o.k. this one is just for my information. I was wondering how many EMT are involved in vech. extraction? I'm a member of the the fire/rescue squad but I am also a EMT with the ambulance squad of the same fire company., the thing is, the last vech. rescue class we had had a good turn out with more then 30 firefigthers from all over the county attending. but I was the only EMT in the group....so I was wondering if the EMT's in your company get involved in the hand on part of vech extraication or do you wait for the rescue squad to bring the patient to you? Like I said just wanted to get a feel for how it's done elsewhere.......

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Pablo,

If you're interested, I have some extrication training photos including a mix of fire and EMS extrication specialists on my page at: http://www.firefighternation.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?scr...

and:

http://www.firefighternation.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?scr...

Ben
Hi! Im from the Philippines and here in our small city,we do vehicular extrications the old way since we dont have any hydraulic or pneumatic rescue tools.We use hand tools only and the EMS unit also assists in the "hands-on" operation by providing patient care while the rescue unit figures out how to extricate the victim...MFR level crews are given a little leeway to perform "extra"level care in these cases.hehehe.We cant follow 1st world protocols here in the 3rd world due to lack of equipment and trained personnel(most have gone abroad to better paying jobs).
We have a basic extrication class during FirstResponder class. It's not so much about teaching them how to extricate or use the tools, but more to teach them what to expect. As for getting in the middle of it, yes, most if not all of our techs will get right in there to help the firemen extricate and also take care of the patient during extrication. Most of us are also Firemen, but even the ones that aren't do not stand at the box and wait for a patient.
Here in Chicagoland, we're pretty much all Firefighters as well as EMT-B or Paramedic. Also trained in vehicle extrication. We have to "do it all", unlike major cities where they have Firefighters on one side and EMT's & Paramedics on the other. Stay safe!
At my old ems service all personnel were required to wear steel toe boots and safety g;asses on all calls we kept 2 turnout coats and 2 two helmet in a side compartment for extrication
The reason I asked about rescue EMT is simple, it seems that the EMS side of the company is not interested in learning anything about rescue work, I mean as an EMT i would be interested in learning about rescue work, you can't always just sit back and let the firefighters do all the work. I'm a fire/rescue member as well as EMT for our EMS sqd. but even I know that there will be a time when you get called out for one thing and it turns out to be something else, I feel it's better to have the skills and not need them then need them and not have them. I've taken rope rescue, Vech Extracation upon to oper. leval but me fellow EMT kind of look at me funny, like why are you wasteing your time with that. o.k. so we get out on medical calls a lot more then fire/rescue but Hey, what happen to be prepared! Every time that there's a fire/rescue class atthe station willn't you know it, there's a EMS class atthe same time too. I can't be in two places at once so quess which one I will attend? Some say it is because our EMS side is rather old....and don't have the time to cross train but hey, I'm pushing 60 and I find the time.....
Sorry, I'm just venting.....
Pablo-
I say go for it. It will only make you more valuable to your F.D. As far as pushing 60...you're only as old as you feel! Stay safe Brother.
IN our dept. we are lucky to have about half of our firefighters certified as EMTs. It is a definite advantage during extrication since we are wearing the proper PPE to ensure our safety while caring for the patient. Its also very helpful so we can help make the decisions on how best to remove the vehicle from the patient while taking the best care we can.
"They now have a technique using just a taped up blanket to extricate victims from seats of cars."

BLBEMT-
Can you say C-spine? How in the world can you safely extricate someone from a vehicle with a taped up blanket? As opposed to waiting for Fire/EMS to arrive?
Brian we do the same thing sometimes and its only used for rapid extrication when the patient is dead or near death, and we only do it if the ambulance medic's tell us, its their call, back to the question we as fire/medics pretty much do all the work and take the patient to the ambulance where the medics are getting iv's ready or running for use to get things.
If your a firefighter and rescue trained you should be working on extracation and patient stability. Just standing and waiting...might as well be a cop.
Brian,

PHTLS is the standard trauma specialty class sponsored by the National Association of EMTS. The rapid extrication technique using the blanket roll can be used either with or without a cervical collar. This course is the trauma standard for my agency and several of our paramedics including the training officers are PHTLS instructors.

PHTLS defines two different general procedures for rapidly moving a patient out of a vehicle with less than full spinal precautions...

The first is Emergency Scene Rescue due to scene hazards such as fire where the threat to the patient's life from the scene hazard is greater than the risk of additional spinal injury.

The second is Rapid Extrication where the patient has an immediate life threat that can't be treated while the patient is in the vehicle.

PHTLS and it's counterpart, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS, formerly known as BLTS) both teach that it is better to risk additional spinl injury for patients who have critical life threats. Those procedures are designed to reduce the incidence of delivering neatly-packaged dead people to the trauma center.

That is based on the rapid extrication being done by trained responders with the legal authority to do so. Neither PHTLS or ITLS teaches the rapid extrication technique as a routine procedure prior to the arrival of local fire-rescue and EMS resources.

Neither PHTLS or ITLS advocates non-affiliated civilians or wannabes running around jerking patients out of every wreck they can find, either.

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