I thought this was a well written article about the effects of speed and teens. I know it's been said before, but I wish there was an effective was to get the message out. I'm sure this was a very tough call for all of those involved, especially Capt. Nochea.
Bad Speed
by Captain Jose A. Nochea
Rescue 37, Engine 37 respond on a 29 Delta - 4, vehicle versus house and light pole, person trapped. As I made my way into the truck, I had a bad feeling about this one for some reason, and as we turned East into Coral Way from SW 137 avenue, I confirmed my feelings as I could see from the cab of my Quantum engine a mangled sports car that had absorbed most of the impact from the light pole through the passenger door where a 17 Y/O boy sat badly trapped. After conducting my size-up, taking command, and requesting additional required units including TRT, I assigned R37 as medical group, and my three firefighters to set up the jaws and pull and charge the 100’ bumper jumpline.
The kid in the car called to me to please help him because he could not take it any longer, but then he said something that I will never forget for the rest of my life, “I know that you guys can”. His skin was pale and clammy, and I knew that he was going down quick. I asked him his name and talked to him and told him to hang on as this was going to take some time and that it was going to hurt. He repeated over and over again that he was not going to be able to hang on much longer, and as we made good progress with the difficult and very challenging extrication, I knew that his injuries were fatal and that as soon as we would release the pressure that crushed his torso and legs against the center console, things were going to change rapidly. Once the vehicle was removed away from him through cutting and spreading, the backboard was placed in position. I warned him again that it was going to hurt and asked him if he was ready, his last words to me would be his last ever as he said OK. The kid looked at me one more time as I handled his torso into position on the backboard with the rest of my team, the breathing increased to a horrible snore, and then he closed his eyes for the last time. Even though this patient made it to the trauma center alive, he coded in the elevator with the Air Rescue crew, and was pronounced dead minutes later at Ryder.
As I write this article on the day following the tragedy, I can’t stop thinking about the fact that I was the last person that this 17 year old spoke to before his short life came to an end. And even though the call went very well from a tactical and patient treatment standpoint, I have thought about if there was something that we could have done differently that would have saved his life. I later realized that the young man’s fate was decided way before we arrived when his body absorbed all of the kinetic energy at the time of impact. I know that most of you brother and sister firefighters have many stories similar to this one, and unfortunately there will be a lot more in the future. Let this article serve as a reminder that we have the responsibility to spread the word to young drivers out there that speeding kills; it kills a lot of them every day. Tell them that speed is only for racetracks and not the streets, otherwise it becomes bad speed.
This article is dedicated to the memory of Y.D. May he rest in peace, and may the parents who have lost him for ever, find some kind of consolation. A salute and hats off to those involved in the call including R37, R58, S29, AR-South, Batt. 12, Batt. 13, TR1, and my crew on E37.
Bad Speed
by Captain Jose A. Nochea
Rescue 37, Engine 37 respond on a 29 Delta - 4, vehicle versus house and light pole, person trapped. As I made my way into the truck, I had a bad feeling about this one for some reason, and as we turned East into Coral Way from SW 137 avenue, I confirmed my feelings as I could see from the cab of my Quantum engine a mangled sports car that had absorbed most of the impact from the light pole through the passenger door where a 17 Y/O boy sat badly trapped. After conducting my size-up, taking command, and requesting additional required units including TRT, I assigned R37 as medical group, and my three firefighters to set up the jaws and pull and charge the 100’ bumper jumpline.
The kid in the car called to me to please help him because he could not take it any longer, but then he said something that I will never forget for the rest of my life, “I know that you guys can”. His skin was pale and clammy, and I knew that he was going down quick. I asked him his name and talked to him and told him to hang on as this was going to take some time and that it was going to hurt. He repeated over and over again that he was not going to be able to hang on much longer, and as we made good progress with the difficult and very challenging extrication, I knew that his injuries were fatal and that as soon as we would release the pressure that crushed his torso and legs against the center console, things were going to change rapidly. Once the vehicle was removed away from him through cutting and spreading, the backboard was placed in position. I warned him again that it was going to hurt and asked him if he was ready, his last words to me would be his last ever as he said OK. The kid looked at me one more time as I handled his torso into position on the backboard with the rest of my team, the breathing increased to a horrible snore, and then he closed his eyes for the last time. Even though this patient made it to the trauma center alive, he coded in the elevator with the Air Rescue crew, and was pronounced dead minutes later at Ryder.
As I write this article on the day following the tragedy, I can’t stop thinking about the fact that I was the last person that this 17 year old spoke to before his short life came to an end. And even though the call went very well from a tactical and patient treatment standpoint, I have thought about if there was something that we could have done differently that would have saved his life. I later realized that the young man’s fate was decided way before we arrived when his body absorbed all of the kinetic energy at the time of impact. I know that most of you brother and sister firefighters have many stories similar to this one, and unfortunately there will be a lot more in the future. Let this article serve as a reminder that we have the responsibility to spread the word to young drivers out there that speeding kills; it kills a lot of them every day. Tell them that speed is only for racetracks and not the streets, otherwise it becomes bad speed.
This article is dedicated to the memory of Y.D. May he rest in peace, and may the parents who have lost him for ever, find some kind of consolation. A salute and hats off to those involved in the call including R37, R58, S29, AR-South, Batt. 12, Batt. 13, TR1, and my crew on E37.
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