Rescue Report: Stuck Between a Car & a Garbage Truck

Ohio firefighters extricate sanitation worker pinned between a garbage truck and a vehicle
Published Tuesday, February 7, 2012
When a garbage truck was rear-ended by a passenger vehicle, pinning a sanitation worker between the two vehicles, rescue personnel from the Sandusky (Ohio) Fire Department responded to the scene to extricate the victim.

  • Shortly after 1700 HRS on Nov. 28, 2011, a garbage truck was rear-ended by a passenger vehicle, pinning a sanitation worker between the two vehicles.
  • A four-door sedan had rear-ended a garbage truck, and there was a man in his late 40s lying on the hood, pinned between the two vehicles and screaming in pain.
  • During the initial size-up, crews decided that Plan A was to use airbags and cribbing to lift the truck off of the patient. Engine-921’s crew immediately began building a 2 x 2 box crib as a platform for the airbags. Incident command recognized the need for more resources and contacted mutual aid for more cribbing, airbags and personnel. Heavy-duty conveyor belt squares were used to protect the bags.
  • The lift continued as the airbags on both box cribs were inflated, which raised the load to a point where the car’s suspension was no longer a factor; however, there was minimal relief of pressure on the victim’s legs.
  • The incident commander (IC) decided that the winch on the front of Margaretta’s engine would be used to pull the car out once the garbage truck was lifted from the victim.
  • EMS in Action: Sandusky Fire EMS personnel immediately began oxygen and IV therapy upon arrival. Pain management along with crush syndrome protocol procedures were performed throughout the extrication. Continuous vitals were taken to ensure that appropriate treatments were performed. Once extricated, both lower extremities were secured and the patient was fully immobilized to a long backboard. Additionally, hypothermia prevention measures were taken due to the victim’s long exposure to the cold and wet conditions.
  • Shortly after 1700 HRS on Nov. 28, 2011, a garbage truck was rear-ended by a passenger vehicle, pinning a sanitation worker between the two vehicles.
  • A four-door sedan had rear-ended a garbage truck, and there was a man in his late 40s lying on the hood, pinned between the two vehicles and screaming in pain.
  • During the initial size-up, crews decided that Plan A was to use airbags and cribbing to lift the truck off of the patient. Engine-921’s crew immediately began building a 2 x 2 box crib as a platform for the airbags. Incident command recognized the need for more resources and contacted mutual aid for more cribbing, airbags and personnel. Heavy-duty conveyor belt squares were used to protect the bags.
  • The lift continued as the airbags on both box cribs were inflated, which raised the load to a point where the car’s suspension was no longer a factor; however, there was minimal relief of pressure on the victim’s legs.
  • The incident commander (IC) decided that the winch on the front of Margaretta’s engine would be used to pull the car out once the garbage truck was lifted from the victim.
  • EMS in Action: Sandusky Fire EMS personnel immediately began oxygen and IV therapy upon arrival. Pain management along with crush syndrome protocol procedures were performed throughout the extrication. Continuous vitals were taken to ensure that appropriate treatments were performed. Once extricated, both lower extremities were secured and the patient was fully immobilized to a long backboard. Additionally, hypothermia prevention measures were taken due to the victim’s long exposure to the cold and wet conditions.
  • Shortly after 1700 HRS on Nov. 28, 2011, a garbage truck was rear-ended by a passenger vehicle, pinning a sanitation worker between the two vehicles.
  • A four-door sedan had rear-ended a garbage truck, and there was a man in his late 40s lying on the hood, pinned between the two vehicles and screaming in pain.
  • During the initial size-up, crews decided that Plan A was to use airbags and cribbing to lift the truck off of the patient. Engine-921’s crew immediately began building a 2 x 2 box crib as a platform for the airbags. Incident command recognized the need for more resources and contacted mutual aid for more cribbing, airbags and personnel. Heavy-duty conveyor belt squares were used to protect the bags.
  • The lift continued as the airbags on both box cribs were inflated, which raised the load to a point where the car’s suspension was no longer a factor; however, there was minimal relief of pressure on the victim’s legs.
  • The incident commander (IC) decided that the winch on the front of Margaretta’s engine would be used to pull the car out once the garbage truck was lifted from the victim.
  • EMS in Action: Sandusky Fire EMS personnel immediately began oxygen and IV therapy upon arrival. Pain management along with crush syndrome protocol procedures were performed throughout the extrication. Continuous vitals were taken to ensure that appropriate treatments were performed. Once extricated, both lower extremities were secured and the patient was fully immobilized to a long backboard. Additionally, hypothermia prevention measures were taken due to the victim’s long exposure to the cold and wet conditions.
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