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Crash
in the City
3/18/12
1500hrs - Rescue 51, Cottage EMS and 51 Fire were sent to the reported
MVA, car into a pole with injuries and entrapment. Responding units
found a crash that spread out over the space of one block. A driver
struck another car at the intersection of 8th Ave. and S. Main St, causing
injuries to two people.
He
then continued traveling east on 8th Ave. until he struck a utility pole
at the intersection of 8th Ave. & S. Church St. The
driver was confined to the vehicle while his passenger was self extricated. |
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The crews
from R51 and E51 worked on removing the door with the Hurst Tools to extricate
the confined patient while additional manpower cared for the injured. Four
patients were transported to CMC, two with significant injuries.
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The
rescue remained on scene for over an hour assisting with hazard control
and cleanup.
Due
to the multiple accident locations and patients, Squad 51 was added to
the assignment along with EMS 59-9 and Waymart EMS, placing Forest City
and Greenfield EMS on standby.
On
the box: R51, 51-9/CH1, 51-8/CH2, E51, S51, 59-8, Waymart EMS, LA
ALS, CPD. (Forest City and Greenfield EMS on standby) |
Assist to Area
21
Feb.
29, 2012 11:45 hrs - Rescue 51 was requested by Command 21 (Archbald) along
with Rescue 25 (Jessup) for the MVA on Rt. 6 with two critical patients
entrapped. Upon arrival, command requested the R51 crew pull
the hydraulic tools to assist with extrication. As the tools were
placed in service the patients were extricated by crews from Rescue 21
and Rescue 59 (Wm. Walker). Cottage medics accompanied one of the
trauma patients to CMC aboard 59 EMS. WNEP |
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House fire goes
two alarms
Cottage
EMS was sent along with Carbondale City Fire Dept. for street box alarm
#25 (Wyoming & Lincoln) which was activated by Chief 51 who came across
the working structure fire on Wyoming St.
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Engine
51 , Squad 51, Rescue 51-1 and Cottage 51-9 were on the 1st alarm. Upon
arrival Engine 51 encountered a side by side double with the Bravo side
fully involved. At that point Command requested a 2nd alarm bringing Cottage
51-8, Rescue 51, Rescue 59, Ladder 51, Ladder 58, Engine 24, Engine 59
and Squad 59. Cottage Rescue was assigned to supply Rescue 59 and assist
them with their assignment.
Engine
60 was then special called to cover the City until all CFD units were back
in service.
All
units were placed back in service after about 4 hours of operation, with
the majority of the fire being held to the initial side of the structure. |
Two Carbondale
Twp. crashes
Jan.
7, 2012 - 1607hrs: Rescue 51, Cottage EMS and CTFD were sent to the
reported MVA with an unconscious female and entrapment on Rt. 107 in Carbondale
Twp. Due to multiple calls at the time, EMS 59 was added to
the assignment as mutual aid. The first arriving crews found a two car
crash with no entrapment and all patients refusing treatment. Cottage
EMS obtained refusals and 59 EMS was placed back in service. Rescue
51 assisted with hazard control until released by command. R51, 51-9/CH1,
59-8, S62, 60 PD
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Jan.
8, 2012 - 0306hrs: The Station 60 MVA box was alerted again for an
MVA in the township with reports of a vehicle in to a house. Cottage
EMS was first to arrived followed by the Rescue. Crews found one
male trauma patient still in the vehicle after losing control, striking
a guide rail, sliding across the road, through a row of hedges and finally
coming to rest against a residence. EMS assessed and stabilized the
patient while the rescue crew created an extrication pathway. He
was removed and transported to CMC by the Cottage ALS crew. The rescue
remained on scene providing lighting and assisting with cleanup.
Units operated for about 1 1/2 hours.
R51,
51-9/CH1, 51-8/CH2, E60, S62, 60 PD, 51 PD, PSP. |
Cottage EMS
prepared for hospital closure
Cottage
Hose Ambulance stand ready to manage the anticipated increased call volume
due to the closing of Marian Community Hospital in February of 2012.
“It
is a sad situation for our community to loose our local hospital,” says
Jim Pettinato, EMS Captain. Pettinato acknowledged that recent changes
in health care have made it difficult for many providers of medical services
to survive in today’s climate.
Cottage
mostly responds to medical emergencies in Carbondale City, Carbondale Twp.
and Fell Twp. Additionally, Cottage provides paramedic services to 23 other
surrounding communities extending from Archbald to Pleasant Mt, including
Greenfield, Clifford and Waymart areas. Pettinato stated, “Our crews
transported the majority of the patients they treat to Marian Community
as it is the closest hospital.
