***Warning: This story contains graphic details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.***
A former firefighter’s quick thinking and emergency training helped passengers in Wednesday’s Highway 39 bus crash, about four kilometres south of Mackenzie.
Rich Rogers was travelling south with his wife and 12-year-old son when they witnessed a northbound shuttle bus leave the highway, strike a tree, spin around and come to rest in a ditch about six metres deep.
Rogers immediately pulled over, told his wife to call for help, and ran to the bus, finding a person who had been ejected from the bus and appeared not to be breathing.
“When I made contact with the patient, I put my hand on him, and I couldn’t feel any movement, chest rising, or anything, so I had to make a decision to do a modified C-spine roll, put the person in a position where hopefully they could clear their own airway,” he said.
“Thankfully a lot of blood came out, and the person started breathing again.”
Shortly after, another person came out of the bus who said he was hurt but could help, assisted in keeping the ejected person still while Rogers went to assist others inside the vehicle.
Another person was already providing first aid.
Emergency crews arrived about five minutes after the initial 911 call, according to Rogers.
He briefed first responders on the injuries and assistance needed, and praised firefighters for setting up ropes to help remove people from the crash site.
Rogers continued helping emergency crews as they treated the injured.
“The police officer was there, and he took a statement from me and while we were doing that, I noticed that they were so short handed,” said Rogers.
“There was one ambulance attending at this point working on the patient that had been ejected, and I asked her if I could help, and I told her that I had some previous training and she put me to work, and from there we just did what we could for everybody that came by.”
Rogers’ wife and son left the scene once the injured were being triaged, though he stayed on scene until clean-up, catching a ride back to Mackenzie with the Fire Chief.
Part of the reason Rogers is no longer a firefighter was due to mental stress, with the family working to not rehash anything from the incident, mainly for their son to make sure he isn’t being negatively affected, while also keeping discussions open.
Rogers said he hopes his actions helped give the injured a chance to recover or, at the very least, more time with their families.
A total of 20 people were injured in the crash and taken to hospital, according to earlier reports. As of Thursday, 15 were treated and discharged.
