Call of the Quarter

    On January 29, 2002 at 3:10 PM, the Glasgow Life Saving and First Aid Crew was toned out for a single vehicle accident. EMT's Drew Havens and William Wheeler initially responded to the scene. Company 2 (Glasgow Fire Department) was also toned out to assist. The GVFD was the first to arrive on the scene. They advised that the vehicle rolled several times and that there was one patient who was ejected from the vehicle. They also advised that the patient was unresponsive. 

    Upon our arrival on the scene, EMT's Havens and Wheeler assessed the patient. They found that he was unresponsive with a massive head wound. His breathing was 12 and shallow with snoring respirations. The patient had no palpable pulse at his extremities. Immediately, a call for ALS was made and to check the availability of Life-Guard 10. EMT-P Danny Smith, EMT-ST John Ellington, and EMT-ST Sherry McCloud answered the ALS call and responded from Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Medic-4. 

    Rockbridge Emergency Operations advised us that Life-Guard 10 was enroute with a 20 minute ETA. The patient in the meantime was starting to turn cyanotic. An airway needed to be established. EMT Wheeler attempted to use an oral airway on the patient. EMT Havens in the meantime was holding C-Spine control. EMT Crissy Rogers and Chris Flint arrived on the scene. They began to perform a secondary survey of the patient. The secondary assessment revealed several other injuries to the patient. The most severe however, was the head wound. The patient had profuse bleeding from a large avulsion at the top of his head. Bleeding was present in his ears, nose, and mouth. Frothy bright red bleeding was noted in his mouth and nose. The patient also dislocated his right elbow, as well as lacerations on all extremities. Abrasions were noted on his trunk and back.

    EMT Wheeler was able to establish a patent airway by using the oral airway. A C-Collar was applied on the patient. EMT Havens began to suction the patient's airway, keeping fluids from being aspirated. EMT Rogers then began to use a bag valve mask to assist the patient's respirations. EMT's Wheeler, Flint, and Mike Watts then packaged the patient. EMT Wheeler radioed Medic-4 to advise them on the patient and to relay the vitals. Life-Guard 10 now had a 15-minute ETA.

    Medic-4 arrived with ALS assistance. EMT-P Smith began to hook the patient up to a cardiac monitor while EMT-ST's Ellington and McCloud began to administer the IV solution. Two large bore IV's were established with sodium chloride solution. The patient had lost a lot of blood and hypovolemic shock was becoming a concern. EMT-P Smith withdrew the oral airway and attempted to intubate the patient. However, due to the amount of fluids in the trachea, this was not successful. The patient was suctioned and the oral airway placed back in. By the time the ALS providers completed their assessments and procedures, Life-Guard 10 was arriving on the scene. 

    Glasgow Fire Department set up a landing zone for Life-Guard 10 in a field adjacent to the scene. The medics from Life-Guard 10 assessed the patient and prepared to transport him to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

    We learned later that the patient suffered a skull fracture, a broken left arm, and a fractured pelvis. He succumbed to his injuries and died two days later in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Photos from this Call