Occasionally,
patients would be transported there for stabilization, and then transported
to higher levels of care when the need for more advanced services was required.”
Pettinato indicated that having an Emergency Department so close was imperative
to the survival of many patients over the years. He further admitted
that crews took comfort knowing that an Emergency Department was generally
only minutes away when they were managing a critical patient.
“Sometimes
people would say, I wouldn’t go to that hospital because they had a negative
experience in some manner, but the reality is, when you need emergency
care quickly, the closest Emergency Department is still the best option
for survival,” says Pettinato.
In
special situations such as trauma and heart attacks, EMS crews follow local
protocols that may direct patients to a further facility for definitive
care, but sometimes patients just don’t have the option of time.
In those cases, a place like Marian Community would provide stabilizing
care, then arrange transport somewhere else. In many situations,
patients were successfully stabilized at Marian Community’s emergency department
and Cottage would help facilitate transport to the Life Flight Landing
zone at Hendricks Manufacturing to places like Geisinger, Hershey or Leigh
Valley hospitals.
Steve
Fish, Operations Manager for Cottage, indicated several steps have been
taken thus far in preparation for what will be longer transport times from
emergency scenes to hospitals in the area.
These
steps include:
•
readjustment of staffing levels for EMT’s and Paramedics starting in January
to assure adequate coverage of ambulance service for area residents
•
working closely with other neighboring community ambulances to assure adequate
coverage during high call volume times
•
actively monitoring hospital diversion status’ and informing patients which
facilities are accepting patients when asking about hospital destinations
(Hospitals that are overloaded with patients will notify 911 to inform
ambulances of a request divert to facilities less busy. Marian Community
rarely diverted patients away.)
•
adopting a process of system status management (This is the constant relocation
of available ambulances throughout the coverage area to reduce overall
response times and sending the closest ambulance to a call)
Note:
Cottage currently only uses this process during peak hours based on demand.
Additionally,
Tim Baron, Paramedic and company Vice President, indicated Cottage has
recently upgraded it’s heart monitors so crews can transmit a heart rhythm
strip from the scene to Physicians in local emergency rooms. These
transmissions alert the Physicians of heart attack patients well before
the patient arrives. This has helped save many lives over the last few
months. Baron noted one of its first uses was on a company crew member
who sustained a heart attack and was immediately delivered to the heart
team on arrival to the hospital. “Having that information get to
the hospital before the patient, along with crews activating EMS protocols
for treatment of heart attack patients during transport saves time and
lives,” says Baron.
The
Board of Directors and company officers want to reassure the public that
every step possible is being taken to respond to the needs of the community.
“We will make changes as necessary when we see what happens when Marian
really closes. We expect more people will use the 911 system because
private transportation to the hospitals 20 to 30 minutes away is not safe
in many situations,” says Pettinato. He indicated that they have
seen an increase in patient requests to go to Honesdale and Scranton over
the last few weeks even now. Decisions of hospitals are usually the
choice of the patient, however crews are frequently asked, “Where should
I go?” Sometimes it is a matter of services needed for
the suspected problem. Protocols for massive trauma and heart problems
may dictate a hospital designation, but ultimately the patient has a choice.
Company
Board members stated Cottage will continue its non-emergency transportation
services as well. This includes it’s van transportation, and non-emergency
ambulance service. Non-emergency requests for van, or ambulance,
can be made by calling 282-4649, twenty-four hours a day. The Board
feels this service is a very important component of being sure ambulances
for 911 calls are kept available. Not all trips to the hospital are
emergent. Residents in the area can call this number to request transport
either by van, or ambulance and reduce the burden on the 911 ambulances.
Vans
can help with getting patients to lab draw locations or for other diagnostic
tests very similar to the van service previously offered by Marian Community.
There is a base fee of $35.00 for round trip services. Cottage has
operated this van service for many years and does it at cost. Donation
drives help cover losses to this program, but it is a needed service the
Board says will stay. Advance notice is preferred to help with scheduling
and meeting many requests.
Lastly,
Company President, Margaret Carden, said Cottage will still honor subscription
memberships to the annual fund drive regardless of which hospital patients
go to, or are discharged from. She said there are no plans to increase
subscription rates at this time. She did mention that residents in
the area will need to request Cottage’s service if they are admitted to
a hospital and need a ride home, or to another facility. The more
people that use our services, the lower we can keep our rates. Typically
when Carbondale area residents go to Scranton Hospitals, Cottage does not
get called to return the patient when they are discharged. Carden
said that is part of our mission, “We will come for our residents.”
