July Firefighter of the Month

Jul 30th, 2008

On the evening of Monday, June 2, 2008, firefighters and firemedics assigned to Engine 23 and Rescue 23, were dispatched to Yester Oaks Apartments, located at 3701 Mossvale Drive for an assistance call. When they arrived they discovered the call was a bit different from the ordinary assistance call. They discovered a 78-year-old male employee of the complex down in a concrete drainage ditch that crosses the property. The ditch was deep and had a severe incline to it. The patient advised he landed on his right side and had pain in right arm and shoulder along with some small abrasions to the right elbow and knee.

Firefighter-Driver Raymond “Shug” Easley, Jr. and Firemedic-Driver Ami Ingram made their way down to the patient. Easley began to secure the scene and Ingram began medical treatment. Easley was instrumental in the tactical decision made to extricate the patient from the ditch.

Easley had the below grade level view and was integral in the decision to move the victim in a somewhat different method by placing the patient in a Reeves Sleeve, which is used to secure accident victims and pull the victim up the steep and dangerous grade by rope while balancing the patient on a ladder.

The mission was accomplished in a safe and highly efficient manner with the assistance of an additional crew from Engine 1.

For placement of the fire truck in the best possible position for use as a tie point and equipment retrieval, his vast knowledge and practical sense that led to excellent deployment of personnel, and for correct action and use of the Reeves Sleeve and ladder for extrication, an original idea by Easley, Firefighter-Driver Raymond C. “Shug” Easley, Jr., 42, a veteran with over 20 years was awarded the Firefighter of the Month for July on Wednesday, July 30. The FFOM is sponsored by the Pleasant Valley Opportunity Club.