Read this article Rescue Worker Rolls Vehicle on Way to Crash and then come on back.
As you read circle or highlight, much like a child’s find the object picture activity, the things done wrong by the civilian crash victim as well as the firefighter responding to the accident.
Go read the article …
Welcome back. How many things did you highlight or circle?
Vehicle Collisions Caused by Small Animals, Ungulates, and Other Free Ranging Wildlife
Animals on the roadway is a fact of life in Wisconsin. Should you swerve to avoid crushing a migrating frog, confused squirrel, or deer frozen in the headlights? Absolutely not.
Instead, take your foot off the gas pedal, calmly check your mirrors, if there is no following traffic gently apply your breaks, and then enjoy the splendor of the wildlife encounter. If you have following traffic, continue to drive in the direction of your lane of travel and hope for the best. Sudden changes of direction put your vehicle at risk for a rollover, as well as a frontal collision with other vehicles.
Read more on preventing animal collisions.
Scene Response in a POV
FF Freund, apparently driving to fast for conditions and without due regard, swerved to avoid a collision with a piece of farm equipment. Farm implements are also frequently encountered on Wisconsin roadways.
For example, last summer, while road biking, I passed a pick-up towing a large trailer of freshly cut grass. The farmer/driver didn’t even give me a smirk, smile, or head nod when I yelled “Hay!” Maybe next time.
Back to FF Freund … did you catch the part about him being unbelted? Perhaps his department does not have a POV policy that includes seatbelt use or they have not signed the seatbelt pledge. Now would be a great time to do both.
Read more tips on responding in your POV.
Med Flight Based on MOI
I can only go on the information in the article. About the civilian crash victim it was said she “did not appear to have life-threatening injuries,” yet she was flown by aeromedical helicopter to a nearby level II trauma center for reasons unknown.
I am quite familiar with the Wisconsin Trauma System and field triage criteria for the injured trauma patient and I am pretty sure that MOI=small animal is not in the criteria. Although, provider judgement is a criteria.
If the patient does not have life-threatening injuries then what was the need for a life flight to the trauma center? Especially after the driver was helped out of her vehicle by a bystander. So it appears that extended extrication was also not an issue.
Once on scene if the aeromedical crew finds a patient without life threatening injury can they refuse to provide the transport and instead advise that the patient be transported by ground ambulance?
Letter for your File
I am recommending several letters be written by the Happy Medic as part of the “Letter in your file collection.”
I don’t Care About Lessons Learned
I only care about lessons applied. This article is ripe with lessons learned. What will matter though is the lessons applied for members of the fire department, other teenage drivers, and for those with the authority to request a helicopter response.
How do we actually apply these lessons?
