[Scan-DC] Fire Department Response-Electrical Accident

[John Antonelli]

Blake, I will defer to your experience but that is what I was told.  How 
else can you get to the victim or is it just assumed that he is dead?

John Antonelli wrote:
> That is what we were told.  Do not touch the person, shut the power off 
> or try to move him away with a wooden pole.  the alternative is to leave 
> him there until the power company gets there and that is not conducive 
> to life.  What are they teaching now? Wait for the power company?  I 
> have mno problem with that but it assumes the victim is dead. 
>
> Blake Bowers wrote:
>   
>> 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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>>>>         
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>>     
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