Firefighting & Rescue Social / Professional Network
Delicate Operation
By Doyle Murphy
Times Herald-Record
October 26, 2008
CITY OF NEWBURGH — A Newburgh firefighter became an ad hoc surgeon Friday, called upon to use a pneumatic saw to cut a piece of steel pipe off a 73-year-old man's penis.
Firefighters were dispatched to the Newburgh campus of St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital shortly after 9 p.m. for a public service call, Assistant Chief Scott Mandoske said. Hospital personnel asked them for tools to cut off a ring. The fire department has a ring cutter used to clip wedding bands from swollen fingers, but firefighters learned that wouldn't be enough. The pipe was an inch long, an inch in diameter and made of quarter-inch-thick steel.
Authorities said the pipe was apparently an erotic aid, but did not elaborate.
Medical personnel weren't able to perform typical medical procedures, such as forcing blood from one side of the penis to the other in order to pull the pipe off. The man's penis had swollen and turned purple.
Mandoske said firefighters chose a "wizzer saw" for the job. The wizzer saw is an automotive tool, powered with air bottles and adopted by emergency responders who frequently deal with car crashes. Firefighters use it more commonly to saw off mufflers.
This was to be a more delicate operation.
Hospital staff prepared the man, who was unidentified, by wrapping the skin and sliding a lubricated tongue depressor between the pipe and the man's penis to protect him. A doctor, nurses and a paramedic gathered in the Emergency Room as a firefighter — "one of the new guys" — prepared to begin the operation.
"Just don't cut it off," the senior citizen reportedly said.
For more than 90 minutes, the firefighter sawed bit by bit into the pipe, pausing occasionally to cool the saw. The time duration was critical, Mandoske said. Hospital staff worried the man could lose his penis if blood circulation was cut off too long.
The wizzer saw emptied the first bottle of air and then a second. Finally, after five air bottles, the saw clipped through the final bit of pipe, and they were able to free the man. He was apparently unharmed by the operation, Mandoske said, although the assistant chief didn't press for details.
All I can say is...YIKES!!
Tags: dan, extrication, penis, rescue
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on -
I heard this on the radio, great stuff!!!
-
Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
-
I just noticed your tags. Dan? How appropriate. lol If thats the case must have been 1" outer dimension
-
Permalink Reply by Ted Bownas on -
One good tag deserves another.
:D
-
Permalink Reply by Dennis Brown on -
WOW !!! Thats one he will knot tell the grad kids one day LMAO.
Sign in
Latest Nation Member Activity
FFN eMail Alerts
© 2009 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief, an Elsevier Public Safety & Go Forward Media, LLC Product - Partners: JEMS Connect - FireRescue - JEMS
• Contact Us: Report an Issue, Inquire About Advertising & Partnerships
This site is intended for use by current and former fire, rescue & EMS professionals. Non emergency service personnel may be subject to review and removal. Using this site inappropriately to spam/advertise or solicit members in any way will result in account termination. Commercial companies may have profiles, but blogs, forums, videos and photos may not be used for self-promotion.
Badges | Contact Firefighter Nation | Privacy | Terms of Service
