CALL OF THE QUARTER
CALL OF THE QUARTER
"Central Dispatch to Glasgow Rescue. You are needed for a 10-50 P.I., (Personal Injury) with entrapment on Route 130 in front of Reynolds’ Chevron. Two vehicles. Central Dispatch clear at 16:28."
Glasgow Unit #49 was enroute at 16:32 with ST Tech Doug Grant, EMTs Roger Funkhouser and Shane Watts, and Junior member Adrian Watts. Glasgow Fire Department Chief Richard Spangler was on the scene and advised the crew members that there were two patients, one still in her car, entrapped, and one outside of his vehicle walking around. Unit #49 was on scene at 1637, Unit #51(crash truck) was enroute at 16:34 with EMT Jimmy Smith and on scene at 1638.
ST Tech Grant surveyed the accident scene and determining the scene to be secure, began to triage the patients. Upon determining that there were two patients, Grant contacted Central Dispatch for an additional unit. Unit #48 was enroute at 16:39 with ST Tech Debbie Lynn, EMTs William Wheeler and Justin Strowbridge, and drive Richard Hostetter and was on scene at 16:44.
Scene survey revealed a secure scene with Company 2 (Glasgow Fire Department) members controlling traffic and ready for fire suppression, Virginia State Police has been notified and are enroute, and two vehicles resting in the middle of Route 130.
One vehicle had significant damage to the driver’s side, the other to the front. Patient #1, a 43 year old female restrained driver of Vehicle #1 was still in her vehicle, unable to get out due to door damage and pain from a suspected hip injury. Patient #1 was conscious and alert and oriented, and complaining of pain in her left hip and femur.
As vehicle #1 was struck in the driver’s door, it was necessary to remove the door to gain total access to Patient #1 for removal. EMTs Smith and Funkhouser readied the Jaws of Life while EMT Watts entered the stabilized vehicle #1 (tires flattened).
Watts took C-spine control and with the help of ST Tech Grant applied a cervical collar and KED to Patient #1. The patient was covered with a blanket and the door was removed. Patient #1 was moved onto a long spine board after a PMS (Pulse, Movement, and Sensation) check was positive. A second PMS check was unchanged and Patient #1 was secured with a spider strap and head blocks and loaded in unit #49 for transport to Stonewall Jackson Hospital (SJHER) at 1657.
Vitals obtained included a blood pressure of 112/88, pulse of 80 and regular, respiration 20 and normal with lungs clear bilaterally, skin normal, pupils PERRL Pupils are Round and Reactive to Light), and a GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) of 15.
Patient #1 continued to complain of left hip and left femur pain without deformity, although the left leg was shorter than the right and rotated outward. Further questioning revealed that Patient #1 had broken the left leg some 20 years ago and it was shorter than the right since then. Vitals were monitored enroute to SJHER and transport was uneventful with arrival at SJHER at 17:17. Following a report to ER staff, settling Patient #1 onto her bed, and replacing equipment, Unit #49 was enroute back to headquarters at 18:00 and in quarters at 18:30.
Patient #2 was a 61 year old male restrained driver of vehicle #2, which struck vehicle #1 in the driver’s door as it pulled into his path. Patient #2 was out of his vehicle upon crew arrival, alert and oriented and was attended to by Unit #48 members.
Patient #2 complained of neck, right shoulder, right knee, and head pain with no loss of consciousness. ST-Tech Debbie Lynn noted no visible trauma and asked that Patient #2 be placed on a long spine board from a standing position. EMT Strowbridge took C-spine control and a cervical collar was applied by Lynn and Strowbridge.
Lynn, Strowbridge, Adrian Watts, and Hostetter placed patient #2 on the long spine board from a standing position after a positive PMS check was obtained. A second PMS check was unchanged and Patient #2 was secured to the board with a spider strap and head blocks and placed into Unit #48 for transport to SJHER.
Vitals taken included a blood pressure of 136/80, pulse 64 and regular, respirations of 16, normal with lungs clear bilaterally, skin normal, pupils PERRL, and a GCS of 15. Patient #2 was enroute to SJHER at 17:05, vitals monitored enroute, and Unit #48 arrived at 17:30. Following a patient report to ER staff and reloading of equipment, Unit #48 was enroute to headquarters at 18:00 and in quarters in service at 18:30.
-- Written By: Doug Grant
