January 15, 2010
Rescue Squad crews worked closely with engine companies from Chevy Chase and Silver Spring to extricate a woman trapped in her car after it was struck in the rear by a bus.
Rescue Squad 741 was dispatched about 0530 hours on Friday, January 15 with Engine 707 from Chevy Chase and Ambulance 705 from Kensington to a personal injury collision on the Inner Loop of I-495 between Connecticut and Georgia Avenues. Engine 719 and Ambulance 719 from Silver Spring were sent to check the Outer Loop, which is a normal procedure for calls on the Capital Beltway.
E707 arrived on scene and notified responding units that a car was struck by a transit bus, with one person trapped. The rear of the car had sustained significant damage, trapping the driver. Seconds later, Rescue Squad 741 arrived on the scene. Its crew of three personnel immediately began work to stabilize the vehicle and protect the patient before commencing extrication operations. The squad crew then used the Squad’s Amkus hydraulic spreaders to remove the driver’s side doors while the engine crew assisted with removal of the windshield. The squad and engine crews then used two hydraulic cutters in a simultaneous operation to cut and remove the roof. This procedure, involving personnel from E707, E719 and RS741, allowed the medical crew easy access to the patient.
Once the patient was extricated from the vehicle, Ambulance 705 transported the patient to the trauma center at Suburban Hospital with the paramedic from the engine crew.
RS741 returned to service within 30 minutes of arrival on scene.
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