing the air
bag operation, chain and com-a-long, as well as manually releasing the
hydraulics of the machine. |
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| After the bucket was raised enough
to free the man, crews secured the cribbing and released the airbags. Firefighters
and medics lowered the man under the bucket and secured him to a long backboard.
The man was conscious and breathing
when freed from the machine, and medics transported him to the hospital.
Total extrication time was about thirty-two minutes.
Rescue 2-3 was dispatched to provide
additional manpower and tools, but while en-route, Rescue 2-3 was diverted
to station 2-4 to stand by while Eden’s equipment was committed at the
rescue scene. |
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