2.4.4 Tree crush entrapment rescue
Written by Warren Frey
Rescuing a casualty from beneath a fallen tree will not be a familiar scenario to most first responders . The best we can do is to practice and train for this type of rescue so that the first time we attempt these techniques is not at an actual incident . Applying techniques and equipment to something new and unknown can be incredibly stressful when a casualty ’ s wellbeing or life is on the line . The better prepared we are , the better we will perform and the better we will cope .
Case study : Rescue - person trapped under fallen tree .
Firefighters were called to a rescue involving a casualty who was felling trees on a private property . Two fire crews were responded to the incident , as well as paramedics . Upon arrival the first responding crew had limited equipment as their fire appliance was not configured for rescue . The firefighters assessed the situation , passed on information to the responding rescue crew and assisted paramedics until the rescue crew arrived . On arrival of the rescue crew the casualty was nonresponsive , and it was clear that the paramedics required the sizeable tree to be lifted off the casualty as a matter of urgency .
By chance , the responding crew were amongst the first firefighters in the service to have trained for such a scenario , and the training had taken place only weeks before . During the training , the team had experimented with different types of rescue equipment to lift different sized logs off trapped rescue mannequins in several different situations , including :
• On level and sloped ground
• From underneath single logs
• From underneath and between logs stacked upon each other
• Logs that had the potential to roll down hill over the casualty
• Using and experimenting with a range of rescue equipment .
The rescue crew had never attended an incident like this before , however they had a go-to plan based on the successes and failures of their previous training . Importantly , they also had a plan B and C utilising a range of equipment that they were familiar with and could use if need be .
Did the incident run perfectly ? No , they never do , it could have been quicker . In saying this , there were no critical safety issues , however we can always do things better and that ’ s why we critically analyse and learn from incidents that we attend , particularly when they are significant and uncommon . In this instance the casualty unfortunately passed away due to extensive injuries , however every effort was made to achieve a better outcome and the rescue and medical team worked well together .
So what was learnt ? Although the casualty could not be saved , the job itself ran smoothly and was less stressful , particularly for the rescue crew because the scenario was not unfamiliar . The crew knew what equipment to carry into the scene and had back-up equipment in case their initial equipment was unsuitable .
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