Firefighters Rescue Injured Construction Worker in Manhattan

Members of Ladder 2 operate at a job in 2007.

Firefighters rescued an injured worker underground from the eastside access rail construction site on Feb. 10, using new, specialized equipment they recently were trained to use.

"The Department invested in our company, giving us new training and equipment, and it really paid off today," said Lt. Peter Blaich from Ladder 2.

Just before noon, firefighters were called to a motor vehicle accident on 48th Street at Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

Upon arrival, the members of Ladder 2 (including Firefighters Sean Deans, David Feder, David Burkhart, Michael Pergamo and Ricardo Velazquez) learned that an operating engineer was struck by a vehicle in the underground location.

Members made patient contact and then placed him on a backboard.

At the Fire Academy, firefighters demonstrate the use of the metal stokes basket and mechanical advantage equipment Ladder 2 used to rescue an injured construction worker on Feb. 10.

They then were able to utilize new training they received in January to quickly remove the injured victim.

The firefighters used a metal stokes basket – that enables them to remove a victim vertically, rather than horizontally – and mechanical advantage – which is a ropes and pulleys system used to remove a patient from confined spaces.

They were able to use these items to remove the victim to street level within 20 minutes – more than two times faster than previous methods.

The victim was transported by FDNY EMS members to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.

“We were able to get him to the hospital faster because of this new equipment,” Lt. Blaich said. “It really benefits the public.”