Crew on Fort Lauderdale, FL, Fire Rig in Crash Administers ALS Care to Civilians
An engine from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue was struck by a vehicle involved in a previous crash early Wednesday.
The fire truck was turning left when it was struck by one of the vehicles. The firefighters aboard jumped out to render aid to the injured motorists, WPLG reported.
In addtion to extricating patients, medics administered whole blood to a patient before transporting them to a local trauma center.
“It’s a unique situation to have firefighters or a rescue truck on scene when this takes place and able to immediately begin that extrication. Normally, our response time is about six minutes, and every minute counts during a traumatic event like this. There’s no doubt that the ability of the crews to immediately jump into action and render that care contributed to the lifesaving of the individual in that car,” Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephan Gollan said.
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.