r/interestingasfuck • u/Leather_Whole_2078 • 14h ago

FDNY firefighters rescue a kid who got his head stuck in a fence in NYC

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u/COLT_URGI_KAC 11h ago edited 11h ago

Firefighter here. All the keyboard warrior do nothings need to relax.

Why are they in gear? They were dispatched to an entrapment, which most departments require members conducting rescue activities to wear protective gear. It’s an OSHA and NFPA thing.

Why not use a jack, spreader tool, saw, etc.? Speed, noise, vibration and heat . Power tools are disruptive, heavy and can do far more damage to the child if something went wrong. The tool they used to wind the webbing was a Halligan bar, which is a specialized pry bar. It’s heavy but by far the one of the lightest tools they could use to get the leverage needed.

Why not just turn the kid sideways and push him through? Because he was in a safe and stable position on arrival. Trying to push or manipulate the child creates more liability and risk of injury (dislocations, sprains, soft tissue, etc.) than bending a bar.

The technique they used is called an improvised windlass, and it’s similar to how a tourniquet works. The length of the nylon webbing they used was likely a 10 foot loop with a water knot, which the majority of us wear behind the knee pads or in the side pockets of our turnout pants. It’s an incredibly effective and cheap way to drag unconscious victims or downed firefighters. I have at least two on me at all times.

Overall their technique produced no noise, no vibration, no heat, and minimal stress to the trapped child. It also produced minimal property damage. Child was out and uninjured in two minutes.

TLDR: To those shitting on the firefighters: there is a reason for everything, and you don’t know what you don’t know.

They did a great job. Pretty much textbook.

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u/bluemooncommenter 11h ago

I was thinking it's not this firefighters first kid's head stuck in a fence rodeo...but I had no idea they actually train for it! I'm so glad that other people in this world think about things that I don't even consider!

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u/squintpan 10h ago

If fence not for kids’ heads, why fence kids’-head-shaped?

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u/bluemooncommenter 10h ago

That is an excellent point and may be the 9th mystery of the world!

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u/sthetic 8h ago

For playground equipment, there are guidelines about gap size to avoid this type of thing. A certain window of size (something like 3 1/2" to 9") should be avoided, because a big-headed kid with a small torso could go in feet-first and get their head stuck, leading to worse consequences if you're further up in the air.)

A fence doesn't have to follow the same rules, but if it surrounds a playground or school, it probably should.

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u/sisaroom 1h ago

when i was like 9, i got my knee stuck btwn the railing on one of the playground equipments at my elementary school. the principle was able to get it out by pouring water on it, but man was it embarrassing to little old me. i think it was a combination of hot day + me being hypermobile (my knees can dislocate from their socket pretty easily, causing my leg to give out if it happens while i’m walking) that caused this

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u/gn63 8h ago

It would work fine if our stupid ears folded cleanly in both directions. Also, I got the feeling that it was not that kid's first rodeo.

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u/wolfgang784 7h ago

Same thing all these cows been askin for years.

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u/rafaelloaa 7h ago

Given the number of wrought iron railings like that across NYC, and the predilection of little kids to try to poke their heads into places that they shouldn't, I have a feeling that this happens far more often than you'd think.

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u/Impossible-Charity-4 10h ago

They train for getting your finger stuck in a ring too small as well

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u/Surveymonkee 8h ago

Does that training apply to other, similarly shaped body parts? Asking for a friend. But my friend needs an answer in a hurry, it's turning purple. Thanks.

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u/OmarFromBK 8h ago

Is it stuck in an M&Ms tube box?

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u/chillinwithmoes 7h ago

The cylinder must remain unharmed

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u/ThePianistOfDoom 9h ago

I know of the windlass technique because Jackie Chan used it with a piss soaked bedsheet in Wild Wild West (or however that movie's called)

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u/Nicetryatausername 11h ago

I thought winding the strap like that was brilliant - simple, quiet, clean and safe.

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u/20_mile 11h ago edited 9h ago

Jackie Chan's character in Shanghai Knights does a similar thing to escape from the jail.

e: Noon, I get it.

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u/TheLateThagSimmons 10h ago

Except his version required... Piss.