Condolences
expressed
The
Officers, volunteers and staff at Cottage would like to extend our deepest
condolences to Community Life Support Paramedic Joe Costello and his family
in their time of grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Read
Former Forest
City Fire Chief McCusker passes away
The
pioneer of the local fire service and a lifelong resident of Forest
City, died Monday night. James B. McCusker Sr., 91 years old had long fire
service career. At age 12, he was selected as a lantern boy and mascot
of the Hillside Fire Company in 1932. He was oldest living member
of the Forest City Fire Dept. He served as Fire Chief for many years during
his long career. Cottage Hose Ambulance would like to express its condolences
to the McCusker Family and to our Brothers and Sisters as Station 41. Obituary
Violent crash
in area 60
Oct. 3,
2011 - A parked car took a violent hit on Rt. 107 in Carbondale Twp. by
a car that lost control going around a curve. Cottage EMS and Rescue
were sent along with the CTFD units for the crash with reported injuries.
Crews arrived to find the driver of the vehicle still inside, but no entrapped.
She was extricated and transported by Cottage EMS to CMC. The Rescue
crew assisted CTFD units with a gasoline leak and other hazard control,
as well as scene cleanup.
As
you can see in the photo, the red car (Ford Mustang) acted a shock absorber
for the vehicle that otherwise would have hit the stone wall head on.
Thankfully, the Mustang was unoccupied.
On
the assignment: R51, 51-9/CH1, E60, S62, PSP.
Fire at Carbondale
Area H.S.
Cottage
EMS was dispatched along with CFD for the reported fire in the home economics
room at the Carbondale Area High School. The FD arrived finding a
working fire in the room, which they quickly extinguished. The fire
caused a smoke condition throughout the school. Command requested
Rescue 51, as well as Rescue 59 to assist with ventilation.
Upon arrival the Rescue was assigned to the gymnasium area where ventilation
fans were set. Crews operated for just over 2 hours on the fire that
has been determined to be a case of arson.
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Area 61 roll
over
9/5/11
0152hrs - Cottage EMS and Rescue were dispatched to the 900 block of Main
St. in Simpson for the reported roll over, unknown injuries or entrapment.
The first arriving units found a vehicle on it's roof in the parking lot
of the Convenient Market with no one in or around the vehicle. |
The vehicle
had lost control traveling south on Main St, striking and snapping a telephone
pole before rolling onto it's roof. The Rescue arrived and provided lighting
and assisted with clean up. Crews remained on scene for approx. 2
hours. On the box: R51, 51-9/CH1, 51-8, E61-4, R41
Disaster Response
Over
the past few weeks the entire northeast region has experienced the fury
of Mother Nature. The staff and volunteers at Cottage have been assisting
in areas outside of our coverage area for both Hurricane Irene which hit
the coastline, and more recently the tropical storm that cause historic
flooding in our region. As we are thankful that the immediate coverage
area was not effected, we did our best to provide assistance to those in
need.
For
Hurricane Irene, Cottage participated in operations as part of the PA Region
5 EMS Strike team, which we have been a member of for a few years.
As the storm approached, the team was requested to head to New Jersey to
assist with coastal evacuations. The crew safely operated for approximately
24 hours, transporting multiple patients to safety before heading home
prior to the storm making landfall.
On
September 8th., the area prepared for a tropical storm that promised to
deliver a record rainfall. Evacuation preparations began in Luzerne
Co. to begin moving people away from the Susquehanna River in multiple
locations as "catastrophic" flooding was predicted. Once again,
the Region 5 EMS Strike team was activated. Crews operated moving
nursing home patients to safer locations for the entire day, into the evening.
A few
days later, after the storm passed and the river began receding to safe
levels, a crew returned to assist Luzerne Co. EMS crews in re-populating
the area, again operating for an entire day.
On
September 11th, as the world reflected on the 10 year anniversary of the
tragic events of 9/11, volunteers from Rescue 51 traveled to Duyrea with
other Lackawanna Co. fire dept.'s to assist with flood recovery.
The crew assisted with pumping basements in the area that was described
as "devastated" when the Lackawanna River backed up, spilling it's banks
into the neighborhoods.
Our
thoughts go out to all of the victims of these natural disasters.
Also, a "way to go" to all the local companies who assisted, as well as
the Luzerne Co. companies who worked, and continue to work tirelessly to
recover. The local American Red Cross also needs to be praised
for their continued amazing work throughout our area!! Keep up the
great work!!
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New Rescue
runs 1st cut job
July
17, 2011 0250hrs - Cottage Rescue and EMS were dispatched to the reported
MVA with "multiple injuries and entrapment" on the Casey Highway at MM
13 along with the Carbondale Twp. Fire Dept.
