Air Bag Training
Pays Off for Volunteers
MID-TOWN – TOWN OF EVANS NY – MAY 2, 2004 --- Less than a week after receiving refresher training on their Paratech Maxiforce Air Bag system, Evans Center Volunteer Firefighters put their training to the test.
The Evans Center Volunteer Fire Company was activated for a report of a vehicle rolled over on the New York State Thruway at milepost 447.2 eastbound around 2:30am this morning. Units had to enter the Thruway at the westbound Angola Service Area, head west for about a mile and cross over the center median at the first turn-around and head back east.
Just four days earlier, Evans Center had received refresher training on extricating patients using air bags from Paratech (manufacturer’s) representatives Mike Meldrum and Tony Schueckler.
Evans Center’s Asst. Chief Tiger Schmittendorf arrived first and established operations. Chief Bruce Green Jr. arrived a minute later with Rural Metro Paramedics and assumed incident command.
Schmittendorf pulled past the overturned vehicle and observed one occupant outside of the vehicle talking with State Police. The vehicle had landed on its roof in the passing lane of the 65MPH Interstate directly across from the eastbound entrance to the Angola Service Area. State Troopers had blocked off the lane with their patrol car and flares and were attempting to slow the traffic.
Upon closer examination, he found a passenger still inside the vehicle and sitting against the windshield facing towards the rear of the SUV. Rural Metro Paramedic Tim Szczepaniak evaluated the trapped occupant as his partner, EMT Sarah Hull, checked on the driver of the vehicle. The occupant was conscious, alert and speaking with rescuers that his foot was trapped under the roof of the truck.
Operations radioed this information to command as Evans Center’s Engine 1, a combination engine-rescue, was just pulling up. Schmittendorf conferred with acting-officer Joel Raisor and described the situation to him.
The balance of Engine 1’s crew, consisting of Evans Center Firefighters Kevin Snyder, Scott Wheeler, Bob Zamrok and Angola Firefighter Ron Friend; went about surveying the scene, setting up tools and equipment and stabilizing the vehicle. Evans Center’s ambulance arrived with Firefighter/EMTs Bob Corsi and Sean Murphy to assist the engine crew. A back-up rescue truck was requested from the Eden Emergency Squad.
They used wood cribbing to stabilize all four corners of the SUV and put two air bags in place at both the front and rear of the driver’s side. Raisor controlled the inflation of the air bags as the other firefighters observed for any signs of instability. The entire vehicle was lifted approximately four inches – just enough room to allow the patient’s foot to be removed from under the roof of the vehicle. Cribbing was put in place to stabilize the vehicle in position before patient removal was attempted.
At this point, the State Troopers shut down the driving lane of the Thruway and diverted traffic through the service area complex and back onto the Interstate. This allowed the rescuers to work around the vehicle safely without high-speed traffic passing closely by.
Once traffic was re-routed, Firefighters Snyder and Zamrok worked together using a halligan tool and a flat head axe to pry the driver’s side front door open, gaining access to the patient. Fire and EMS crews then worked together to fully immobilize and extricate the patient from the vehicle.
He and the driver of the vehicle were treated at the scene and transported to the Erie County Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The results could have been much worse considering the trajectory of and damage to the vehicle.
The total time from Engine 1’s arrival until the extrication was complete was just 18 minutes, inside the 20 minute target for extrication and within the golden hour for arrival at a qualified trauma center.
The firefighters are grateful to Meldrum and Schueckler for the training conducted the previous Tuesday that paid dividends for the patient. The training covered the application, set-up, use, maintenance and care of the air bag system and accessories. Evans Center’s largest air bag has a lifting capacity of 22 tons. The air bags have a ruggedized rubber exterior with flexible steel bands inside, and lay flat when not inflated.
“This is exactly why we train,” said Chief Green. “Everything came together at the right time. Everyone’s training, experience and determination combined with the right tools - worked together for a positive outcome. We’re very proud of our team.”
Evans Center protects a 10 mile stretch of the New York State Thruway in the Towns of Evans and Brant between the Town of Hamburg and the southern border with Chautauqua County. According to the New York State Thruway Authority, the average traffic flow through this section is 33,333 vehicles daily with peaks of up to 1,500 vehicles per hour. The service complex is comprised of two gas stations, Denny’s and McDonald’s restaurants, restrooms, a propane gas farm and a traveler information center.
Evans Center was assisted at the scene by the Angola Fire Control Dispatch Center, Eden Emergency Squad, New York State Police, Pinto’s Towing, Rural Metro Paramedics and Crew Chief Russell Dimitroff.
LINKS:
Town of Evans – http://epd.buffnet.net/toewelcome.htm
NYS Thruway Authority – www.thruway.state.ny.us
Rural Metro Paramedics - www.ruralmetrowny.com
Paratech Air Bags - www.paratechinc.com
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