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Long Beach Fire Department Crane Rescue Drill in the Port of Long Beach
By frhayes | January 22, 2009
On Thursday, January 22, 2009 members from the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) conducted a “high angle” rope rescue drill, on a 150-foot crane in the Port of Long Beach, at the Long Beach Container terminal (LBCT).
The drill consisted of a briefing covering operations and safety issues, which occurred at fire station #6, the location where the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force Six (TF-6) is housed. TF-6 as well as other Units and personnel from other LBFD stations throughout the city also participated; including Los Angeles County (LACOFD) US&R 103 who accepted our invitation attend.
At 0900 hours the dispatch center broadcast a request for units to respond to the LBCT for a 40-year-old male with stroke type symptoms. This patient was in a cab of a crane unable to exit, due to being incapacitated. Other terminal personnel were also unable to assist in the treatment or movement of the worker due to the cab being stuck over the water, and the inability to move it back to it’s docking location.
All members working together were able to drop a rope vertically from the crane to a waiting fireboat at sea level. This crew in turn “sling shot” the rope horizontally to waiting crewmembers on shore. A mechanical advantage system, including a safety line was put into place for a patient/rescuer lowering operation.
From the time of dispatch to the time that the patient reached the ground was approximately one hour. Considering the complexity, danger, and the amount of coordination required to perform this rescue, it was completed in a very efficient and timely manner. Personnel at the LBCT terminal stated, “The operation was completed very quickly and that is reassuring to know if this type of incident occurs, that we have confidence that the LBFD is up to the challenge”.
The LBFD thanks all of the personnel from the LBCT that participated, and made this drill a success, and to the LACOFD for continually participating in multi-jurisdictional operations to ensure that in a “real” emergency we will both be better prepared.
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