Plano, Texas firefighters summoned their recently formed Field Amputation Team when a worker’s leg became trapped in a piece of ditch digging machinery.
“Frisco firefighters reached Palma just five minutes after the accident, but they couldn’t free him. His leg would need to be amputated right there, amid the dirt and rocks.
Luckily, there was a plan for that.”Pre-planning can save valuable time (and tissue) and keeps paramedics and surgeons from scrambling to come up with a plan. What’s involved in a pre-plan? Likely these components:
- A surgeon (and likely an anesthesiologist) willing to leave the hospital
- Transport plan for the team
- Surgical tools
- Ketamine
- Tourniquet(s)
- Blood products
- Extrication tools and techniques
The University of Utah Hospital stoff up an emergency amputation team in 2017. Pennsylvania responders brought a surgical team to amputate a driver’s leg in 2014.
Every surgeon, EMT, paramedic and firefighter should read these account of field amputation that was performed on an ice-covered interstate in super rural Idaho.
Exclusive: Field amputation difference between life and death
This won’t happen in our service area – Wrong!
Anywhere there is heavy machinery, construction or fast moving vehicles a limb can become trapped. Unless, of course, you work in an area that’s not subject to the laws of physics.
