Working MVC Rescue

Box 8-4. At 0233 hrs on Sunday morning, Station 8 was dispatched for an MVC in the 3600 blk of Middleburg Rd. Paramedic 89 and Chief 8 (C. Green) arrived first to find a single vehicle into a pole with the unconcious driver pinned in the vehicle. "Middleburg Command" was established as Rescue Squad 8 arrived. Personnel quickly assessed and stabilized the vehicle. They found that the telephone pole had intruded into the driver's side door by nearly 24" and that the patients leg was pinned between the door, seat and steering column.

The crew made access to the passenger compartment from the passenger side of the vehicle while EMS personnel continiously assessed the condition of the patient. After making access on the passenger side, a 'dash roll' on the passenger side moved the dash on the driver's side enough that the patient could be extricated.

Though aviation was requested, due to the weather, they were unable to respond. Total extrication time was 25 minutes and the patient was transported 'Priority 1' by Paramedic 89 to "Shock Trauma" in Baltimore. It was also noted during the extrication, that a 'child safety seat' was in the rear passenger seat. Personnel conducted a search of the fields adjacent to the collision site and a 'secondary search' was completed using a thermal imaging camera. No other patients were found.

Rescue Squad 8 remained on location while the Carroll County Sheriff's Department did an investigation, then waited until the vehicle had been removed from the scene. Potomac Edison was requested as well, due to a sheared pole.

All Station 8 units were clear of the scene at 0443 hrs.