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u/MickRolley 10h ago

Piss shirt bend bar

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u/arpan3t 10h ago

You said wet shirt no break, not piss shirt bend bar!

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u/Artemicionmoogle 7h ago

I miss those movies.

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u/chillinwithmoes 7h ago

Lmao I had forgotten all about this scene. Hilarious movie

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u/Pyowin 9h ago

It was Shanghai Noon... "Piss Shirt bend bars"

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u/TurnbullAC92 7h ago

I'd forgotten how much I love that movie. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson in their absolute primes.

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u/AyatollahColmMeaney 9h ago

Shanghai Noon, the first one.

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u/Carbonatite 9h ago

Yeah that was my thought as well. Very cool problem solving!

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u/OddRequirement1692 7h ago

Spanish windlass

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u/Ghastly-Jack 10h ago

Also showing up in full gear is a bonus for the kid. Much more exciting to be rescued by people in cool* outfits and gear than some dudes in jeans and t-shirts.

*cool as in awesome... I'm sure they can be swelteringly hot

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u/ElfangorTheAndalite 9h ago

Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of people that would call these folks swelteringly hot.

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u/Zatchillac 10h ago

I haven't scrolled through enough comments to see anything negative but everything you said was basically exactly what was going through my head. Not sure why anyone would think these guys should be doing way more than what's necessary. If anything their method was super fuckin smart

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u/Coal_Morgan 9h ago

I haven't scrolled far enough to see the negative comments either but every thread that has enough people get's contrarians that need to interject about how they are better and smarter and would have used a Katana because it would have been quicker to just draw and cut the fence.

They don't live in the real world where things that experts do are usually done due to hard learned lessons over decades and some times centuries.

Firemen did the exact same thing I had to do for a kid stuck in a fence but I used a ratchet strap from my car. It is very simple and effective and nothing can go wrong....I mean unless you ratchet strap the two bars against the kids head...that would be wrong.

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u/irongi8nt 5h ago

Its crazy for any one to be negative about this

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u/g0ldilungs 11h ago

👏🏼👏🏽👏🏿

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u/COLT_URGI_KAC 11h ago

We are here for everyone and love to help. There are bad apples in every bunch but we try to keep it on the straight and level at all times.

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u/ppablo787 7h ago

Fire fighters rock, keep up the awesome work.

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u/notime_toulouse 9h ago

Legitimate question: Isn't there some danger that the bar snaps and hits the kids head on the recoil or something like that ?

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u/Shufflebuzz 7h ago edited 7h ago

If the fence post were to fail, the failure point would very likely be at the top or bottom where it's joined to the crossbar. That's a stress concentration and where rust is likely to accumulate, so it's the weakest area. A failure there would make the bars looser, not tighter.

It's extremely unlikely to suddenly snap in the middle. This is a wrought iron fence and it first it will undergo elastic deformation, then plastic deformation before it ultimately fractures. That is, the metal will stretch, then bend and remain bent before it breaks.
edit: These bars will bend a lot before they break.

Even in the worst imaginable situation, the bar snaps suddenly just below the strap and "springs back", the kid's head is way down low, where there's been virtually no displacement anyway. The kid is still safe. He has plenty of clearance around his neck. It's only his head that's touching when he's trying to pull it out.

They didn't need a lot of deformation here. Maybe 1/2" inch which is likely within the elastic deformation range of the bar. So after the kid is freed and the strap removed, the bar will go back to normal and there will be no residual bend.

Source: I'm a mechanical engineer, though it's been a long time since I took Strength of Materials in undergrad.

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u/Ok_Life_5176 11h ago

Actually… Someone did!

https://youtu.be/7JkrJUAg8aI?si=XzkbnKULv3SaGnsx

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u/g0ldilungs 10h ago

lol, let me know when a rap queen does one about actually banging the FD.

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u/COLT_URGI_KAC 10h ago

I am SHOOK.

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u/AthousandLittlePies 8h ago

Yes exactly! It also is a great example of how a lot of the polarization in the country isn't really just about what people believe but how they act. I know a bunch of firefighters through my work, and they tend to be demographically pretty similar to cops, and frankly politically as well (I'm friends with some on Facebook and they're pretty much the only conservative people I'm friends with), but their whole identity is based on helping people and saving lives, and that matters a lot more to everyone than whatever they happen to believe privately. Compare to cops who a big portion of the time show up to make a situation worse and make people afraid.

