Saved a Life! graffic warning!!!

RPM Motorsports

smokinum
May 13, 2008
3,271
10
38
Central Valley Ca.
Now that the Adrenaline down has gone away, and I have made sure it was not a dream, I need to vent.

Yesterday at work I received info that one of the new employees had just lost his arm. I thought it was a joke at first, but was told it was not. I asked if 911 had been called and if everything was being taken care of and was told yes. I walked over to the area where It had happened to see what was going on. Everybody was running around with panic on their faces, and it did not seem to be under control. I ran up the stairs (aprox 40') to see if there was anything that needed to be done. as I came around the corner it looked like a scene from a horror movie. The kid was on his back, not in good shape at all. There was only one person with him telling him "everything was going to be ok, and help was on it's way". Everybody else was trying to get the arm on ice. I got down on the floor next to him and applied pressure to his main artery to stop the bleeding. Not a pretty sight or smell. The bleeding mostly stopped and the guy was extremely calm and with it. It seemed like eternity before medics/mediflight arrived. They checked his vitals, and surprisingly they were in check for the situation. They pumped him up with med's and He was flown to a major hospital in the Bay Area, where they were able to re attach his arm. He can move a few fingers, but lost his elbow (now a permanent bent position), muscle and some nerves. Afterward I was told that if the main artery was not pinched, the guy would have bled out before EMS arrived. I am extremely glad that I took Basic Life Support (BLS) classes, and hope to never need to use what I learned, EVER again.

This could have been prevented if lock out tag out had been performed, and the buddy system used. Another employee started a conveyor to track the belt, and the kid (22yrs.) obviously had his arm inside the equipment.
 

paint94979

Beer Nazi
Sep 18, 2006
11,715
8
38
37
Now that the Adrenaline down has gone away, and I have made sure it was not a dream, I need to vent.

Yesterday at work I received info that one of the new employees had just lost his arm. I thought it was a joke at first, but was told it was not. I asked if 911 had been called and if everything was being taken care of and was told yes. I walked over to the area where It had happened to see what was going on. Everybody was running around with panic on their faces, and it did not seem to be under control. I ran up the stairs (aprox 40') to see if there was anything that needed to be done. as I came around the corner it looked like a scene from a horror movie. The kid was on his back, not in good shape at all. There was only one person with him telling him "everything was going to be ok, and help was on it's way". Everybody else was trying to get the arm on ice. I got down on the floor next to him and applied pressure to his main artery to stop the bleeding. Not a pretty sight or smell. The bleeding mostly stopped and the guy was extremely calm and with it. It seemed like eternity before medics/mediflight arrived. They checked his vitals, and surprisingly they were in check for the situation. They pumped him up with med's and He was flown to a major hospital in the Bay Area, where they were able to re attach his arm. He can move a few fingers, but lost his elbow (now a permanent bent position), muscle and some nerves. Afterward I was told that if the main artery was not pinched, the guy would have bled out before EMS arrived. I am extremely glad that I took Basic Life Support (BLS) classes, and hope to never need to use what I learned, EVER again.

This could have been prevented if lock out tag out had been performed, and the buddy system used. Another employee started a conveyor to track the belt, and the kid (22yrs.) obviously had his arm inside the equipment.

wow Russ I am very sorry to here this but you saved this kids life. Rest easy buddy.
 

mytmousemalibu

Cut your ride, sissy!
Apr 12, 2008
2,230
0
0
Kansas
:hug: Its good to know there are wonderful folks like you Russ! Good for you and hope the guy recovers the best he can! :hug:
 
Jun 28, 2007
3,259
0
0
NE Pa
Now that the Adrenaline down has gone away, and I have made sure it was not a dream, I need to vent.

Yesterday at work I received info that one of the new employees had just lost his arm. I thought it was a joke at first, but was told it was not. I asked if 911 had been called and if everything was being taken care of and was told yes. I walked over to the area where It had happened to see what was going on. Everybody was running around with panic on their faces, and it did not seem to be under control. I ran up the stairs (aprox 40') to see if there was anything that needed to be done. as I came around the corner it looked like a scene from a horror movie. The kid was on his back, not in good shape at all. There was only one person with him telling him "everything was going to be ok, and help was on it's way". Everybody else was trying to get the arm on ice. I got down on the floor next to him and applied pressure to his main artery to stop the bleeding. Not a pretty sight or smell. The bleeding mostly stopped and the guy was extremely calm and with it. It seemed like eternity before medics/mediflight arrived. They checked his vitals, and surprisingly they were in check for the situation. They pumped him up with med's and He was flown to a major hospital in the Bay Area, where they were able to re attach his arm. He can move a few fingers, but lost his elbow (now a permanent bent position), muscle and some nerves. Afterward I was told that if the main artery was not pinched, the guy would have bled out before EMS arrived. I am extremely glad that I took Basic Life Support (BLS) classes, and hope to never need to use what I learned, EVER again.

