North Babylon, NY, June 22, 2005 - The North Babylon Fire Department was activated for a rescue involving a man trapped in a nine-foot-deep trench that collapsed while he was installing a sewer line. Chief Brian Iudica and Second Assistant Chief John Jordan led the response to find the 41-year-old man buried up to his shoulders in sand and pinned by three slabs of concrete sidewalk held together by rebar.
Iudica requested activation of the Suffolk County Technical Rescue response plan. The East Farmingdale and West Babylon fire departments' technical rescue teams (TRTs) teams were notified, with Brentwood as the backup team. Suffolk County Chief Deputy Coordinator Greg James arrived on scene shortly after the chiefs. The Islip Fire Department TRT responded with extra equipment and Suffolk County Police Department Emergency Services assisted. Also providing aid were Assistant Chief Randy Miller of Hagerman and Assistant Chief Steve Smaldon of Lindenhurst.
The rescue was a precise and well-organized operation. The conscious and alert patient was continuously monitored by medical personnel, who supplied oxygen and hooked up an IV. The first part of the operation involved removing the sidewalk and rebar from the victim's head and neck using airbags. Plywood and Finform shoring (pneumatic air-pressurized struts) were used to stabilize the trench and prevent the walls from collapsing. Hand digging using shovels and buckets, as well as vacuum trucks to remove the dirt were utilized. The West Islip Fire Department was called for a medevac landing zone standby, which was later canceled due to inclement weather. The Deer Park and Babylon fire departments handled standby coverage and the Wyandanch-Wheatley Heights Ambulance MCI Unit also was requested. Town of Babylon fire marshals assisted, as did Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) Division and Special Operations deputy coordinators.
The victim was freed 3 hours after his ordeal began. He was transported by the North Babylon Fire Department Rescue Squad to Good Samaritan Hospital with minor injuries, and was treated and released that evening.
- Steve Silverman
"Hot Spots on the Web"
Send your suggested "Hot Spots" website to wernerc@charlottesville
This month's focus: Search and rescue
Australia National Search & Rescue Overview of Australia's plan and resources. Canada National Search & Rescue Secretariat Canada's national website on search and rescue. Disaster Search & Rescue Comprehensive site of SAR links. FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Documents, tools, photos and more. National Assn. for Search and Rescue (NASAR) Membership, education, programs and more. National Fire Service Incident Management System Consortium Manual Training manual for management of a USAR incident. New Zealand Search & Rescue News, articles, draft incident management guidelines. NOAA Satellite Search & Rescue Satellite search and rescue resources and information from NOAA. U.S. Search & Rescue Task Force How to join and support, photo galleries, etc. U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Program information, statistics, tools and more.
Submitted by Fire Chief Charles Werner, CFO
Charlottesville, VA, Fire Department
www.cfdonline.org
Firehouse Magazine contributing editor
Firehouse.com TechZone Editor
