November 2009 - LIVES doctor at three accidents in one night

The evening of 27th November saw multiple activations for LIVES medics (Lincolnshire BASICS).  One doctor attended three separate incidents involving road traffic collisions on busy roads in just over two hours.  The first happened a little after 2000 hrs on a busy stretch of the A46, north of Newark and involved the rapid treatment and extrication of an entrapped elderly female from a two car collision. She had suffered chest and abdominal injuries.  The second incident, involving two cars and a van happened just five miles north of the first and involved the evacuation of all three injured casualties to hospital.

The third incident occurred around 2200 hrs on a fast secluded country road involving an Astra car, blue Mini and a Volvo articulated lorry.  Ambulance personnel from the East Midlands Ambulance Service and fire service personnel were attending to the casualties when the LIVES doctor and local LIVES nurse arrived.  The LIVES medical team supervised the triage and complex extrication with resuscitative treatment of the three entrapped critically ill casualties.  Due to the extent of the vehicular damage and patients' clinical condition it took an hour to free them all from the wreckage.  Fire crews required cutting equipment to remove doors and roofs from the cars.

All three casualties were taken to Boston Pilgrim hospital where the female passenger died a few hours later of multiple injuries.  The other two casualties remain in intensive care.

The LIVES doctor said "The contribution made by LIVES to the local community is invaluable.  This demonstrates our ability to work closely and effectively with the multi-professional emergency team towards the goal of enhancing roadside care.  The teamwork was impeccable ."

In addition the LIVES doctor said, "Our very sincere and deepest condolences go out to the family of the female passenger and we wish a speedy recovery to the others involved."