November 14 , 2010
Rescue Squad Extricates Two After Head-On Collision
The Rescue Squad extricated patients from two vehicles following an early-morning collision on Sunday, November 14. Rescue Squad 741B and Ambulance 741B were dispatched at about 1:45 a.m. for a personal injury collision with rollover on Jones Bridge Rd. at Lynnbrook Drive, adjacent to the Walter Reed Medical Center. As the units were arriving on the scene, Montgomery County dispatchers updated responding units with information that there was one pinned.
RS741B arrived first to find a Cadillac sedan on its roof abutting the Medical Center's fenceline. The Cadillac's driver was partially ejected through the sunroof with the roof of the car resting on his torso. The other car was a compact vehicle, with significant front-end and driver’s side damage. It was located in the middle of the roadway, some distance from the SUV. An initial survey found that its driver was trapped and possibly pinned in the vehicle.
The Rescue Squad was positioned to enable sequential extrications. Given the state of the victim who was partially ejected through the sunroof with his torso pinned under the Cadillac, the Squad crew chose to conduct a rapid extrication. They used the hydraulic spreaders to lift the vehicle while throwing step chalks under the vehicle. Once the vehicle was off of the victim, he was rapidly extricated and promptly pronounced by the medic on Engine 707, from Chevy Chase.
The squad crew then stabilized and began extrication of the driver in the other vehicle. The crew began by popping the driver’s side door with the hydraulic spreaders, and then used a combination of the spreaders and the cutters to remove the door’s hinges. Once the victim's legs were exposed, it was discovered that she narrowly avoided being pinned and was extricated without further cutting.
Because the Rescue Squad’s medic unit was tied up on another call, Medic 701 from Silver Spring was dispatched. After removal from the vehicle, the driver was assessed by medics, and quickly transported by Ambulance 741B to the Trauma Center at nearby Suburban Hospital, with the paramedic from Medic 701 upgrading the unit to an advanced life support unit.
The total extrication time for both victims was approximately 17 minutes.
The Rescue Squad’s Chief 741 took command of the incident, assisted by Montgomery County Battalion Chief 702.
