2025 Trauma University: The Story of “Rebar-Man”-Video: Rebar Man

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Saul Cintron, Captain of Rescue Company 2 in Patterson, NJ, recounted a complex rescue operation involving a construction worker impaled on steel rebar after a fall from the seventh floor of a building under construction. The site's incomplete structure, lack of stairwells or elevators, and temporary ladders posed unique challenges. Cintron described the deployment of rescue resources, strategic planning, and the utilization of cutting tools to safely extricate the injured worker. The patient, a 51-year-old male, remarkably survived and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital within 47 minutes, emphasizing the significance of the "golden hour" in trauma care. Paramedic Luke Cozella highlighted the logistical challenges faced at the scene and emphasized the importance of maintaining communication and preparedness for unpredictable situations. The operation’s success was attributed to collaboration among fire, EMS, and hospital personnel, effective communication, and adherence to trauma protocols. The patient underwent successful surgery to remove the rebar, narrowly missing vital organs, and eventually recovered, though he experienced subsequent PTSD. The case underscored the importance of thorough training, resource allocation, and addressing responder mental health in such high-risk scenarios.

Keywords

rescue operation

construction accident

steel rebar impalement

golden hour

trauma care

emergency response

collaboration

responder mental health