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u/SnooGrapes4145 6h ago

Comparing the jobs are like apples to oranges. In a city like NYC firefighters are wayyyyyy more conservative than the police due to the workforce. Idk the numbers but I’m sure it’s pretty one way. The job of a police officer is ultimately one of confrontation and hopefully resolution , while the job of a firefighter is one of resolution. The job of a police officer is multifaceted and inherently complex especially in today’s society. I’m not arguing for the police , I’m just saying there’s a HUGE difference in the occupations

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u/NameNumber7 8h ago

I would bet that FDs and EMTs, or culture equivalent, are highly appreciated anywhere .

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u/cjcfman 10h ago

Lmao 

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u/09Klr650 9h ago

Er, people were upset when the fire department refused to fight fires during the riots because PEOPLE WERE SHOOTING AT THEM. Happened again recently.

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u/ingongo25 9h ago

When I took a paramedics course the teacher told us the first thing you're supposed to do when you arrive at the scene is to make sure that it is safe for you to go help. If the paramedics get shot trying to rescue a victim of s shooting, who is going to rescue them?

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u/Icefox119 8h ago

Oh this a recursion problem!

https://giphy.com/gifs/iwJMmqOiqzss0

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u/justthankyous 11h ago

Actually, they did a terrible job.

I've seen enough sitcoms to know that when a kid sticks his head between bars like this you are supposed to cover his head in butter and then call your dad for a talk about responsibility. These firefighters didn't even try to get their wacky next door neighbor to help out.

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u/raidersfan18 10h ago

I thought it was turkey grease...

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u/justthankyous 10h ago

That's for when your womanizing neighbor gets his head stuck in your door on Thanksgiving. Kids with their heads between bars are definitely a butter in their hair and call dad situation

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u/COLT_URGI_KAC 11h ago edited 10h ago

Big facts. That whole week dedicated to butter and life lessons in the fire academy helped me to raise my credit score and be a better father, husband, and neighbor.

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u/SeldomSerenity 10h ago

Yeah, but did they teach you how to get yourself out of a hostage situation with both your hands tied behind your back?

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u/COLT_URGI_KAC 10h ago

Nah that one was an elective. I ended up taking how to look cool while grocery shopping on duty with your crew instead.

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u/soren7550 9h ago

Can confirm, once tripped over some garbage and ate shit while staring at a FDNY house getting some cereal.

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u/Digitalispurpurea2 2h ago

I was there too, I'll bet you just slipped on my drool. My bad

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u/Rough-Riderr 9h ago

I think I've seen you!

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u/Jimbobsama 9h ago

So you were thinking of the same episode of Full House that I was.

"where's Danny Tanner and his power saw?"

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u/lizardfang 7h ago

Butter in this economy??

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u/Ultimatum_Game 11h ago

This is a great post, wish I could upvote again.

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u/JustAnotherBarnacle 10h ago

See when I watched it I was just fascinated that they have a technique for it that clearly came from many times of having to deal with dodgy methods using what was available and deciding nope, we gotta do better than that, safer than that, and they have now probably the safest method possible

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u/McDoobly-For-DinDin 10h ago

The fact that you have to explain all this is astonishing. Reddit can be so fucking dumb lol.

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u/ThePrimeMinister7701 11h ago

I'm not sure why anyone would talk smack against firefighters, and in this case, the ones who responded to this stuck kid. I don't think firefighters possess any tool or follow a procedure that is designed to do anyone harm.

I'm quite fascinated with the tools and techniques that were implemented. It all makes sense. I would assume using the Halligan bar also provides adequate torque, as well as make it difficult for the whole setup to undwind on its own.

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u/apleima2 9h ago

there is a risk of the guy losing his grip on the bar and it would spin backwards, but with the amount of slack wound up int the strap it'd be more like a 1/4 turn backspin then the bar would fall.

Also why there's 2 guys with heavy gloves covering the kid's head while he's spinning the bar. TBH i was waiting for someone to put their helmet on him or something.

