June 25, 2024

I have a question about extrication with a house fire victim. House fire with 3 people entrapped in fire with fire fighters extricating patient to front porch when ems arrived and ems along with fire department carried patient to safer location in yard away from fire. There is not a 20-minute delay from arriving on scene to leaving scene time due to pt being critical and ems left without waiting for ALS units due to need of securing airway. Did extrication happen? I want to say yes because if the fire dept did not assist patient out of house and then from porch the pt would have died and that would be a delay in treatment. I just want to make sure my thinking is correct or if it is not because of the lack of delay in treatment on just Ems end.

You are correct in your thinking! Extrication is defined as any action that disentangles or frees from entrapment or delays in transport. Since the fire department rescued the patient from the building fire, this would qualify as yes for extrication. The primary intent of this element is to give a reason for delays in transport. However, a delay in transport does not necessarily have to occur for there to be an extrication.

Can't find an answer to your question? No problem simply submit your question via email.