March 9, 2011
Rescue Squad Assists Wheaton With Extricating Two Trapped
Rescue Squad 741 assisted with vehicle stabilization and extrication of two persons trapped in a minivan after an early morning 2-car T-bone crash in Wheaton.
Wheaton Rescue Squad requested B-CC to respond to assist with stabilization of the minivan, which had been struck by a Dodge Durango SUV in its passenger side door. The force of the impact spun the minivan around and rolled it onto its passenger side. The Durango than overrode the minivan so that the SUV’s front tires were almost 2 feet off the ground.
Rescue Squad 741 arrived on scene at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Reedie Drive to find that Wheaton had begun stabilizing the minivan using Paratech struts and ratchet straps. But because of the SUV’s precarious position with its front end sitting on top of the minivan, Wheaton Chief 742 directed the Squad crew to set up a redundant stabilization system. The crew did this by putting a Paratech strut at the minivan’s A post, tying it back to a nearby tree, and placing wedges and cribbing in voids underneath the vehicle.
Once the minivan was stabilized, crews began preparing the SUV to be pulled away from the minivan in order to provide access so that the roof could be removed. However, one of the patients crawled out of the vehicle through the front windshield, which had been removed. Rescue Squad 741’s crew then determined that the other patient was only entangled in the rear view mirror. That was quickly cut away, enabling quick removal of the patient from the second vehicle.
Both patients were assessed by Wheaton Rescue Squad ambulances and transported to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Celebrates its Newest EMTs, Firefighters, and Paramedic
March 11, 2011
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Members Honored in Graduation Ceremonies
Members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, one of the nation's most advanced and best-trained rescue squads, were honored in graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Training Academy today. Nine Rescue Squad volunteers were recognized for completing training programs to become emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters.
Rescue Squad Volunteer Carl Cowan completed 982 hours of classwork to attain Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) status. EMT-P certification is the highest level of medical training for pre-hospital care providers at the Rescue Squad. EMT-Ps are trained to treat life-threatening conditions and administer specialized drugs to patients experiencing health emergencies. Skills include cardiac monitoring, 12-lead EKG interpretation, and administering IVs.
Five Rescue Squad volunteers – Justin Ackerman, Madeline Blank, Vanessa Damm, Hannah Sherman, and Jessica Steinbeck – completed the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic program. EMT-B is the first level of formalized medical training required for all Rescue Squad volunteers. The training program consists of 131 hours of classroom time, in-hospital clinical requirements, and testing, in addition to countless hours spent riding Rescue Squad ambulances on actual emergency calls. EMT-Bs perform a variety of skills, including patient assessment, basic life support, and use of automated external defibrillators.
Volunteer Vanessa Damm carried on the Rescue Squad tradition of academic excellence by receiving the prestigious Richard B. Thompson Award for top academic performance in her EMT-B class. Ms. Damm’s name will be engraved on a plaque that hangs in the Training Academy and carries the names of EMT class top finishers (including many Rescue Squad members) stretching back more than 30 years.
Rescue Squad volunteers Eily Hayes, Thomas Lowery, and Udana Torian completed Montgomery County’s rigorous Firefighting Class. The 162-hour course consists of extensive classroom instruction as well as physically demanding practical training, including live firefighting exercises. Training includes not only extinguishing fires, search and rescue techniques, and incident command, but also skills needed to address a variety of emergency situations involving hazardous materials, electrical equipment, fire alarm and sprinkler systems, and many others.
All Rescue Squad volunteers and staff receive professional training and exceed state standards, in addition to completing our rigorous in-house training programs.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Members Honored in Graduation Ceremonies
Members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, one of the nation's most advanced and best-trained rescue squads, were honored in graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Training Academy today. Nine Rescue Squad volunteers were recognized for completing training programs to become emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters.
Rescue Squad Volunteer Carl Cowan completed 982 hours of classwork to attain Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) status. EMT-P certification is the highest level of medical training for pre-hospital care providers at the Rescue Squad. EMT-Ps are trained to treat life-threatening conditions and administer specialized drugs to patients experiencing health emergencies. Skills include cardiac monitoring, 12-lead EKG interpretation, and administering IVs.
Five Rescue Squad volunteers – Justin Ackerman, Madeline Blank, Vanessa Damm, Hannah Sherman, and Jessica Steinbeck – completed the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic program. EMT-B is the first level of formalized medical training required for all Rescue Squad volunteers. The training program consists of 131 hours of classroom time, in-hospital clinical requirements, and testing, in addition to countless hours spent riding Rescue Squad ambulances on actual emergency calls. EMT-Bs perform a variety of skills, including patient assessment, basic life support, and use of automated external defibrillators.
Volunteer Vanessa Damm carried on the Rescue Squad tradition of academic excellence by receiving the prestigious Richard B. Thompson Award for top academic performance in her EMT-B class. Ms. Damm’s name will be engraved on a plaque that hangs in the Training Academy and carries the names of EMT class top finishers (including many Rescue Squad members) stretching back more than 30 years.
