| For our April department drill, several members packed into Ambulance 52-B1, Rescue 44, and Engine 110 to go down to the Fox Lane School for a rope rescue drill. Set up and run by Foreman Jerome Newman and Second Assistant Chief Jason Siemers, the drill was to focus on the use of our recently acquired rope and high angle equipment.
Following a briefing of knots as well as the specific devices available in the kit (stored on Rescue 44), a mock "stranded hiker" call was set up. A team of two tethered EMT's was sent several hundred feet down an embankment to rescue Firefighter Shannon Siemers. Once the extent of her injuries were determined, the team asked for additional support and the stokes basket to the scene.
With nearly six men on the haul system at the anchor point, four additional members were sent down to retrieve the downed person. After packaging her tightly to the Stokes, the rescue team remained in radio contact with the haul team to slowly guide them up the embankment, and to a waiting ambulance.
Thanks to BFD Member Dave Wollin for the photos. |
