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If ALS stands for “Advanced Life Saving” techniques, what follows should be classified as “Super Advanced Life Saving” techniques. The shots below were taken of the SMRT (Special Medical Response) team together with Penn Care personnel in a mine that stretched roughly a mile beneath the Earth’s surface. Founded in the 80’s, this specialized team of volunteer physicians, paramedics, and EMTs was responsible for responding to mining and industrial emergencies within Pennsylvania.
With a mere 4′ ceiling to work in, it was necessary to understand which ALS techniques could still be performed and which needed to be modified. The Reeves stretcher allowed the SMRT team to immobilize patients and drag them through tight spaces. The automatic CPR machine was used because traditional CPR could not be performed. The lack of headroom certainly affected the methods they were using to save lives.
A majority of the techniques practiced by the SMRT team had application in other locations. In July of 1988 the SMRT team was summoned to Brownsville, Texas to assist local emergency responders in freeing trapped victims from heaps of rubble.
If you have an experience where you had to modify your life saving techniques as a result of your surroundings or available resources – then we’d really love to hear from you in the comments section below!
Be sure to keep up with us as we continue to publish photos and stories taken from our 25 year history!
