In Case This Comes Up Again

The criterion tasks that comprise the Firefighter Combat Challenge are based on exhaustive research of frequently performed, arduous or critical fire ground tasks.

Believe it or not, back when I was serving on the NFPA 1583 Task Force in the early 1990’s, there was push-back against tasks that were “too hard.” The dummy drag was cited as unrealistic; when would a firefighter have to drag a victim, a full sized adult any significant distance?

Well, for one, in the middle of a snow storm, while functioning as an EMT that night, we were called to the scene of a single family unit (SFU). Two victims were pulled from the residence. There was at least a foot of snow on the ground and the ambulance was parked as close as we could get to the scene. The guy that we got had to be 250. He was in his skivvies, with second-degree burns on his torso.

The litter could not be deployed because of the snow. So, I took the torso and my buddy the feet and we carried him backwards (for me) at least 100 feet to the gurney. That was the longest 100’ ever.

Sorry; no video back then. No cell phones. But, here’s something that comes pretty close.

Check out this video: https://t.co/w65p05a9qj

This Twitter feed captures exactly the biomechanics of the dummy drag. I haven’t heard much by way of doubt these days. I’m pretty sure that anyone who’s been in the emergency service business any length of time has had to move a body by grasping them under the arms and around the chest.

It’s nice to know that you have this capability before being called upon to do it for real.

Earn This

Webmaster note: There are several stories that are quite moving making the rounds on the Internet. As moving as they may be, unfortunately, some turn out to be bogus. The following essay is NOT one of those. It is genuine.

After reading this essay by Dr. Ellison I did a search and also found the following testimonial as to the veracity of the story. 
It is by Robin Juhl, Captain, USAF (retired)

Since I work at a San Antonio military installation, I was able to quickly verify that the lost generation is indeed written by the doctor to whom it's attributed. So said the secretary of the Brooke Army Medical Center Emergency Department, at (210) 916-5512. According to this nice lady, the good doctor is now working nights at Wilford Hall Medical Center. She has already fielded more than one call on this.

---

August 2001
Sources:
"Stephen R. Ellison" Earn This  info.com/search
(2008) Another source - this article: http://iwvpa.net/ellisonsr/index.php

Earn This By Captain. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D. USA I am an Army doctor specializing in emergency medicine in the emergency departments of the military's only level one trauma centers. Both are in San Antonio, and we care for civilians as well as military personnel. San Antonio has a large military retiree population partly because of these two military medical centers. As a doctor training for my specialty, I work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous. It's easy to become jaded by long hours, the lack of sleep, food and family contact, and the endless parade of human suffering passing before me. The arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work. Many times it's a victim from a motor vehicle crash. Sometimes it's a person of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. However, with a large military retiree population, ambulances often arrive with a nursing home patient. In the past, I've caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local retirement centers that cater to military retirees. I had not stopped to think of what these citizens represent. Then I saw the movie Saving Private Ryan, starring Tom Hanks. I was touched deeply. Not so much by the carnage in the first 30 minutes, but by the sacrifice of so many soldiers. What touched me most was the final scene. The elderly survivor at the graveside asks his wife if he has been a good man. I realized I had seen these same men and women coming through my emergency department not realizing the magnificent sacrifices they've made. The things they did for me and everyone else who has lived on this planet since World War II are priceless. When the situation permits, I now try to ask my patients about their experiences—they never bring up the subject without an inquiry. I have been privileged to an amazing array of recounted experiences in the few minutes allowed in the emergency room. These brief encounters have introduced me to some incredible individuals I am honored to have served in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital. There was the frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic trying to start an intravenous line in her arm. She remained calm and poised despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. (She was what we call a "hard stick.") As the medic made another attempt I noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She said simply, "Auschwitz." Many later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic for his many attempts. How different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering. Then there was the long-retired colonel who, as a young U.S. Navy officer, had parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific island held by the Japanese. Now an octogenarian, he cut his head in a fall at home where he lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade of high-priority emergency patients. Still spry for his age, he asked to phone a taxi to take him home, only to remember that the ambulance had brought him without his wallet. So he asked if he could make a long-distance call to his daughter who lived 70 miles away. With great admiration we told him he could not, as he'd done enough for his country; the least we could do was get him a taxi, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was my shift wouldn't end for several hours and I couldn't drive him myself. I was working the night Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez came through Emergency for the last time. He was very sick. I was not his doctor, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was so sick he didn't know I was there, but I'd read his Medal of Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later. The gentleman who served with Merrill Marauders, the soldier who lived through the Bataan Death March, the Omaha Beach survivor, the 101-year-old World War I veteran, the former POW held in frozen North Korea, the former Special Forces medic now with non-operable liver cancer, the former Vietnam Corps Commander - I remember them all. Though I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, I am much more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women. I am angered at the cutbacks implemented and proposed that will continue to decay their meager retirement benefits. I'm amazed at those who can turn their back on these individuals who have sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. And there are later generations that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties won with such sacrifice. It has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics aware of these amazing people when I encounter them in our emergency department. Their response to these heroic men and women makes me think that perhaps not all hope is lost when it comes to the next generation. My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible generation and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note.  We should all remember that we must "earn this." Captain Stephen R. Ellison, M.D. is a resident physician specializing in Emergency Medicine in the joint Brooke Army Medical Center - Wilford Hall Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency in San Antonio, TX. He served as the initial company commander and program director for the new Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center, Ft. Bragg, NC prior to the start of his residency. He currently resides in San Antonio, Texas with his wife Marta and his two children.

The Coyote Principle (an alegory)

* The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks the Governor's dog, then bites the Governor.

* The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie "Bambi" and then realizes he should stop because the coyote is only doing what is natural.

* He calls animal control. Animal Control captures the coyote and bills the state $200 testing it for diseases and $500 for relocating it.

* He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases.

* The Governor goes to the hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.

* The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is now free of dangerous animals.

* The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a "coyote awareness program" for residents of the area.

* The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.

* The Governor's security agent is fired for not stopping the attack. The state spends $150,000 to hire and train a new agent with additional special training re the nature of coyotes.

* PETA protests the coyote's relocation and files a $5 million suit against the state.

TEXAS

* The Governor of Texas is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks his dog.

* The Governor shoots the coyote with his state-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.

* The buzzards eat the dead coyote.

And that, my friends, is why California is broke and Texas is not

Blooper Reel

This compendium of out-takes, screw-ups and otherwise funny snippets from a wide assortment of venues was recorded and edited by Montgomery Fire Rescue.

https://vimeo.com/206539923

Before feeling smug about your own run, keep in mind that anyone who’s been around for more than a season can sympathize!

Thanks to Robbie Bates