Portland, Oregon- Portland Fire & Rescue’s Engine 31 quickly reacted to a late-night emergency call reporting a stabbing incident in the Rockwood neighborhood just after midnight on May 5, 2024. Upon arrival at the scene, responders were confronted with a critically injured individual suffering from multiple stab wounds.
The urgency of the situation was compounded by a significant challenge: a major shortage of available ambulances due to AMR being at “level zero.” In response, dispatchers had to reach out to Clackamas County to assign an ambulance to the incident.
Recognizing the patient’s urgent need for rapid transport to an emergency department, and ultimately to a trauma surgeon, the PF&R crew made a decisive move. They opted to transport the patient using an unconventional method. Working in tandem with Gresham Police officers, the PF&R crew employed a lifting tarp to load the patient into the back seat of a Gresham Police Department vehicle.
The journey to the nearest emergency department commenced under Code 3 conditions—lights flashing and sirens blaring—as the police car raced through the night. A PF&R firefighter/paramedic accompanied the patient in the back seat, delivering critical care enroute to the hospital.
PF&R Public Information Officer Rick Graves emphasized the significance of rapid response in trauma cases, stressing that every second counts in such critical situations. He expressed pride in the adaptability and resourcefulness of the PF&R team in ensuring the patient received the best possible chance of survival, despite the unusual circumstances.
As of now, the current condition of the patient remains unknown to PF&R officials, who continue to monitor the situation closely. No additional information is available at this time.
Source: PF&R
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