Most vehicle and industrial accidents are minor. However, firefighters are required to stabilize the accident scene, control hazards, and assist police and ambulance personnel in providing quality patient care. Firefighters ensure that the vehicle is stable, so it doesn’t shift when the injured are being removed. We provide first aid, such as supporting head and neck, controlling deadly bleeds before other medical assistance arrives. We also use the Jaws of Life and an array of other specialized equipment, to extricate trapped patients.
Firefighters perform a similar process at industrial accidents. People often need to be extricated from machinery, which is heavier than most vehicles. We use our equipment to dismantle the machinery or to lift or cut patients to freedom.
We also have high angle rope rescue personnel to remove patients from tower cranes and other height obstacles. Trench rescue for people who are buried in earth collapses are done by specialty trained firefighters.