Monday, 17 November 2008

Oops again




I forgot I took these.
I was working on the RRV when I got a call, 'Rollover, 1 female trapped'. Everything was being sent including the air ambulance, basically every man and his dog.
The accident is on an S bend and road is slippery after some light rain. Within minutes I was there. The usual helpful member of the public was there directing traffic, he gets every where that bloke! Before I pulled up I spotted the windmills, these are those people that think that we are blind and have a need to stand at the scene waving frantically. Perhaps they think we have got multiple incidents along the same stretch of road and need to wave us down in case we drive by. Funny old thing the car on it's side gives it away! Never mind.
I grab my kit, analyse the scene for hazards and quickly check to make sure there aren't any other casualties that have been ejected from the vehicle. There are 4 people gathered at the side of the overturned car and one kneeling by the boot.
'There's some one in the car', says someone. 'We didn't want to move her just in case.'
As I lift up the boot hatch I am confronted with a wriggling mass of coats and bags.
'Can I get out now?' a voice says.
'Hold on.' As I crawl inside. 'Are you hurt?'
'No'
'Any neck or back pain, did you hit your head, seat belt worn?'
No, no and yes were the replies.
'Well let's get you out then.' I said.
'Yes please' said the woman.
Before I get her out I call up control and ask for just one vehicle to attend and to cancel the air ambulance and fire & rescue. Although standing down fire & rescue in this country is pretty much impossible.
I have to detach the back seat and slide it out and then remove the coats and bags that are now only partially covering the woman. As I guide her out I am deafened by the sirens of the approaching ambulance. As it pulls up the trainee tech driving turns them off, her crew mate gives her a filthy look and shakes his head. I thought she parked it on my head they were that load! Never mind she'll learn.
The woman is now out and is unharmed so we put her on board the ambulance to have a proper look at her. The crew move the vehicle down the road so it is out of the way. While I'm talking to the Police two fire appliances turn up.
'She's out mate.' I say to the watch commander.
He turns to his colleague from the other fire truck and waves him goodbye. He walks off looking disappointed.
'Right, we'll make the car safe then.' he says.
The woman is being checked over in the ambulance so I pop over to see if the crew need anything. The woman is fine and doesn't need to go to hospital. I then make myself available for calls.
I got another call to the same spot on Thursday this week for a car on it's side, again non-injury. We have been to a lot RTAs on this stretch of road with most incidents thankfully being only minor injuries. Although 4 lads in one car were killed not that long ago at the same spot.

2 comments:

AdCy said...

"windmills", that's awesome! Never heard them mreferred to as that...and yet so accurate...

Anonymous said...

please write a paramedic book about your experiences. i would buy it!