Suitland, MD - Technical Rescue - 7/18/2014

[SageVigiles 1,194]

So some of you know I've moved down to Virginia for a new job, and I've started volunteering with Company 27 in Prince George's County, MD. I just wanted to share an "interesting" rescue we had yesterday. Probably not a big deal to a lot of the more experienced people on here, but for me, as someone very inexperienced in technical rescue, I thought it might be worth sharing.

Engine 829 (Silver Hills), Rescue-Engine 827 (Morningside), Medic 829, Ambulance 829, Battalion Chief 883 and the Southern EMS Duty Officer were dispatched to the 3400 block of Curtis drive for a reported PIA with entrapment. E829 was first due and confirmed that a minivan had driven into a guard shack and that the security guard was pinned under the van. RE-827 arrived as the first due special service. Rescue Squad 842 was also requested as part of the County Technical Rescue Team.

Our initial plan (not being able to see the scene) was to use a Hurst spreader plate to lift the car off the guard and drag him out (this worked for the company a few months ago when a PGPD Officer was trapped under a car on the highway.) Upon arriving we realized the security guard was not completely pinned by the car, an air conditioning unit and filing cabinet had created a small void space that held the car up and protected him from being completely crushed. We also realized we had no room to use the spreaders and our plan became to turn the windows into doors on the "B" and "D" sides of the shack (assuming the van entered in side "A") and then use airbags to lift the vehicle off the patient and let the medics drag him out of the "C" side that was non-load bearing. RS442 arrived and shored the "D" side with the Rescue-42 jack system, and then ultimately it was decided to use another Rescue-42 jack to lift the car off the patient. Patient transported with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Again, for those of you more well versed in technical rescue, this is probably a pretty minor incident, but for for it was a pretty interesting experience and a good intro to how things are done in PG County. Despite all the company rivalry that's present down here, when things like this happen everyone (career, volunteer, PD, different companies, etc) all worked and communicated extremely well together. The way it should be.

Some photos from the scene:

(Note: All photos are from the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department and/or the Prince George's County Police PIO's social media pages)

View from the D-Side

View from the C-Side

View of the void space created by the A/C unit and the filing cabinet.

NBC Washington: Security Guard Rescued After Van Plows into Booth

Edited July 20, 2014 by SageVigiles

[SECTMB 612]

The first time you treat a technical rescue, or any function we perform, as not a big deal, watch it become one. Nice job.

[AFS1970 504]

THanks for this report. I heard about this through a security association I am a member of but it was a very basic report. Seeing the other pics and reading about the plan(s) were helpful in fleshing out the incident.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

No problem Alan, if you need anymore info PM me and I'll see if I can find what you're looking for.

[Viper 139]

Great photos and writeup!