My hometown

I should have pictures from the incident scene in about a week. So this was an "I'll cut your tree for $100" kinda operation. Seems like they had partially cut through the base of the tree but none of the first responders noticed it. The guy was under a 40' branch on a ladder and as it peeled over it came down and pinned him. He has a broken pelvis and arm. This is kinda out of the ball park for us on here but a pinned crushing injury causes a physiological event in the body involving the build up of lactic acid. The heart and central nervous system doesn't like that crud too much as metabolism is a very delicate operation. Usually when someone is pinned for a long time a crush syndrome protocol is initiated. They get sodium bicarbonate, glucose, albuterol and some other stuff. Keeps you alive after the pressure is released. They didn't do that. When they took the weight off him he had a seizure and lost consciousness. He's alive and will make it so do some silly shit again. There was no one on scene that knew anything about trees or about the physics of the weight on him and how it would react with the crane. I actually almost got a call on this one but pride prevented them from calling someone not on scene from what I was told. Anyway when I get the pictures i'll post them as long as I can do that without violating any privacy laws. Yet another incident where a qualified tree industry person could have helped or provided some technical insight.
 
@Brocky, I thought the same way about the injury. I believe it is called something along the lines of "compartmentalization syndrome". I knew a guy that worked in the wind farms of West Texas, they had a contract or agreement of some sort with the local fire and ems to handle all of their own rescues. The local guys kept killing the climbers by strapping them to a back board as soon as they touched the ground.
Perhaps some sort of Arborist rescue hotline co-op could be enacted in larger cities. I know everybody says they practice AR in house, but I have worked in 8 states now and the actual training and rehearsal is low.

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Steve, years ago when I had first come up with the Wraptor I set up a meeting with Cville fire Dept rope access guys to discuss it's potential and tree rescues. They treated me like a moron and had no interest in anything I had to offer . Seemed weird to me as I have spent my entire adult life climbing trees, seems I might have had something to offer .

Edit. I understand I don't come off as anything but a redneck which has never helped
 
Yeah being territorial helps no one. Problem is for a long time rope rescue could not have a climber attached to a mechanized devise. That was probably the deal with the wraptor. I thought you had broken through the boundaries with that didn't you Paul?
 
No I'm not one for dealing with paper work and greasing palms which is what it would have taken

Funny that the NFPA is followed like the Bible but is a for profit organization. Seems to me to be a huge conflict of interests. I cannot even begin to fathom the amount they have cost taxpayers with their asinine rules. Don't you guys still have to destroy a life support rope if it is used one time? It is so expensive to get devices rated for NFPA that not even CMI does it so the cost to fire fighters for gear is driven up. Just crazy the influence they have as they make their big bucks....

Sorry I should get off my rant before I bring up Sherrill
 
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