Seconds Saved Lives When Leeward's Plane Went Down

Speaking at a convention of fire fighters in San Diego recently, Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez recounted the actions of his and other departments on September 16th, 2011 ... when Jimmy Leeward's plane went down at Reno.

The online magazine Firehouse reports that Hernandez said that the firefighters at the National Championship Air Races had triage areas set up within minutes of the accident. He said that the department had recently conducted a drill that was called "a bad day at the races" which prepared his firefighters for the eventuality that they hoped would never come ... but did. "All the crews involved participated. People knew what they had to do," he said.

Hernandez said that 58 patients were transported to hospitals within 62 minutes of the accident ... the "Golden Hour" which gives them the best chance for survival. He also had praise for REMSA, a paramedic service operating in Reno, for their assistance in providing EMS services during the crisis. He said preparation and teamwork likely saved may lives that day.

FMI: http://reno.gov/index.aspx?page=189