How many...

[Eng 48]

O.K. How many people do you really need to perform a competent extrication? I am talking about a "routine" job s.a. door pop and roof roll, not 5 car M.V.A. w/ 10 patients trapped.

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Be safe everyone!

[e33]

I like to have 5. When I am OIC, I like to stay "hands off" if possible. Five personnel gives me the ability to have one guy on a spreader, one guy on a sawzall and one guy on the cutter. Sawzall guy does wide posts, cutter guy does narrow posts and spreader guy does doors. This is for the basic roof removal and side opening. Our driver is generally not involved in the direct operation because he is setting up tools and monitoring the apparatus. I have done an extrication with 2 people before and it went well. Generally the fewer people you have (within reason) the more efficient the operation. Daytime suggested rescue manning here is 3 and nightime manning is 4 as a minimum. If you know what you are doing and are with the right people, it can be done with two. But I like to have 5 if it is possible.

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The opinions and views expressed herin are solely mine and not on the behalf of any department or organization I belong to.

[resqb]

In my paid dept. we ride three most of the time on our rescue/pumper, 4 when the dept. is riding heavy. If we can keep EMS out of the way(in the vehcle not sticking thru 4 different windows), we can be very efficient. This gives minimal stabilization and maximum work. Of course we'll ask for an engine when we have entrapment, but that's only 2 or three more people, and the wreck is never close to a fire house. And we're more likely to remove the roof completely, it's only a little extra time after you fight the roof and then try to tie it down after a flap.

[skip rupert61]

Eng 48,
CHeck out the next extrication comp in your area that is sanctioned by TERC. The rules just changed here and they have 6 on a team. However, I watched a few years with 5 on a team, to include 1 EMS and 1 OIC. If you got the right people 5/6 is a good number.

skip

[Diesel]

The short answer is "6"...at least that works very well for us. Our rescues run with six bodies, and for extrications, the duties are divided as follows:
Officer - assumes command and oversight of operation.
Driver - responsible for power unit operation and tool crib maintainance (also performs related tasks such as lighting, traffic cone placement etc. - if required)
Rescuer 1 - addresses patient care needs/EMS liason.
Rescuer 2 - serves as "runner" (for tools) and "scene maintainance" (responsible to ensure amputated parts are placed in designated "scrap heap", and "sharpes" are covered).
Rescuers 3 & 4 - utilize whatever tools are needed to complete the extrication.

All vehicle extrications are also attended by a pump crew of 5, who are largely responsible for scene stabilization (ie hazard control) and vehicle stabilization (cribbing), although these duties could be performed with relative ease by the rescue crew if the need arises.

Six rescuers can adequately address all of the priorities in a "routine" extrication with a healthy regard for our own safety.

BE SAFE!

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[HYTHE FIRE DEPARTMENT]

I agree with e33. The fewer people involved the better. Our department does not officially provide extrication services as yet. All of our members hold an extrication certificate for the training we have taken in the past. Right now while we are amassing the tools necessary, we provide mutual aide to accidents with a neighboring department that has all of the tools.

This department has been doing extrications for years. Their department is made up of younger members with not much experience, so I feel for the officers. When they are at an accident scene, all of the members will huddle around the vehicles and poke their heads in and so on. It looks very unprofessional to the civilian observer, not to mention it really ****es off the cops in our area as 9 to 10 guys are stepping all over their evidence.

Our department just purchased some hydrolic tools yesterday to complete our extrication equipment inventory. Now we just have to modify our rescue unit to hold it all. What we had decided a long time ago was to start from day one in a professional manner in dealing with extrications. We have developed an SOP very similar to what diesel has outlined. Basically no more than three people inside the action circle unless called for. No if ands or buts.

[Ed D]

We run a crew of two on the rescue, and everyone on the medic units are trained. The fire dept assists with stabilization and pulls a protection line for us. Works out great, not having to many people on scene

[Boothby]

Standard MVA with rescue responce 1 pumper, 1 truck, 1 unit, 1 BC.

Pumper drops a line. The truck cuts the car. The unit treats the patient. The BC has command. Four men each on the truck and pumper, two on the unit.

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Larry Boothby
Firefighter/Paramedic
Truck 3 A-shift
Local 1784
Memphis.