Related Resource: Read special coverage of EMS EXPO 2008
By Maveric Vu
EMS1 News Editor
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LAS VEGAS — Correctly staging vehicle accident scenes with protective barriers and zones is vital in preventing paramedics being hurt, a session was told at EMS EXPO in Las Vegas.
Injuries sustained on the side of the roadway while responding to traffic incidents is the number two cause of line-of-duty deaths for paramedics and firefighters.
During an education session, EMS educator Dave Long, with North Memorial in Minn., focused on staging and scene safety, as well as raising awareness for state “move over” laws.
“Let’s call the roadway what it is — the roadway is a combat zone,” the nurse/paramedic said.
Long outlined the need for protective barriers and zones in order to provide a defense from other drivers.
One method is to park your ambulance “downstream” from the accident site with the wheels angled away from where the crews will be working. This protects the crews should another vehicle crash into the ambulance, he said.
Long spoke of a number of simple to consider when out on the roadway:
- Always wear a reflective public safety vest (a nationwide requirement effective on Nov. 24)
- Think about an escape route
- “Eyeball” traffic
- Set down cones with reflective material or flares around the scene
- Use a large pink “Emergency Zone Ahead” placard for appropriate situations
- Establish standard hand signals to be used for scene communication
Even with protective staging, Long said that providers should always be hyper aware of their surroundings and to prepare for the “two-second rule,” the time required to jump out of the way of an incoming vehicle.
Long also noted the importance of knowing when to close off the roadway for larger incidents or for extrication. This may require fire/rescue personnel to battle law enforcement officers, who typically want to keep the road open, he said.
However, responders should focus on staying out on the roadway for the shortest amount of time possible, opting to administer certain treatments and fill out patient care reports during or after transport, Long said.
The session was given the example of Minn. paramedic/firefighter Kim Granholm, with the Esko Volunteer Fire Department, to highlight the dangers involved in roadway responses. Granholm was struck and killed at the scene of a car fire in 2002 after a driver slid onto the shoulder of an interstate during icy conditions.
According to Long, Granholm was struck while filling out a patient care report with his back to incoming traffic.
“Any time we are out on the roadway, we’re a target,” he said.
While effective staging and road awareness are important, Long stressed the crucial responsibility of other drivers to be aware when driving past an accident scene.
“Drivers don’t want to wait,” Long said. “They’re busy and they don’t want to slow down.”
Some states have implemented “Move Over” laws that require other drivers to switch lanes away from the scene of an accident. But only about 40 states have implemented the law, with states such as Calif. and Md. still without the safety measure.
According to prior news reports, many drivers are still failing to stop for emergency vehicles or move over when approaching an accident area. While enforcing heavier fines have helped, Long said it is the responsibility of first responders to educate and advocate in their communities.
Implementing roadway safety is a primary concern for Ray Engler, a police/firefighter and instructor with the Coventry, Conn., Volunteer Fire Association.
“It’s very important to get the message out there,” he said, after attending the session. “The roadway is very dangerous and the public is not trained to handle it.”
Recently, Engler was working the scene of an auto accident at night when he noticed a fast approaching light from a vehicle that wasn’t going to slow down. Engler, who was wearing a reflective vest, had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by the vehicle.
As a result, Engler said his department conducts presentations at local driving schools in order to voice the importance of moving over when approaching an emergency zone.