Members of Holmdel FAS joined members of Hazlet First Aid Squad for an extrication drill on Sunday, April 27th. The intent of the drill was to introduce new members of Holmdel FAS to the techniques used to free entrapped occupants from motor vehicles after accidents. Members were briefed on the layout of Hazlet’s rescue trucks and were lead in a hands-on-demonstration of control demolishing of three cars as the two squads worked side by side.

The ultimate goal of patient extrication from a damaged vehicle is to safely clear a path for EMTs to gain access to the patient in order to start treatment and the safe removal of vehicle parts from the area surrounding the patient. In essence, the patient is freed from the wreckage by dismantling the car and not yanked from vehicle. HFAS helped stabilize the three practice cars, disable the electrical systems, and open the vehicles up by breaking the glass, popping the doors and removing the roofs. The technique of doing a dashboard displacement to free front seat passengers was also done on the cars. The drill ended with a demonstration of the Hazlet’s MatJacks, inflatable airbags capable of lifting up to 70 tons several inches.

Holmdel FAS Captain Levent Sasmazel hopes this drill will be the first of many monthly drills combining the resources of both squads. HFAS EMT Anthony Pusillo, a new member, categorized the drill and the cutting of the cars as the “coolest thing” he has done as an EMT.