Rescue Squad volunteers Eily Hayes, Thomas Lowery, and Udana Torian completed Montgomery County’s rigorous Firefighting Class. The 162-hour course consists of extensive classroom instruction as well as physically demanding practical training, including live firefighting exercises. Training includes not only extinguishing fires, search and rescue techniques, and incident command, but also skills needed to address a variety of emergency situations involving hazardous materials, electrical equipment, fire alarm and sprinkler systems, and many others.
All Rescue Squad volunteers and staff receive professional training and exceed state standards, in addition to completing our rigorous in-house training programs.
Rescue Squad Extricates One Trapped on Beltway Ramp
March 3, 2011
Rescue Squad Extricates One Trapped on Beltway Ramp
Rescue Squad crews extricated the driver of a vehicle trapped as a result of a collision on the ramp from Rockville Pike onto the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway.
Ambulance 741C and Rescue Squad 741, along with Engine 720 from Bethesda, were dispatched for a collision on the right shoulder of northbound Rockville Pike at the ramp to the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway. Units arrived on scene to find a car on the ramp that had been sideswiped on the driver’s side door. The door had been pushed inside of the rocker panel, trapping the driver.
The Rescue Squad crew quickly dropped the car onto step chocks and then began cutting. They popped the driver’s door using hydraulic spreaders, and were able to open the rear door on the driver's side. This allowed them to cut the B post without having to remove the rear door. First they cut the top using hydraulic cutters,which provided greater access to the bottom of the post. A single cut at the bottom, where the post joins the bottom of the door, enabled the crew to fold the door out and quickly finish the job. They could then remove the rear door and the post from the vehicle in one piece.
The patient was placed on a backboard, removed from the vehicle, and transported with non-traumatic injuries to Suburban Hospital by Ambulance 741C.
Rescue Squad Extricates One Trapped on Beltway Ramp
Rescue Squad crews extricated the driver of a vehicle trapped as a result of a collision on the ramp from Rockville Pike onto the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway.
Ambulance 741C and Rescue Squad 741, along with Engine 720 from Bethesda, were dispatched for a collision on the right shoulder of northbound Rockville Pike at the ramp to the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway. Units arrived on scene to find a car on the ramp that had been sideswiped on the driver’s side door. The door had been pushed inside of the rocker panel, trapping the driver.
The Rescue Squad crew quickly dropped the car onto step chocks and then began cutting. They popped the driver’s door using hydraulic spreaders, and were able to open the rear door on the driver's side. This allowed them to cut the B post without having to remove the rear door. First they cut the top using hydraulic cutters,which provided greater access to the bottom of the post. A single cut at the bottom, where the post joins the bottom of the door, enabled the crew to fold the door out and quickly finish the job. They could then remove the rear door and the post from the vehicle in one piece.
The patient was placed on a backboard, removed from the vehicle, and transported with non-traumatic injuries to Suburban Hospital by Ambulance 741C.
Rescue Squad Extricates One Trapped in Pickup Truck
February 28
Rescue Squad crews extricated one person trapped in a pick-up truck in a 4-vehicle collision on I-270 shortly after 4 p.m., at the beginning of the afternoon rush hour.
Initially, only Ambulance 741B and Engine 751B from the National Institutes of Health were dispatched to Northbound I-270 between the Beltway and Rockledge Drive for an injured person following a collision, with police on the scene. However, the NIH crew arrived on scene to find the collision to be under Old Georgetown Road, and requested that the Rescue Squad be dispatched for one person trapped.
Rescue Squad 741 arrived on scene to find a pick-up truck against the median barrier and the driver trapped inside. The squad crew stabilized the vehicle using step chocks and began its extrication. They popped open the passenger side door using hydraulic spreaders, and then removed the roof by cutting the A and B posts on both sides of the vehicle. This provided easy access to the driver, who was quickly removed through the passenger side.
Ambulance 741B’s crew assessed the driver of the pick-up truck, who suffered only minor injuries, and transported him to Suburban Hospital. Ambulance 741C transported 2 additional patients from other vehicles to Suburban, as well.
Rescue Squad crews extricated one person trapped in a pick-up truck in a 4-vehicle collision on I-270 shortly after 4 p.m., at the beginning of the afternoon rush hour.
Initially, only Ambulance 741B and Engine 751B from the National Institutes of Health were dispatched to Northbound I-270 between the Beltway and Rockledge Drive for an injured person following a collision, with police on the scene. However, the NIH crew arrived on scene to find the collision to be under Old Georgetown Road, and requested that the Rescue Squad be dispatched for one person trapped.
Rescue Squad 741 arrived on scene to find a pick-up truck against the median barrier and the driver trapped inside. The squad crew stabilized the vehicle using step chocks and began its extrication. They popped open the passenger side door using hydraulic spreaders, and then removed the roof by cutting the A and B posts on both sides of the vehicle. This provided easy access to the driver, who was quickly removed through the passenger side.
