Smalls Falls Training observations by FSAR member Ben

Smalls Falls Training
With the recent construction on route 4, we as rescue personal now have a new set of challenges that present to us at the Smalls Falls recreational area, a vehicle in the water. With the removal of the legendary “Rangeley S-Curves”, the step slope that now towers over the beautiful and legendary falls presents now with a large downward slope, giving the unsuspecting motorist the positional to gather speed, and given the right winter weather, a slip roadway that may make for a ramp it you will, that can lead them over the guard rail into the top of the falls. With the climate changes that seem to take place in this area, especially on the top of the hill, a driver who was driving in the rain or snow could come upon a black ice situation. At the bottom of the slope, there is a small opening that invites a speeding car or an 18 wheeler to bypass the beginning of the guard rail and put them at the top of the falls. During an early spring defrost, or large rain dump the waters could overflow the bank and make for an even more dangerous situation for patient and rescue personal.

Recently members of FSAR, Rangeley Fire and Rescue, Phillips Fire Department, Strong Fire Department, and NorthStar Emergency Medical Services spent the day under the skilled and watchful eye of Dennis Kerrigan (DK) who instructed us on how to be prepared and reminded us of the old saying, “go slow to go fast”, and “go home to rescue another day”. At the beginning of the day, the group of 25 personal or so, talked about how the new terrain can complicate a rescue scenario, and how when the road was created, the workers removed the trees that once protected the top of the falls from any traffic. Now with them removed, there is no fail safe for the guard rail, making a rescue more possible. Recently, there was a collision between a State truck and a POV. This accident was discussed and how similar accidents are bound to happen in the near future.

After a short briefing and discussion of backgrounds, the group moved to the island at the top of the falls. Here, the group discussed how a vehicle may become lodged in the rocks, and how a high water shed could easily move a smaller vehicle over the falls. A question was posed at this point, “what would be the safest was to get someone out”, and “how would I do that?” DK pointed out with a high water shed, and the fact that the falls are close to the rescue site, the safest way to remove a patient who is in a vehicle is to call out two local wreckers, and to attach a rescuer to a lower/hall system and to put them down over the embankment and attach the two toe hooks to the vehicle. Then they would be able to pull the car back over the embankment keeping rescue personal safe. The question was posed later in the day by Jeremy O’Neil, “with all the ambulance chasing lawyers out there today, how could we protect ourselves from law suit later on after the rescue. The point was brought up that it would be unsafe to immobilize a patient in the water, and that in all EMS education books they state that our own personal safety is paramount, and that the best way to extract a patient would be to do an emergency evacuation and that it would be safer for both crew and patient to be moved out of the dangerous situation.

The use of different types of vehicle stabilization devices was also discussed by the crews and how to best use our resources to successfully rescue a patient. Z lines and 3 to 1 systems were practiced, and may other rescue techniques were practiced. Special thanks goes out to Chappy for his scene safety at the training and slowing down traffic during our exercise.

Smalls Falls Cravasse Rescue Training

The D.O.T. new road construction on Rt. 4 between Phillips and Rangeley will likely present some new challenges to local rescue organizations. The road configuration now includes a long steep stretch with a sweeping turn at the bottom. It is the view of many who have looked closely at the new construction that under certain weather conditions, a vehicle could lose control at or near the bottom of the hill, jump the guard rail, and end up in the river crevasse at the top of Smalls Falls. At a recent training taught by DK and sponsored by NorthStar Ambulance, participants brainstormed possible rescue scenarios and how they would tackle a rescue in this tricky location. Members of Phillips FD, Rangeley FD, NorthStar Ambulance and FSAR participated in the training. Rescuer and scene safety should always be a primary concern at all rescues. All photos are courtesy of Tami McGarvey Photography, thanks Tami!

Jeremy offered 3 observations about the recent Smalls Falls rescue training.

1.) Get a wrecker coming to the scene early, especially if it is in the crevasse rock on river left. Yard the whole wreck up first, then access & treat the occupants.

2.) Anchor any auto in swift water to dry ground on either side of the river to keep it stable and from being swept further downstream by punching windows above the water level and passing through the A, B, or C post.

3.) Minimize rescuer exposure by having one equipped with helmet, pfd, & harness tied to a cross river rope angled 45 to 60 degrees across river.

Annual FSAR Aerobic Fitness Test and Meeting

On Wednesday, the annual FSAR aerobic fitness test was held at 6:30 in the high school library. At 6:25 I was the only person in the room and I was a bit worried. Fortunately by 6:35 we had a respectable 10 members weighing their packs in the nurses’ station. Our task was to trek a 25 lb. load 2 miles (without running) in less than 30 minutes. Everyone brought their own weights which included 25 lbs of golf balls, 25 lbs of tile grout, 25 lbs of water in 2 liter bottles, 25 lbs of free weights, and even 25 lbs of water in misc. containers including a ½ gallon Gordon’s Gin bottle! We took off together in group and 28 minutes later we finished within 30 seconds of each other!

In other business, we critiqued the WEMT rescue scenario event that was held 2 weeks ago in Highland Plantation. Participants shared many ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ with the team. All who were involved said it was a great training experience and were thankful to be involved.

We discussed the upcoming training schedule, Barry and Paul agreed to lead training sessions at the Nov. and Dec. meetings. Steve is going to contact Jim B. the MASAR training director to see if we can get a one-day BASAR class/test sometime in the winter.

