VIDEO: Cedar Rapids firefighters spent Wednesday preparing for a scenario they hope they never face: rescuing someone trapped in a trench. “People don’t understand how quickly when it caves in that they could get buried beneath it and then trapped in either suffocate, break bones, etc.,” said Captain Andrew Engelken of the Cedar Rapids Fire Department.
The training gives crews the skills they need to act safely and efficiently in these rare but dangerous situations. Wes Platz, a firefighter with the department, explained just how serious these rescues can be. The daylong drill simulated a scenario where an excavation crew member becomes trapped after a slough of dirt falls, blocking access to the victim. Firefighters had to carefully build a shoring system to reach the person, remove debris, and transport them using specialized rescue equipment.
As Platz explained, “We have to strategically build a shoring system down to the patient, remove debris off the patient and then load the patient to a stokes or some sort of device to get him or her removed out of the hole.” Engelken emphasized the importance of preparation and careful procedure. “The nightmare scenario would be that we rush into this and we don’t do our due diligence and then we ourselves cause a secondary collapse and get ourselves hurt or killed,” Engelken said.
These types of rescues are considered high-risk and low-frequency, meaning they don’t happen often, but when they do, the consequences can be deadly. Training allows firefighters to slow down, stabilize the area, and approach the rescue methodically to avoid making the situation worse. Firefighters hope they never have to put these skills to the test, but the training gives them confidence that they can handle the situation if it arises. By practicing these high-stakes rescues, Cedar Rapids crews ensure they’re prepared for emergencies that could save lives.
