Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 19, Number 1, January/February 1998 Page: 12
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EMS Fact:
Alcohol is the "drug of
choice" for 52 percent
of all young people
ages 12 to 17, with
alcohol use and abuse
starting as early as
sixth grade. -National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administrationwhile getting to the bottom of the pile
as rapidly as possible.
From the initial call to the time the
last patient was transported was just
over an hour with this injury list:
three femur fractures (one person hadDriver
GuardPinned
between dash
and seatPrisoner Prisoner
Uninjured Open head injurya bilateral fracture), one open skull
fracture, multiple closed head inju-
ries, a few pneumothoraxes and
multiple internal injuries. The most
seriously injured were enroute by air to
a trauma center within forty-five
minutes.
Although at first glance it appears
that the cages were a major cause of
injury and a significant extrication
complication, there is another side of
this issue. It could well be that the
prisoners were somewhat protected
by the reinforced structure of the
cages, which reduced passenger
compartment intrusion. In my experi-
ence, an impact of this magnitude
should have caused a multiple fatali-
ty situation.
In retrospect, the rescue operation
was handled efficiently considering
all of the obstacles encountered. Total
patient outcome was improved by
rapid scene survey and the help of
other agencies. Texas DPS, Kendall
County EMS and San Antonio Airlife
assisted with scene control and
transportation of the injured.
This was a situation that nobody
in EMS, outside of Texas Department
of Corrections perhaps, would ever
think about handling. But with the
growing number of prisons, this
incident could happen in any
jurisdiction. Combined training with
emergency personnel and TDC
transportation jailors is the best way
to be prepared for this type of
disaster.-
David Wampler has been afield
paramedic for four years and works for
the Kerrville Fire Department. He is
also an instructor for UT Health
Sciences Center in San Antonio.12 Texas EMS Magazine January/February 1998
Prisoner
Femur Fx
Radius/ulna Fx
Prisoner
Multi-system
trauma
Prisoner
Chest and
head injury
Prisoner
Bilat
femur Fx
Prisoner
Closed
head injury
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Texas. Department of State Health Services. Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 19, Number 1, January/February 1998, periodical, January 1998; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1507967/m1/12/?q=waco+tornado: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.