PA firefighters receiving world class rescue training [Video]

“People always underestimate the weight of soil,” Tesarski told paNOW. “We’ve had a couple collapses here this morning that are 3,000 pounds. If there was somebody in there, it would be a fatality, most likely.”

Another type of trench rescue occurs as a result of a bootleg trench or an illegal trench. For example somebody has a leaky basement in their house, and attempts to fix it. They don’t have any shoring because they’re not even aware they should do it, and all of a sudden they’re being crushed and pinned against their house.

“It is easily one of the most dangerous rescue disciplines out there,” Tesarski noted, adding the potential for danger increases when someone attempts to save a friend and puts both their lives at risk.

So before the rescue can be performed, all the surrounding area must be properly secured. To assist the fire fighters, aluminum tubular …