[Scan-DC] Arlington responding to electrocution of two

[yorkfd at juno.com]

Sorry, but I must disagree. 

You either took an EMT class a LONG time ago, or had an instructor that
is not teaching to current standards. 

As others have posted, number one priority is responder safety. We kill
too many firefighters and EMS personnel as it is, and there is no reason
to kill more by taking shortcuts with electrical emergencies. 

FWIW, I have 33 years in the fire service, and am currently a career
Assistant Chief in a combination department. I am speaking from
experience.

My department had a subject with a power washer come in contact with
wires while in a bucket truck power blasting a brick building. The
subject was in the bucket of the truck, and our department awaited the
arrival of Met Ed, the local power provider, to lower the bucket to the
ground. The subject was not assumed dead, and he was in fact still alive
when brought to the ground. He was transported to the local hospital
where he survived for almost a week until succumbing to his injuries.

Barring any obvious mortal injuries visible from a distance, that victim
was never assumed deceased until properly examined by medical personnel.

Greg Halpin
York, PA

On Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:22:42 -0800 (PST) JOHN ANTONELLI
<johnantonelli at verizon.net> writes:
> 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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