January 5, 2012

8:24 AM

Click on the photo above to watch a video courtesy of OregonLive.com

At 6:39 this morning, Firefighters from two Portland Stations: Station 1 (Old town) and Station 13 (Lloyd District) responded to reports of a man pinned beneath a vehicle at the intersection of NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, and NE Grand.

Incidents of this type are dispatched as "Pin-In" accidents; these incidents draw additional resources, as entrapped victims may require technical extrication.

According to witnesses the patient was first struck by a different vehicle and was lying in the road when another vehicle, a PT cruiser, was unable to stop and struck the man—pinning him face down between the Cruiser and the road.

Multiple calls were received with each caller providing a different address. This often occurs when accidents occur between intersections. The more accurate the location provided, the more efficiently responding vehicles can determine routes and reach the location. When crews first arrived at the address, nothing was located; with multiple calls received, the four responding apparatus began searching the area. Squad 1, a Heavy Rescue, arrived on scene first and correctly identified the address as MLK at the Interstate 84 overpass; Truck 13, Engine 13 and Engine 1 all arrived within the minute. A paramedic from Squad 1 made contact with the trapped man and determined his condition to be life threatening.

On most "Pin-In" accidents, engine companies pull protection lines for the safety of the victim and first responders—due to the critical condition of the patient, firefighters opted to forgo standard procedure and worked together to lift the 3200 lb. vehicle off of the patient. "We were putting a plan together and realized how many of us were there—we had two firefighters with the patient to help pull him out from beneath the car—and then eight of us lifted the car off of him—it wasn’t pretty but it worked," said Firefighter Mick Held, a 16-year veteran of the Fire Bureau. "We pulled the man out onto a backboard and transferred him to an ambulance." The patient was entered into the State Trauma System and transported to Emanuel Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

Portland firefighters responded to a car fire on Interstate 5 near Jantzen Beach on January 6, 2012. The car burst into flames about 6:45 a.m. The driver, who was traveling north, was able to pull over to the shoulder near the Jantzen Beach exit just south of the Interstate Bridge and flee to safety. Two engines arrived at the scene and put the blaze out.

Vehicle fires are more common than you might think. The National Fire Protection Agency reports that there are roughly 300,000 vehicles per year, resulting in around $1.3 billion in property damages. Review the below helpful tips on car fire safety so that you know to act if you are ever put in this life-threatening situation:

• Car fires are very dangerous, especially considering the possibility that the gas tank could possibly explode. For this reason, it is most important to get you and your passengers out of the car as quickly as possible, leaving behind your possessions.
• Before leaving the vehicle, turn off the engine if possible.
• Don't stay near the burning vehicle. Instead, get as far away from the vehicle as possible in case the fire spreads or the fuel tank explodes.
• Once you are in a safe place, call the fire department for assistance. If you or any of your passengers are injured or burned, call for medical assistance immediately.
• Do not return to the car to try to put out the fire. Do not return to the car to retrieve any possessions. Although the car might be an important part of your life - it is not as important as your life!
• Even if you only see smoke after an accident or smell burning, act quickly and take the same precautions as if you could see actual flames. Remember - where there's smoke, there's fire.

  Portland Fire & Rescue

Chicken Wraps with Curry & Coconut 

Recipe Courtesy of Portland Firefighter Tommy Schroeder, Station 19

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup(s) Coconut Milk Regular Or Light
• 1 Tablespoon(s) Thai Green Curry Paste 
• 2 Tablespoon(s) Chopped Cilantro 
• 1 1/4 Cup(s) Cooked Chicken Shredded
• 1/4 Cup(s) Shredded Carrot(s) 
• 2 Tablespoon(s) Thinly Sliced Green Onion(s) 
• 2 Tablespoon(s) Roasted Peanuts Chopped, (optional)
• 4 (8-inch) Whole Wheat Tortilla(s) 
• 1 Cup(s) Green Lettuce Leaves Shredded

Preparation:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together coconut milk and curry paste until smooth.
2. Stir in cilantro, chicken, carrots, green onions and peanuts and toss to coat.
3. Arrange tortillas in a single layer on a flat surface.

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories 560
• Total Fat 22 g
• Saturated Fat N/A
• Sodium 670 mg
• Total Carbohydrates 55 g
• Fiber 3 g
• Protein 31 g

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

  We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

  January 6, 2012 

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