Special Operations

You Are the Emergency Medical Responder Lesson 47: Special Operations You Are the Emergency Medical Responder You are the emergency medical responder (EMR) the scene of a construction site cave-in. On arrival you find a man who was working in an open trench that has collapsed around him to mid-chest level.

Special Operations Units Tactical Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Unit Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) EMS Response Unit Fire Rehabilitation Unit Disaster/Multiple-Casualty Incident (MCI) Response Unit Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit Specialized Vehicle Response Unit

Drowning A drowning is an event in which a victim experiences respiratory impairment due to submersion in water. Drowning may or may not result in death Fifth most common cause of death from unintentional injury, but rises to second among those 1 to 14 years of age Home pools the site of drowning for most young children Highest rates of drowning in children younger than 5 years and young adults from ages 15 to 24 years

Three Types of Water-Related Victims Distressed swimmer Drowning victim—Active Drowning victim—Passive

Activity You are assigned to a local waterfront as part of the EMR team because you have received training in swimming rescues. You are stationed near a lake and notice that a young teenage swimmer has been treading water for the past several minutes and then begins to move her arms wildly.

Non-Swimming Rescues and Assists Reaching assists Reaching with an object Throwing assist When beyond your reach; floating object with line Wading assists Safe and shallow enough

Activity You are assigned to a local waterfront as part of the EMR team because you have received training in swimming rescues. You are stationed near a lake and notice that a young teenage swimmer has been treading water for the past several minutes and then begins to move her arms wildly.

Ice Rescue Call for ice rescue team immediately Never go onto the ice to attempt a rescue Use reaching and throwing assists if patient is drowning Provide care for hypothermia if you are able to pull the person from the water

Hazardous Terrain Challenges Evacuation possibly rough and difficult for maneuvering Patient’s position in relation to terrain The greater the angle of the terrain, the greater the risk

Confined Spaces At, above or below ground Silos, grain bins and grain elevators Underground vaults Utility vaults Cave-ins Specialized rescue team needed No one to enter trench or area immediately around it due to increased risk of secondary cave-in

Crime Scene Law enforcement officers are in charge EMR responsibility – maintain integrity of evidence Four types: Closed access to an unsecured crime scene―hazard still exists Limited-access crime scene―critical evidence could be destroyed or compromised; hazards still may be present Open-access crime scene―evidence still needs to be collected, but personnel have access to entire area Cold crime scene―no evidential concerns or hazards are present

Activity You arrive at the scene of a convenience store robbery in which a store employee was shot in the leg. The suspect has been caught and is in police custody. You are to provide care to the store employee.

Basic Guidelines for Fires Do not approach a burning vehicle Never enter a burning or smoke-filled building If you are in a building that is on fire, always check doors before opening them. If a door is hot to the touch, do not open it Since smoke and fumes rise, stay close to the floor Never use an elevator in a building that may be burning

Special Event/Stand-by Special event EMS incident commander in charge Staff certified in BLS or ALS Personnel available to care for special event spectators or participants within 10 minutes of notification of the need for emergency care

You Are the Emergency Medical Responder You find that the patient is conscious but appears to be in respiratory distress from the compression of the soil surrounding him.