High Angle Rescue in Blades, Delaware

Feb. 28, 2007
Tower ladder crew removes worker hanging from the side of the building.

On Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 1216 hours Sussex County (DE) Emergency Operations Center alerted Stations 71 (Blades), Station 81 (Laurel) and Sussex County EMS Medic 102 for a High Angle Rescue at the Perdue Agri-Recycle facility on Seaford Road. Command 71 (D. Ruff) responded and once on the scene confirmed one subject dangling off the side of the structure. Career EMT-B Hill, from Station 71, had radio communication with the crew on top of the structure.

The crew from Tower 81 arrived on scene and under the direction of Captain Chaffinch began to position the tower to reach the patient. The initial deployment of the tower put the crew approximately six feet away from patient. At this time Command requested additional resources including Salisbury's (MD) Technical Rescue Team, and Tower 42 (Milford, DE). Tower 81 was repositioned and this time, Captain's Boyce and West were able to reach the patient and bring him safely down to be assessed by EMS crews. It took crews approximately 30 minutes to rescue the victim.

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