With a slow start to their tour,
Paramedics Abraham Englard
and Juan Henriquez suddenly
found themselves racing to the collapse
of a fire building with missing and
trapped Firefighters. Both had received
specialized training in confined space
and structural collapse rescue as part of
the FDNY’s Rescue Paramedic
Program. Those skills were tested on
August 27, 2006, at the scene of a threealarm
fire at 1575 Walton Avenue in the
Bronx. Firefighters were trapped after
the floor of a one-story, 99-cent store
collapsed into the basement.
While responding, Paramedics
Englard and Henriquez discussed
patient care strategies and tactics that
they would employ should their specialized
skills be required. Arriving at
Box 2797, the Paramedics were
ordered to the Mount Eden Avenue
exposure and into the basement of the
fire building. Once in position, they
were to provide advanced emergency
medical care to Lieutenant Howard J.
Carpluk, Jr., of Engine 42 and
Probationary Firefighter Michael C.
Reilly of Engine 75.
The basement was filled with heavy
smoke, active fire in an adjacent room
from falling debris and three feet of
standing water in some areas. Working
closely with a Rescue Company,
Paramedics Englard and Henriquez were
able to perform a limited assessment of
Lieutenant Carpluk and virtually no
assessment of FF Reilly, who was
pinned underneath the Officer.
Once a sufficient amount of debris
was cleared, they determined that
Lieutenant Carpluk needed assistance
with ventilation. An attempt at intubation
was made, but due to the debris and
the Lieutenant’s position, it was unsuccessful.
The Paramedics used the bag
valve mask and successfully ventilated
the Lieutenant. After extensive disentanglement
by Rescue Firefighters and
subsequent extrication to street level,
Lieutenant Carpluk was removed to an
area hospital.
Paramedics Englard and
Henriquez found FF Reilly in cardiopulmonary
arrest and immediately
started resuscitation efforts. Prompt
removal of FF Reilly was hindered by
heavy debris. Advanced emergency
medical care continued until he was
transported to an area hospital.
The two Paramedics operated
nearly an hour and a half in the basement
of the fire building without benefit
of fire protective clothing to provide
advanced emergency medical
care. Despite the best efforts of the
two Paramedics and Firefighters, the
Lieutenant and Firefighter perished.
The Paramedics performed in an
exemplary manner in perilous and
extremely difficult conditions. For
placing the life and well-being of their
patients above all else, Paramedics
Abraham Englard and Juan Henriquez
are presented with the Christopher J.
Prescott Medal.--JB |
