[Scan-DC] Fire Department Response-Electrical Accident

[Blake Bowers]

Use just any old wooden pole?

Can I have your instructors name?  I would love to get his
teaching credentials pulled, or at least some education provided
for them.   What training center?

Of course, what do I know.  I am the Chief of a Fire Department,
been in the Fire Service since the late 70's, EMS since 79 (back when
the Paramedic program was 640 contact hours long).

Even the Electric company has special poles for putting even CLOSE
to the active lines to pull switches and breakers.  HI-POT tested a minimum
of yearly.  Most Fire Departments do not have this equipment.


Don't take your organs to heaven,
heaven knows we need them down here!
Be an organ donor, sign your donor card today.




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Antonelli" <Johnantonelli at verizon.net>
To: "Todd Sniffin" <tsniffin at gmail.com>
Cc: "scan-dc" <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Fire Department Response-Electrical Accident


> We were taught to use a wooden pole to get the person out of contact
> with the power line.  Unless the person was already dead, the only thing
> waiting was going to do was make him that way.  They got the first guy
> out.  Why would they not make heroic efforts for the second one unless
> he was DRT.
>
> Todd Sniffin wrote:
>> John;
>>
>> Greg is correct.  The FD does not have "ways of getting the power off if 
>> the
>> need to", otherwise calls to Pepco (or local electric utility) would not 
>> be
>> necessary.  I'm not sure what you learned in EMT class, but the only two
>> methods the FD in this area were taught to remove power was pulling the
>> meter if it was a house fire, or using "pepco ropes" (nylon rope with 
>> wooden
>> handles on each end-used to slide under the downed line and move it 
>> off/away
>> from the patient.)  Both methods are no longer allowed or taught.   Most
>> apparatus do carry "hot sticks", used to detect the presence of 
>> electricity,
>> but waiting for the utility to arrive on the scene and confirm power is 
>> off
>> is the norm-even when life is in danger.
>>
>> As for the the utility's response time, that's pretty standard too. 
>> During
>> off hours there are only a few troubleshooter crews on duty.  A 15-30 
>> minute
>> response is the norm.  They don't have lights or siren and can't get from
>> Point A to Point B any faster  (-;
>>
>> Todd
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: JOHN ANTONELLI <johnantonelli at verizon.net>
>> To: yorkfd at juno.com
>> Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:22:42 -0800 (PST)
>> Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Arlington responding to electrocution of two
>> You are correct re ther fact tht tey are to assume they are charged but 
>> the
>> FD does have ways of getting the power off if they need to or to get the
>> person out if tey need to.  Heck they taught us how to do it in EMT 
>> class.
>> The fact that ACFD is not doing that tells he is DRT and that was the
>> purpose of my post.
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