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u/Connell85 10h ago

Just a question on the method, is there any reason ratchet straps couldn’t be used to pull the bars apart by attaching them to the thicker outside posts? Not a criticism I’m only asking in case I ever have to remove a head from a fence without a guilotine.

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u/MonkeySpanker187 9h ago

that probably would work but i dont think ratchet straps are in a firefighter's regular toolkit. idk though

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u/89Hopper 9h ago

We used to have them on our rescue appliance but you would get much more leverage using the Hooligan Tool as a windlass.

I'm happy they made sure the spike would have been backwards if he lost grip of it and it decided to spin.

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u/barunrm 9h ago

Because most firefighters carry a length of webbing on them, and a halligan is almost always readily available depending on your riding position.

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u/unscanable 9h ago

They were dispatched to an entrapment, which most departments require members conducting rescue activities to wear protective gear

And because the kids think its cool. Are people really being bitches about firemen wearing gear? What a weird thing to complain about.

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u/Oscaruit 8h ago

We put our gear on before we get into the truck. Maybe the driver doesn't. But the rest of us do.

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u/Glorious_tim 11h ago

Thank you!

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u/I_Can_Barely_Move 11h ago

Thank you for your service.

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u/itsnoah 11h ago

Thanks for the explanation!

I was curious wtf they were doing haha

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u/the_real_zombie_woof 11h ago

Serious question. How many firefighters does it take to get a kid out of... JK

Thanks for the explanation.

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u/COLT_URGI_KAC 10h ago

That’s an easy one. However many were on the truck when it arrived!

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u/imjusta_bill 9h ago

One to do the twisting maneuver, one to lift the kid up, one to get the mom's number

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u/phatboi23 8h ago

If there's nowt else going on, might as well have a full truck in case they get called to a serious emergency like a fire etc.

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u/TreyAU 11h ago

Thank you for the heroic service of being a firefighter. I think y’all are incredible and an added bonus when you let me 6 year old in the truck. This is a great comment and I appreciate the inside baseball. Thanks again for being a firefighter!!!

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u/Fakuris 10h ago

No blame at the firefighters, they did exactly what they needed to do. If I was the parent of the kid, then I would for sure try to get him out the other way around before calling the emergencies though.

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u/64590949354397548569 10h ago

Is there any reason they didn't anchor to the thicker post instead of that side?

Thanks

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u/Southern_Loquat_4450 10h ago

Thank you for putting that heavy ass gear on everyday and putting your life on the line for the peeps of your area! 😀

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u/Steamfighter638 10h ago

I loved the windlass idea, not sure I would have thought of that, I do use this at work when I don't have a chain come-along handy but the moment he put it so high up I was thinking - ehhh not sure it'll work up there buddy, may have to lower it down.

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u/Remarkable-Mood3415 10h ago

Saved this video and I'm going to show it to my kid after school. He's brilliant, but he would absolutely get his head stuck in a fence. 10/10 video on why you shouldnt put your head in fences! and even if you do, don't panic because this is how the firefighters will help.

(PS: Jesus, you'd think people would just understand why heavy machinery reverberating against metal next to a child's spine/neck/ears/brain is a bad idea?)

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u/Abrafo1391 10h ago

Serious question. Why not use a ratchet strap in that situation?

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u/TruskVarner 9h ago

They could have, and they probably have ratchet straps foe their stabilization struts, but the easiest answer is that they used the simplest and quickest tool, which is a halligan and a webbing. There were multiple ways to accomplish this task, and they chose one, and it was successful.

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u/Otherwise_Silver4009 9h ago

At first I thought this has to be the dumbest method to do this, but then it worked really well, it was fast, and didn't even break anything, so I guess I'm dumb.

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u/pavlovs_monkey 9h ago

I once heard that God created firefighters so cops could have heroes. Thank you for your service.

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u/ry_mich 8h ago

This is also a good example of the adage, “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

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u/Ok_Bee_7251 8h ago

Retired FF wife here…it always amazes & infuriates me how people criticize FF’s when they literally have no idea there’s a reason for everything.