While
enroute, it was determined that the call was at MM 9 in 21's (Archbald)
first due. The Rescue, with a crew of 5, redirected to the new location
with Command 21 reporting one female entrapped, requesting the assistance
of 51 and R-25 (Jessup). |
| Upon
arrival, the 51 crew was assigned to the passenger side of the vehicle,
removal of doors and roof, and to set up for a dash roll. While these
tasks were being performed, the crew from R21 created an extrication path
on the driver's side by displacing the door and seat. The victim
was removed and handed over to 21 EMS.
The
51 crew was then requested to assist the EMS crews from 21 & 25 in
the packaging of the other patients. |
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After
clean-up and assisting with scene lighting, the Rescue was released by
Command 21. The crew operated for about 90 minutes on scene. More
about the new rig
 |
Another crash,
another cut
May
14, 2011 10:55am - Rescue and EMS were dispatched for a single vehicle
accident on Fallbrook Rd. area 61. At first it was reported as a vehicle
off the roadway into a tree with airbag deployment. Chief 61 and 51 EMS
arrived on the scene to find the vehicle in the roadway and it had
apparently rolled several times. Chief 61 advised that we had 1 patient
confined to the passenger side of the vehicle. Upon arrival, Captain
51 (Pettinato) determined that we would need to remove both passenger side
doors along with the "B" post to remove the injured patient from the vehicle.On
the Box R51, E61-4, R41, 51-9, CH1 and PSP |
Victim trapped
under car
May
5, 2011 0850hrs - Rescue 51, Cottage EMS and the Carbondale Twp. Fire Dept
were sent to the reported MVA, rollover with injuries on the Casey Highway
at MM-15. Shortly after dispatch, the Comm. Center reported that
callers on scene were reporting a male who was ejected was now entrapped
under the vehicle and was unresponsive. More
from the Scranton Times-Tribune
 |
Moments
later, it was discovered that the accident was in Area 21 (Archbald).
Already responding, all units redirected to the new location as Station
21 and Rescue 59 (Mayfield) were dispatched.
51-9/CH1
were the first to arrive to confirm the callers reports. They found
the male victim trapped under the front of the vehicle from the waist up.
They began treatment immediately. |
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|
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R51
and R51-2 arrived a short time later. Crews cribbed the vehicle and
set up the air bag system to lift the vehicle. Upon confirmation that all
safety issues had been addressed, the crew lifted the car with the airbags
and the victim was removed onto a long board. He was quickly packaged
and transported to CMC by 59-9 with Cottage ALS on board. From the arrival
of the Rescue, the victim was removed in approximately 6 minutes.
While this was occuring, the EMS crew from 51-8/CH3 were treating and transporting
a second patient. He was also sent to the CMC trauma center. |
Outstanding
job by all company's involved today!
On
the box: R51, R51-2, 51-9/CH1, 51-8/CH3, E60, S62, R59, R21, R59-1, 59-9,
PSP
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Rescue,
medics on fatal fire on FC
April
21- Rescue 51 and the medics were part of a three alarm response
to this fire at 723 Delaware Street in Forest City. The fire proved deadly
for on resident with three others jumping from the second floor the flee
the flames.
Crews
operated for several hours on the stubborn fire that started just after
6 am. |
New Rescue
Arrives
April
12, 2011 - The new 2011 KME Rescue Pumper has arrived at Station 51 EMS/Rescue.
The truck was purchased with the help of a FEMA grant. The truck
features customized cabinetry, a cascade system, 500 gallons of water,
a 1250gpm pump and an onboard foam system.
In
the next few weeks, members will continue to train on the piece, for both
operations and driving. The plan is to have truck in service in May.
Stay tuned for a link to a page with all the details and pics on the new
truck! |
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Remembering
Bill Henry
Our
organization wishes to extend our sympathy to the members of the William
Henry family. William passed away on Friday, January, 21st .
Known around the station as “Bill”, or “Uncle Bill”, he served as the organization’s
first EMS Captain and long term Treasurer. Bill was a charter member of
the ambulance who devoted over 40 years to serving the greater Carbondale
area through his affiliation with the Hose Company and Ambulance Corps.
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Bill
was an active member for many years, and stayed involved through the good
times and the bad. As the first Captain, he lead the ambulance corps
to its maiden voyage back in 1972. He also was one of the key people
who helped bring the first ”jaws of life” rescue tool to the greater Carbondale
through a generous donation made by the Kiwanas Club. He and others
had the privilege to receive training on this tool from a pioneer in the
vehicle rescue world, Harvey Grant. Mr. Grant is well known in the
rescue world and helped train Cottage’s first crews. Bill went on
to share this knowledge and experience with later generations. |
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