Ambulance 741B’s crew assessed the driver of the pick-up truck, who suffered only minor injuries, and transported him to Suburban Hospital. Ambulance 741C transported 2 additional patients from other vehicles to Suburban, as well.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Rescue Squad responds to 48 incidents, including a stubborn house fire during January 26 storm
A snowstorm that paralyzed the D.C. Metropolitan area January 26 also brought challenges to the Rescue Squad with icy roads and sidewalks, paralyzed traffic, and numerous calls for help.
During the 24-hour period, Rescue Squad units from its main station and the satellite ambulance at Bethesda Station 26 responded to 48 incidents, with some requiring multiple units. This is more than double the number of calls in an average day. These calls included 1 working house fire, 7 box alarms, and 8 personal injury automobile collisions. Many of these calls were during snow conditions and required significant work.
Firefighters Face Live Wire, Downed Trees and Power Lines
The Rescue Squad responded along with units from Bethesda, Chevy Chase, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Naval Medical Center to a stubborn fire in the walls and floor joists between the basement and first floor in a 1930's era house on Roosevelt Street, near Suburban Hospital. It started when a tree fell and shorted the electric service line to the house. For the initial part of the incident the fire was being fed by an active electrical short.
The Rescue Squad crew gained access to the house and found it charged with smoke. Although they were able to quickly complete a primary search of the structure, deployment of initial firefighting hose lines was challenging because crews were blocked from vehicle access to the structure by downed power lines and trees on both sides of the house. There was also a live wire arcing near the electric meter. The fire extended into the walls of the house, which necessitated extensive overhaul operations to ensure that all of the fire was found and exposed. Firefighters from the Rescue Squad and other units ultimately used up all of the spare SCBA bottles on scene. Air Unit 716, from Silver Spring, was delayed in responding because it was tied up on a fire in another part of the county, but ultimately arrived on scene to refill bottles.
Neighborhood streets were very slippery, and apparatus was blocked out because of a fallen tree and wires across the street. In fact, another limb from the same tree fell during the incident and struck a firefighter. Fortunately, his protective gear did its job and he was able to walk away for evaluation of a minor injury by Medic 741.
"Excellent Team Effort"
The Rescue Squad was able to handle the large number of calls because of the many volunteer firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs who came in to ride extra as a supplement to the Roving Crew that was on duty, and the Day Staff, which made an outstanding effort during their normal shift and that night as well. “The strong staffing that we had available for the night shift allowed us to handle this tremendous amount of calls," said Rescue Squad Chief Ned Sherburne. "This was an excellent team effort.”
During the 24-hour period, Rescue Squad units from its main station and the satellite ambulance at Bethesda Station 26 responded to 48 incidents, with some requiring multiple units. This is more than double the number of calls in an average day. These calls included 1 working house fire, 7 box alarms, and 8 personal injury automobile collisions. Many of these calls were during snow conditions and required significant work.
Firefighters Face Live Wire, Downed Trees and Power Lines
The Rescue Squad responded along with units from Bethesda, Chevy Chase, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Naval Medical Center to a stubborn fire in the walls and floor joists between the basement and first floor in a 1930's era house on Roosevelt Street, near Suburban Hospital. It started when a tree fell and shorted the electric service line to the house. For the initial part of the incident the fire was being fed by an active electrical short.
The Rescue Squad crew gained access to the house and found it charged with smoke. Although they were able to quickly complete a primary search of the structure, deployment of initial firefighting hose lines was challenging because crews were blocked from vehicle access to the structure by downed power lines and trees on both sides of the house. There was also a live wire arcing near the electric meter. The fire extended into the walls of the house, which necessitated extensive overhaul operations to ensure that all of the fire was found and exposed. Firefighters from the Rescue Squad and other units ultimately used up all of the spare SCBA bottles on scene. Air Unit 716, from Silver Spring, was delayed in responding because it was tied up on a fire in another part of the county, but ultimately arrived on scene to refill bottles.
Neighborhood streets were very slippery, and apparatus was blocked out because of a fallen tree and wires across the street. In fact, another limb from the same tree fell during the incident and struck a firefighter. Fortunately, his protective gear did its job and he was able to walk away for evaluation of a minor injury by Medic 741.
"Excellent Team Effort"
The Rescue Squad was able to handle the large number of calls because of the many volunteer firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs who came in to ride extra as a supplement to the Roving Crew that was on duty, and the Day Staff, which made an outstanding effort during their normal shift and that night as well. “The strong staffing that we had available for the night shift allowed us to handle this tremendous amount of calls," said Rescue Squad Chief Ned Sherburne. "This was an excellent team effort.”
2010-2011 catch-up
Catch up on some major calls during November-January:
Crews Quickly Extricate Woman in North Bethesda Crash, January 24
Rescue Squad First on Scene of Weekday House Fire, December 22
Rescue Squad First on the Scene of Bethesda House Fire, November 30
Visit http://www.bccrs.org/action/index.html to read about these calls, as well as other interesting calls during 2010.
Crews Quickly Extricate Woman in North Bethesda Crash, January 24
Rescue Squad First on Scene of Weekday House Fire, December 22
Rescue Squad First on the Scene of Bethesda House Fire, November 30
Visit http://www.bccrs.org/action/index.html to read about these calls, as well as other interesting calls during 2010.
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