Flourtown Fire Co. along with Wyndmoor Hose Co. and Springfield Ambulance have received the Holmaro “Golden Pin Award” , which is an award to recognize each person involved in life saving actions,using Holmatro Rescue Tools.
The following is the submission to Holmatro:
The incident was originally dispatched for Flourtown Fire Co. as a vehicle fire after an accident. on April 15th at 00:54 hrs. When Chief 6 went en-route with county radio he was advised that, from police this was now going to be a vehicle rescue. With the upgrade to a vehicle rescue the response was now for Station 6 (Flourtown) and Station 82 (Wyndmoor) with Rescue 82 for the assist. With Squad 6 being out of service, Utility 6 was first out with Flourtown’s Holmatro Rescue Tools. Chief 6 went on scene with a pick-up truck that had struck and sheared off a telephone pole, with a transformer on the ground, hit the corner of a stone building and was across the north bound lanes of Bethlehem Pike with the driver entrapped inside the vehicle. Chief 6 advised the crew of Utility 6 to prepare to go into service with the combi-tool and cutters to extricate a heavily entrapped victim. The victim, who was unconscious but breathing, was trapped in the drivers seat with the steering column, dash board and “A” post pinning him in. The first in crew prepared the power units and tools to go into service, while the rest of the crew being supplemented by the crew from Engine 6 stabilized the vehicle. Chief 6 advised Rescue 82’s crew to prepare to go into service with their Holmatro rams, help with stabilization and secure any hazards. The remaining crew from Engine 6 pulled two 1-3/4″ hose lines and an extinguisher, for safety due to the vehicle smoking. The crews first removed the driver’s door with the combi-tool and cutters. After the removal of the door the crew used the combi-tool to spread the “A” post and dash away from the “B” post to be able to get a ram in so they could push the “A” post and dash away from the victim. The rams were able to push the dash away from the victim and create a large enough opening to be able to successfully remove the victim. Victim was transported by Springfield Ambulance , Class 1 Trauma. This whole operation was performed under unsupported power lines, due to the snapped pole and a business sign that was dangling off the front of the building due to the impact of the building.
All members on scene received a certificate of achievement and a gold plated lapel pin in the shape of a miniature spreader from Holmatro.
