Jodi’s Ride-Along with Molalla Ambulance

admin August 29, 2008 0 Comments

Brad and Jodi are starting the EMT program in September at Clackamas Community College and wanted to get some exposure to medical calls before classes start. We have volunteered for a couple of shifts as an observer on Molalla’s ambulance, but each shift has been slow. Jodi showed up for her 3rd and final shift on Friday (6pm to 8am). At 8pm a call toned out for a single motor vehicle crash (MVC) and fire. As the ambulance she was riding in arrived on scene, they were informed that it may be for a dead person in a burning car. Jodi was in the first ambulance that arrived on scene (a few police had arrived moments before), and found one vehicle on its side with the nearest hillside on fire. The EMT checked the driver’s pulse but could not find one. She was a 39 year old female who, it was later discovered, was driving under the influence of alcohol. She swerved off the road, up onto the hill, hit a telephone pole and the tree, and then rolled down the other side of the embankment coming to rest on the vehicle’s side. The engine compartment started on fire and caught the hillside on fire as well. The telephone pole was snapped into multiple pieces and was later removed by the electric company.

Just a few minutes after Jodi’s ambulance arrived, some family members started to show up on scene and reported that there may have been a second passenger. While the engine crew fought the fire, the rest of those on scene quickly grabbed flashlights and searched the embankment up and down both sides of the road. Within a few minutes it was confirmed that the female was the only occupant. After covering the vehicle windows with those yellow emergency blankets, they awaited the arrival of the Medical Examiner and tow truck (the driver was pinned and the car needed to be upright in order to efficiently extract her). While waiting, a police officer approached Jodi’s ambulance crew and said the victim’s mother was on the other side of the caution tape and was having chest pains. They grabbed the medical kit and walked up to where she was sitting in a car. The EMTs and Paramedics on scene confirmed that she was not having any serious heart problems and she returned home with family members. The fire department’s Chaplain was also on scene. His first priority was to comfort the family members, but then he made rounds with each of the fire and medical personnel on scene, making sure each was handling the traumatic experience. Jodi’s ambulance crew was on scene for about 3 hours.

Lightening Storm leads to Brush Fire

admin August 17, 2008 0 Comments

The pager toned out at 6am Sunday morning for a mutual aid brush fire in Estacada. Brad and I quickly made our way to the Elwood station, got all geared up and were ready to take off when Eric arrived to drive Engine 123. When we arrived on scene we found a brush fire spreading down a hill. The fire started sometime the night before when a bolt of lightening hit an 80-90 foot tree and split it in half. Although the area was a little damp the embers had a chance to grow overnight, leading to a 5 acre fire before it was completely extinguished. Because there was only one narrow road in and out of the property, all fire apparatus had to pull off the road into the brush and tree stumps. Brad and I were trying to guide Eric in E123 but he accelerated off the road quickly…right into a stump! Fortunately, it only caused minor damage and we were able to continue our efforts. Once situated, Brad and I pulled the booster line off the engine and started down the hill to keep the fire from spreading south. We traded off taking the lead on the nozzle, while the other would stand about halfway up the hill to make sure the fire didn’t spread behind us. After about an hour, the fire was under control on all sides and we were clear to return. In all, Colton sent an Engine, a Brush Rig, and a Water Tender to join Estacada, Clackamas and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in fighting the fire.

Click on the link below to hear the dispatch from C-Com:

Aug08_Hillockburn Fire

Brad’s First Serious Medical Call

admin August 14, 2008 0 Comments

Today Brad had his first experience with a major medical problem. About 11:30am a page came out for a gunshot wound to the head and, since the only other person in the district at this time was the Fire Chief, Brad responded to assist. When he arrived at the station, he and the Chief responded in the medic. In route they found that the gunshot was actually a suicide attempt. Normally in suicide situations the fire department stages some distance away, waiting for the police to show up and clear the scene before entering, but in this case the police were so far out that the Chief made the decision to go in. After entering the house and not finding a patient, they called dispatch and discovered that he was actually out in the back of the property.

After a little searching around they found the patient and his wife (who had called 911) out back. He had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was not breathing. Brad worked on an airway and began bagging him while the Chief checked for a pulse. Though he couldn’t find a plus initially, eventually a very weak one was found. About 5 minutes later the Molalla ambulance arrived and transported the patient to a nearby landing zone where a Life Flight helicopter arrived to take him to the nearest trauma center. Unfortunately the damage was too severe and he died at the hospital.

An Extra Farm Hand

admin August 10, 2008 0 Comments

Cindi, Jodi’s mom, came up for a visit and was ready to get right to work. This time she used Bob to help level out the driveway so that we could install an electric gate. Thanks Mom!!!

Annual Elwood Community Picnic…in the Cemetery

admin August 10, 2008 0 Comments

Every year the Elwood Community comes together for food and fun. We meet in the center of the Elwood area, which just happens to be the cemetery! This year Jodi was designated “assistant to the Co-Chair” (Rhonda), so the weekend before the picnic, Rhonda and Jodi were busy putting up flyers around town. Timing worked out great this year since Cindi (Jodi’s mom) arrived in town the day before and was here to participate in the fesivities! Brad, Jodi and Cindi helped set up the picnic area by picking up several tables from around town, and helping to transport the roasted pig. This year we even had a surpise visit from Cindy, the local reporter from the Molalla Pioneer! As expected, we had a good turn out and everyone left feeling stuffed!

John finishing up the pig and preparing for transport:

Elbert carving the pic (notice Brad, Jodi & Cindi in the background):

The Elwood community, and Lance & Lindy: