The Lawrence County Fire Rescue Respond to a Farm Machinery Accident

On Wednesday, June 18th, the Lawrence County Fire Rescue units responded to a call involving a farm machinery accident. According to E-911’s initial dispatch report, a 14-year-old female patient had been pinned under the equipment for around twenty minutes. Spotty cellphone service made it very difficult for the 911 center’s operators to continue trying to get more information. When personnel recognized where the incident occurred, they knew right away it would be difficult to get to the scene with apparatus and equipment. A two-person rescue team, which was staffed by volunteers at the LCFR Station, were on the scene immediately. They were joined by staff from Emergency Management, Lawrence County EMS, and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, as well as staff from other local LCFR stations. When personnel arrived on the scene, they worked to set up a staging area while they tried to use medical equipment, airbags, chains, and hydraulic rescue gear to reach the immediate situation. Personnel started medical care after reaching the patient who was stuck beneath the tractor on a steep hillside. In order to keep the tractor from hurting the patient further and first responders, the rescue crew worked together to stabilize it. When Lawrence County EMS units arrived on the scene and took over patient care, the team used airbags and hydraulic rescue gear to move the tractor off of the patient. The crew collaborated to move the patient back to the staging area, where the ambulance and additional responders were waiting to help, after the tractor was removed off of the patient. An Advanced Life Support Unit from Lawrence County EMS took the patient to Southern Tennessee Regional Hospital in Lawrenceburg. After that, Lawrence County EMS transported the patient ground via to a Trauma Center for continued care.