Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Surplus Cases

Tannersville, N. Y.

It was very interesting to read the article in the January issue by Lawrence and Jerry Knapp in regard to new uses for surplus SCBA cases.

Here in Tannersville (Greene County), we have done something very similar. Our cases became jump kits on our rescue trucks, to be carried by the first-in crew at medical and trauma emergencies. They were modified to contain a small oxygen cylinder and inhalator, a bag-mask, a blood pressure kit, a portable suction, disposable mask and nasal oxygen accessories, a selection of oropharangeal airways, and some basic dressings and bandaging material. Small items in the kits include a pocket watch with a sweep second hand (it seems that nobody ever has a watch at 3 a.m.), a pad and pencil for jotting down information (nobody ever has a pen at 3 a.m., either), squad business cards, maps of the route to the hospital (if the family is new to the area), etc.

The game plan is that this jump kit goes in on every rescue call and saves many trips back to the truck for small items. With this kit, one EMT can usually tend to the patient while the rest of the crew are bringing in the stretcher, etc.

We did some careful shopping at a Tupperware party and used plastic dishes to form compartments inside the case. They are cemented to the floor of the case, and the tops trimmed to the right height so that the top of the case closes snugly over them to keep the contents in place.

We also have some old E & J resuscitator cases that will become our next project. Remember those heavy old suckers that took two people to carry them from the truck to the patient? Most of the weight was in the tanks and the fittings — so we stripped these out. Since these cases can be opened in a standing up position, the idea is to mount various nozzles, appliances, and fittings on spring loaded clips so that at a fire training school the instructor can stand the case up before the class and select the item currently being discussed. This saves legwork and distraction by not shuffling a pile of equipment around between the classroom and the pumper.

Oscar Wiltse, EMT

Paul Dansbach and Glenn Corbett

Buildings That Front on Two Streets

Paul Dansbach and Glenn Corbett consider buildings that front on two streets, share basements, or might otherwise challenge firefighters.

Fire Burns Through PA Aerospace Supplier

A large fire broke out Monday night at SPS Technologies, an aerospace supplier in Abington Township.