S-212 Training Injury

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action. This short summary of the “S-212 Training Injury” incident—and its lessons—was one of these writeups that originally appeared in that Two More Chains issue.]

During this Florida Forest Service (FFS) S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaw Training, the class instructor/training Group Leader is hit in the head by a segment of a nearby dead snag that is connected by vines to the top of the tree that is being felled—knocking the Group Leader unconscious.

The Swamper and Sawyer immediately go to the Group Leader’s aid and begin patient care as trained First Responders. As the Swamper supports the Group Leader’s cervical spine, the Sawyer, who isn’t an FFS employee, attempts to call for help—but doesn’t know how to operate a FFS radio. When he tries calling for an EMT on the radio—his call is not clearly understood. On a second attempt, the call is answered by the Ops Chief. The Ops Chief doesn’t clearly understand the call—and asks if someone needs assistance.

Five minutes after this accident occurs, EMTs hear the radio traffic and respond to this group’s location. They instruct the Ops Chief to call 911. Due to the mechanism of injury and loss of consciousness, it’s determined to request air medical transport.

Key Lesson

When hosting a class, have a plan in place for accidents involving instructors.