1. Special Operations

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.