First Published 12/12/07
I have seen a lot of discussion lately about what do you do about stress; what do you do to cope; how do you handle a bad call; does it get any easier; etc.
I am going to relate TWO calls; just two of the many and keep in mind that I saw WORSE.
After reading this, I want your thoughts. Really. If you haven’t been in for very long, are just getting started or are still thinking about it, then I want you to take note and give me your feedback.
This first call was a triple fatality on Saw Mill Hill. We got the mutual aid call, because the responding FD didn’t “do” extrication. The ones that were dead at the scene had to be extricated.
In the Ford Festiva were three teenagers who had just graduated high school and were enjoying the summer. They were on their way back to the campgrounds when the driver crossed the center line and struck a Chrysler New Yorker head on.
Two in the Festiva died instantly. The elderly driver of the New Yorker was the third fatal victim.
The driver of the Festiva had massive head injuries. There were skull fragments and brain matter on the dash. The car’s engine was literally sitting in his lap. Both knees were bent back so far that it TORE the skin open to expose ligaments and bone. He had an “oh, shit” look on his face. Eyes were open. The female in the back seat wasn’t belted, so I’m not sure what she hit with her head, but the top came off and she lay on the left side, bleeding down into the back floorboard of the car. Blood was about an inch deep by estimates. It was 93 degrees and the smell and flies were terrible. Obviously, she bled out. The survivor in that car was the female in the passenger front seat.
The driver of the New Yorker was elderly and was compressed against his steering wheel by his drivers’ seat. We had to remove the seat to get him out. The force of the impact was so hard that, his left foot that was on the brake was broken so badly that the tibia and fibula of the leg was sticking out through where his ankle bone use to be. His foot was entangled in the pedal and we had to cut the pedal to get the foot out intact. The impression in his chest from the steering wheel was in a perfect shape of the steering wheel and was about a half inch deep. His bowels had let go and the aorta ruptured from the impact.
It was hot, smelly and to this day, the neighboring department that THOUGHT it wanted to get into vehicle extrication has not bought a tool. They call us. Guess it was too stressful for them. I remember the names of both drivers and this accident was in 1995. I waited until I got home, went to the patio and reflected on the ages of the victims. It bothered me for awhile, because I had a son the same age. But then I realized stuff happens for a reason, good or bad, and when you sign on to a department, you aren’t ever called for a “good” reason. You might get a good outcome from a bad situation, but you’re there because usually, something “bad” has happened.
The other call that I wanted to describe for you is a semi-tractor/trailer accident.
It was in late summer. We got the call on a Saturday that we had a truck rollover with fire. When I got there, the cab was roaring. Then we were told the driver was still inside. Needless to say, it was too late for rescue. The fire was being fed by diesel fuel. The trailer was full of bales of cardboard and it was on fire also.
Once we got the fire out and I had shaken the hand of the two teams involved, I went to the cab of the truck. Inside was the “remains” of a truck driver. He died from the fire. How do I know? Because his head was tilted back and his mouth was open. He screamed until he couldn’t scream no more. His eye sockets were filled with aluminum. The top of his head had an aluminum skull cap on it. The metal from the aluminum fuel tanks rained down upon him. His fingers were completely gone; burnt off. His torso exploded to reveal his stomach and intestines. Both feet were tangled around the clutch and brake pedals and were separated from the lower legs. But what caught my eye was how well the shoes had withstood the fire and I thought to myself “I wonder if those are Red Wings? I got to get me a pair of them”.
When it came time to take him out of the cab and place him into a body bag, I had a hard time finding volunteers. I asked my trusted officers and they obliged.
Now; I thought that he would break apart as soon as we attempted to pull him out, but he was burnt so badly that he was like “fossilized”. Craziest thing I’d ever seen.
I forgot to mention that I took several photos because the coroner requested it. The coroner was on another call at the time and we didn’t want to wait, so he agreed to photos instead.
To this day, I remember everything that happened on that call. I remember the name of the truck driver and I remember the smell that was STRONGER than the smell of diesel fuel. Yes; the smell of the burnt body was stronger than the smell of diesel fuel on that day.
As I said; these are two of many. And they aren’t the worst ones that I went on.
If you think these two were bad; well, they were, but I knew that there would at least be others like them and if they weren’t as bad, then they’d be a piece of cake.
Picture these in your minds and then ask yourselves if you could handle it.
And if you can? Well, it doesn’t make you tough. It makes you effective when you need to be and that you can bring your heart rate back down when it’s over.
Talk to your brothers/sisters. Use CISDs if need be. Cry. Laugh. Have a beer. Do whatever you need to do to get your mind right this time and that will lengthen your service.
Your family needs you. Your community needs you. And you need them!
Stay safe.
Also on Chief Reason …
- Belt It Out: WEAR IT! – July 19, 2010
- Can You Answer My Question? – March 18, 2010
- Didn’t You? Didn’t You? I Thought You Did. No? Me Neither! – February 5, 2010
- HCN Is NOT A Cable TV Channel! – February 3, 2010
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