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January 10,2000 Dear Mr. Hagen: I am writing to bring your attention to new extrication issues which have not discussed in detail but were briefly touched on in SAFE’s Business Plan. I would also like to bring your attention to SAFE’s commitment and continued work on the extrication issues surrounding paratransit. Today paratransit vans carry a greater proportion of elderly and individuals of special needs. Sometimes the only able-bodied occupant of a modified paratransit vehicle may be the driver. Even if the driver is uninjured, he/she may not be able to single handily extricate or evacuate passengers. A serious paratransit accident can pose many challenges and require very difficult extrication procedures. This type of rescue can be further complicated with the combination of a variety of vehicle types and accident victims with special needs. Rescue personnel should be trained properly to meet the challenges to extricate passengers from this form of transport vehicle in a timely fashion. The current "get them out any way you can" extrications are not the way to conduct rescues when lives depend on rapid and safe extrications. As previously discussed, it is in SAFE’s opinion that extrication training be a State of Wisconsin requirement in the training of rescue personnel. SAFE is ready to incorporate paratransit extrication rescue in its Train the Trainer program for the Wisconsin Technical System to disseminate to rescuers throughout Wisconsin. If you have any questions, or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to working with you in the future. Very truly yours, SAFE AND FAST EXTRICATION, INC.
John Olshanski
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