This could have been prevented if lock out tag out had been performed, and the buddy system used. Another employee started a conveyor to track the belt, and the kid (22yrs.) obviously had his arm inside the equipment.


Everyone jokes about LOTO when I tell them they can't work till I'm signed on but abviously it works. If you don't mind I'm going to print this out to show to my guys. The stupid OSHA stories just dont hit home.

Glad you could help.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,599
1,848
113
Mid Michigan
Glad you kept your cool in a pressure situation, Russ.

We too have lock-out procedures at work that have to be followed....for just such reasons.
 

JD Dave

In way over my head
May 19, 2008
2,388
0
0
Caledon, Ontario
Thank god you were there. Hard to believe 1 second in a mans life can change him forever, I'm glad the guy lived but it really sucks to live with that for the rest of your life.
 

malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,226
542
113
42
in the buckeye state
Everyone jokes about LOTO when I tell them they can't work till I'm signed on but abviously it works. If you don't mind I'm going to print this out to show to my guys. The stupid OSHA stories just dont hit home.

Glad you could help.

x2.. got some younging in my class ... heavy equipment can so the smae hting.

LOTO is very anal inthe US Navy.. seen alot of people loose alot of money over falsified documents or not doing hte porcedure right.

seen a couple just get extremely lucky when stuff wasnt done right.

i would post this on a couple forums as well.

BTW BLS/ bassic/advance first aid is manditory in the millitary
 
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mudygmc

New member
Dec 8, 2008
302
0
0
Buffalo MN
I hope I'm never in a situation like that. Sitting here I can say I would keep my cool and do the right thing, but when the time comes it's a different story. Nicely done.
 

Rhall

Old Skooler
Aug 12, 2006
2,241
0
36
41
Texas Y'all
Nicely done Russ. LOTO is very important, here in Kansas City we had a guy lose both legs from the knees down in an escalator cause LOTO wasnt used.
 

03maxpower

New member
Jan 20, 2009
327
0
0
somerset, pa
good job dont feel down your a hero and served a very good purpose that day i just hope i never have to use my EMT skills like that one day GREAT JOB!!!
 

bullfrogjohnson

Big Girl!
Nov 20, 2006
4,167
1
0
39
Locust, NC
LOTO is a huge part in the equipment industry also. We had a veteran field service guy get extremely injured because he was under a machine and an operator forgot he was under there and started the machine and drove off. He lived but he is just getting to where he can walk again.

Russ, you did a great thing and maybe some people will learn from it. I have taken alot of safety classes and I really hope I dont ever have to use them.
 

dmaxfireman

'Can do' kind of guy
Apr 8, 2007
2,329
1
38
CT
fantastic job!! the smell is like nothing else, been there too many times and the smell seems to last for days. its very unfortunate that the price he paid for that lesson will affect the rest of his life. always think twice bout the consequences when taking a risk no matter how small it may seem.
 

mytmousemalibu

Cut your ride, sissy!
Apr 12, 2008
2,230
0
0
Kansas
:eek: Forgive my ignorance, And not to be insensitive, you said smell:confused:Did you mean sight

also: My dad is a former Firefighter, God bless you guys!
 

dmaxfireman

'Can do' kind of guy
Apr 8, 2007
2,329
1
38
CT
nope, smell. blood and open flesh have a smell, and it ain't a good one. especially if its a dead dismembered body. hard to describe the smell, but once you experience it you never forget it.
 

1lowdiesel

<- wish i was there
Sep 18, 2008
1,615
0
0
In
thank god for that kid that you were there. it's hard to believe though that the other people wouldn't think of putting pressure on the wound to stop or reduce the bleeding.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,599
1,848
113
Mid Michigan
thank god for that kid that you were there. it's hard to believe though that the other people wouldn't think of putting pressure on the wound to stop or reduce the bleeding.

Not really. In all reality, the % of people out there that can keep a level head in a high-pressure/panic situation is not all that high. Luckily, Russ is one of those people.

I know for a fact that I would've probably freaked out.
 
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