Rescue priorities
This section will cover a range of factors and actions to consider in a tree crush entrapment scenario , however there are three critical factors to always remember when dealing with a technical rescue involving the lifting of heavy and / or unstable loads :
1 . Ensure scene safety .
2 . Communicate clearly with , and be guided by , the needs of the paramedics and emergency doctors .
3 . Assign a safety officer to focus on the big picture during all critical aspects of the rescue .
Scene Safety
Your primary job as a rescuer is to ensure that the situation does not get worse after you arrive .
• Conduct a 360 ° size up .
• Assess other dangers including downed powerlines , branches that may fall or other unstable trees .
• Check for casualties who may not be trapped but may be injured nearby or even walking about .
Stabilisation
Make sure that the scene is stabilised using cribbing and wedges so that logs cannot move further or shift unexpectedly .
• When safe , place wedges between the casualty and the load to prevent further movement and crush injury .
• Secure other loads laying over or leaning onto the log or tree if they cannot safely be removed . This can be achieved using suitable ratchet straps so that they do not shift and can be controlled when lifting begins .
• Wedges and cribbing should generally be placed on both sides of the log to prevent rolling movement .
• Cribbing should be placed on both sides of the casualty to prevent pinching and squeezing when lifting . The importance of this cannot be understated . This is something that unfortunately seems to be easily missed when training new operators . One of the reasons is maybe because rescuers can be very task focused , particularly when under pressure , so when the obvious task is to lift , there can be failure to consider what other movements may result .
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