Lake Oswego Fire Firefighters Cut Vehile to Extricate a Patient in Lake Oswego

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Lake Oswego firefighters responded to a single vehicle motor vehicle crash on SW Southwood Drive in a residential neighborhood. The crash occurred just after 9:00 pm on Monday September 7, 2010.

Firefighters found a vehicle balancing on its side against a sloping yard. A tree had been sheered off and the driver appeared to be unresponsive.

Firefighters realized that there were several challenges presented to them due to the precarious placement of the vehicle, a hard-to- access patient, a muddy slope with bushes around the vehicle and a heavy rain shower. Two additional fire crews were called to the scene to assist with the extrication of the patient from the vehicle.

A firefighter immediately entered the vehicle from a back window and accessed the patient to assess their condition and provide immediate stabilization of the patient. The vehicle was stabilized with vehicle stabilization struts. These were an essential part of making the accident scene safe for rescuers.

"The vehicle stabilization struts where purchases within the last year and all firefighters have spent many hours learning how to stabilize vehicles utilizing these versatile struts. The vehicle stabilization struts have provided a quick and easy way for our firefighters to make a scene safer. Once in place a vehicle or other object is secured and will not be able to roll over on emergency workers and patients. These tools where a essential in making this scene safe"

The vehicles roof was cut from the vehicle using hydraulic extrication equipment and the patient was removed from the vehicle to a waiting AMR Ambulance. The patient was transported to OHSU hospital.

Lake Oswego Police Department is currently investigating the accident. The patients status and the cause of the crash are not know at the time of this release.



Author:Lake Oswego Fire Department