-Mit

Rope Rescue Training at Smalls Falls:

On Sunday November 8th Northstar will be holding a low - to - steep angle rope systems review and site recon along Rt 4 above Small's Falls, between Rangeley and Madrid. This is a newly completed diversion of the DOT Rt 4 road reconstruction project with a long downhill section that leads into to a sharp curve that drops steeply over the bank and down to the river.

Plan to meet at the 9 AM at the parking lot where the Appalachian Trail crosses Rt 4 and we will carpool down to the site. The plan is to look at anchor locations and rope rescue system selections appropriate to different times of the year, ie snow cover vs no snow cover, and practice a litter carry from the foot trail along the Sandy Stream to the nearest vehicle access point.

Wear sturdy boots, weather appropriate clothing and gloves. You should bring a bag lunch and / or snacks and fluids to drink. We plan to wrap - up by 2 PM or so. I will put in for Operations CEH credit hours.

FSAR's next meeting will be November 11, 2009 at the KFD, Barry will lead a map training.

WEMT Rescue Scenario Trainig

On Saturday around 8 p.m., in a steady rain with temps in the 40’s, a call was received by Franklin Dispatch from a hunter who heard ‘people screaming’ in the woods off the Long Falls Dam Road in Lexington. Over the next 3 hours, through an evolving series of events, rescuers would encounter 2 different ATV accidents, a distressed lost person, 2 fatalities, 2 burn victims, and a number of other medical, personnel and organizational challenges. The apex of the evening was when a low flying Civil Air Patrol airplane that was assisting in the search developed engine problems and crashed in a field near the rescuers! Plumes of smoke, burned patients and the chaos that follows an already taxed rescue operation only added to the intensity of the scene. Fortunately, the evening was only a training activity put on by Wilderness Medical Associate ‘WMA.’ The realistic scenario activity was part of a 6-day wilderness EMT class that approximately 20 EMTs from all over the state attended.

Pre-event briefing from instructor DK

After a very loud 'bang' and a 45 minute search, rescuers came upon this smoking airplane wreckage.

WEMT Scenario Training

Reminder:
This Saturday October 3rd, 2009 is the Northstar ambulance WEMT rescue scenario training and de-briefing at Claybrook Lodge http://www.claybrookmountainlodge.com/



(photo last year’s event, WEMTs working a patient back at the staging area after the evacuation)

This is a rain or shine event, dinner will be served around 5 p.m. with the training to follow. The training activity will be a mock rescue scenario with multiple patients. WEMT class participants will take the lead on treating the patients while FSAR team members will focus on search, rescue and evacuation. The event should be over before midnight but could go later. This is an outstanding opportunity to participate in a realistic training, with supportive instructors and many of the same team members we work with on a ‘real’ rescue.

What to bring: your rescue pack, appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather, good headlamp(s) and a strong hand light, gloves for rope & litter work.
If there is interest in meeting at the Kingfield Fire Station at 4:30 we could carpool to the Lodge.

Please RSVP to Steve Mitman so we can make sure there is enough food for dinner!

First FSAR Meeting of the Season

16 members attended the first regular meeting of the season on Wednesday. The evening began with a review and critique of the 3 FSAR calls we responded to this past season, Saddleback Jr. rescue, Flagstaff Lake Search, and the Tumbledown carry-out. Members also learned about an upcoming training oppertunity at the October 3, WEMT end-test scenario at Clay Brook Lodge. Dinner will be at 5 p.m. with a night mock rescue/search/evacuation to follow. The evening ended with a wilderness fire starting training by Coby, Seb and others. The fire-starting skill is one of many needed to attain the BASAR (Basic Search & Rescue) certification that is the goal of the year's training program.

James fuels the flames.

Jake uses a 'metal match' or 'magnesium match' to start his fire.

Forrest and Phil admire their handiwork.

A row of fires kindled by FSAR members during the evening training.

Northstar Rapid River Rescue Training August '09

Northstar Ambulance hosted a rescue training at the Rapid River in the back country of western Maine on August 12-13, 2009. Instructors Dennis Kerrigan, Mike Senecal, Becky Morin, Mark Rousseau and Pete Boucher did a great job leading classes on map & compass, GPS, patient care on the trail, rope rescue and swift-water awareness. The workshop included 2 scenario rescues that required participants to use newly learned skills in a realistic setting. An amazing, 10 FSAR members participated in the class (7 of which are also Northstar employees) which helped to reinforce common rescue techniques and working relationships. Great food, realistic cross training, time to fish on the Rapid, and quality instructors combined to make a fun and productive and 2 day training event. Special thanks to the RLHT, Aldro French & Shelby Rousseau, without her efforts, the training would not have run so smoothly (or at all).

(click photo to enlarge)

Pat organizes gear.

Proof that Mike eats his veggies.

Evening campfire.

Pat presents the fly on the Rapid River.

The bees loved the first sunny weather in weeks.

Nymphing demo by the caretaker with a great accent!

Becky's class on patient care.

Ian's new squeeze.

Carl pays attention in class.

The mighty and powerful Al.

DK teaches how to survive and prosper in a swift water rescue situation.

Gabe as a victim.

A throw rope lands 'south' of the patient.

Gabe is rescued.

Carl on the Rapid.

Pat playing backup in his kayak.

Corey stylin' in his custom sun-visor helmet.

Mark gets a line.

Mike in the water.

Al reaches for a line.