What's it like being cut free from a car crash by Kent's emergency services?

As part of a joint effort between Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) and South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), I was the victim in such a car crash scenario with my two passengers, Oli Dunn, 16 and Salih Cengizler, 18 from North West Kent College.

Oli Dunn, 16 and Salih Cengizler, 18 from North West Kent College - my passenger victims

I had no idea how they were going to move us or treat us.

My lungs were punctured, Oli had smashed his head against the windscreen and Salih had a broken wrist, another student outside the car 17-year-old Divine Akintomide was being treated for a broken arm and leg.

I half expected crushing noises, the pounding of hammers and axes, huge sparks, and a mass of paramedics handling me out of the wreckage.

The truth is I got to hear about everything that was going on but I didn’t get to see a lot.

Both the firefighters and paramedics talked us through what they were doing and made it clear at every stage the reasons for why they were doing it: the loud bangs as the hydraulic claws broke off the car doors to get us out; the glass saw cutter munching through the windshield covered and shielded for our protection; why they were cutting my clothes away and why there were panels sliding underneath my body to lift me from the dismantled car.

Oli had smashed his head against the windscreen - great acting

It was clear to me that the emergency teams were going through the motions as a loud bang of the door swung open making me jump.

As I was removed from the car and lowered into the stretcher, a welcoming upside down face of a fireman put me at ease as I was wheeled out to the ambulance and taken to "hospital".

Oli was also put into a stretcher and taken away for medical assistance.

Speaking about the exercise Oli said: “It’s been a good experience and when I get my license I’ll definitely be driving more carefully as a result - those neck braces were uncomfortable.”

Within the hour the car had been rolled away, the broken glass had been swept up and the teams were debriefing.

Both teams were incredibly fast at analysing and dealing with the situation

KFRS crew manager Jody Morgan said: “The collision scenario deliberately replicated the conditions crews might face during an incident of this type where it’s essential that we work closely with our blue light emergency service colleagues.

“It was an extremely useful day and we are grateful to our SECAmb colleagues and the students from North West Kent College for joining us.”

SECAmb’s Critical Paramedic Practice Lead Jim Walmsley added: “Training such as this is invaluable.

“It provides our crews with the opportunity to train and learn alongside our fire service colleagues in an environment which is as close to the real thing as possible.”

The exercise was carried out last Thursday at Dartford Fire Station in Watling Street.

A saw was used to cut through the glass 

Why and what were the emergency services doing?

Firefighters are able to free victims that need urgent medical care including being trained to use cutters that can cut through steel, spreaders that can force open vehicles that can’t be opened after a crash and powerful hydraulic rams to create space and lift a steering column to get drivers out the car.

Stabilisation equipment including airbags used by fire crews can be used to help right vehicles and provide a stable environment for paramedics to work in.

Sometimes the firefighters are the first on the scene of an accident and being trained to a high level of first aid care - including the use of defibrillators - helps ease the situation for other emergency services.

When critical care paramedics are with the injured passengers they are able to take over the management of advanced airway capabilities and where needed carry out ultrasound.

Their advanced patient assessment skills are part of the necessary processes to get the patient the exact care needed at that exact time.