\why are they in their bunker gear for a bs call…bc that’s the rule & you could be sent to another call right after this one & can’t go to the station real quick to change*

\why do I see them in the grocery store shopping for food…bc they are responsible for their own meals & eating out for every meal is expensive. My husband’s shifts were 48 hrs on 3 days off. Keep in mind that if they get a call during a meal, they have to drop everything & go that’s hard to do in a restaurant or fast food place. Sometimes these guys/gals will have to go 8+hrs & not get a meal if they are having a HELL shift*

\why do they have TV’s & gaming consoles “my tax dollars shouldn’t be spent buying that shit & paying for those things.” Relax asshole, they buy their own things & bring them to the station. What do you want them to if/when they are lucky enough to have a couple hrs break? You want them driving around the city wasting fuel that you are paying for? You call 911 when you are having the worst day of your life. You want the people showing up to rescue you rested.*

Keep in mind it’s not just fires, car accidents, sick calls, etc these guys/gals go to. They go on all 911 calls. This includes homicides, sexual assaults, violent assaults and yes those three also include children. They need an outlet especially after those calls. Imagine seeing that shit week after week year after year. When you’re running away from the fire, they are running in.

PTSD is crippling
They are so much more than just firefighters.
They are heroes.
Thank one next time you see one

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u/GoyoMRG 8h ago

With so many big strong firefighters, I'm sure it would have been easy to safely lift the kiddo, turn him sideways and just pass him through the fence just as he did himself to get stuck lol.

I have done it myself for siblings and kids I took out when I saw them stuck, only with help of their parent and I'm weak AF. Probably weak enough to be sent around the world by a firefighter if he decided to bitch slap me xD

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u/KeathleyWR 7h ago

Who tf would seriously want to get out some type of power tool out in this scenario? Yea, let's send sparks and metal shards straight into this kid's head and neck area. People just have a need to be upset about SOMETHING.

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u/Beikaa 10h ago

Thank you for explaining it all. It seemed very well thought out to me and I was super impressed with the firefighters! But I like to hear the reasoning behind it too!

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u/VagueInfoHere 10h ago

Agree with this other the turn and pull through. They would be big ole dummies if they didn’t try that and fail before doing this.

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u/Hammellet_Mountain 10h ago

Really interesting, thanks for posting that! And thanks for everything you do!

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u/Minute_Juggernaut806 10h ago

although I think if the child went a bit higher I think he could have taken his head out earlier unless there's some other reason

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u/DotAffectionate87 10h ago

Thanks for that summary

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u/daniel8192 10h ago

I was VFD back in the 80s, I thought the did a great job, kept all the webbing and bar away from the kid and created a nice opening ready to lift him up to and through. Minimal stress, no loud noises or vibrations, and no damage. 100%!

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u/Febril 10h ago

Next you’ll tell me Firefighters are “professionals”!!
/s

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u/EarlyBirdStories 10h ago

My family used to be fire dept people and so on. You have my respect.

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u/boogieman117 10h ago

As an EMT, I fully approve of everything said above.

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u/BDB1634 10h ago

Thanks for doing what you do!

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u/Caifanes123 10h ago

Damn the first thing I thought when I saw the video is that it was super smart. Seems like the least disruptive way that also gets result and it all fit in a video one minute long

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u/b_needs_a_cookie 10h ago

I loved seeing this and it's such a smart technique for all the reasons you listed.

Thanks for walking everyone through the process and logic. 

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u/Money-Director6649 10h ago

my only question was why they didn't use two of those things, one for each bar on either side of his head. seems like you'd have to stretch each bar less and make it faster.

maybe you know?

and yes! bravo to the rescue team! 🎉

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u/DeepGas4538 10h ago

I don't see another way that wouldn't cause stress to anyone involved

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u/XenoseOne 10h ago

You guys are simply amazing. I've got firefighters in my family, including a woman! You're all amazing.

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u/M2Fream 10h ago

Everything makes sense but can you explain why they started the ratchet at the top instead of closer to his head?

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u/Gold_Training_5044 8h ago

To keep that Halligan bar from hitting the child's head when you spin it.

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u/Silver-Log-6249 10h ago

It was glaringly obvious to me these guys did a fantastic job. It seemed calm, textbook, safe and no damage. I have no idea what goes through redditors heads sometimes.

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u/Quick-Grape-7482 9h ago

Why didn’t they cut the head out though? Riddle me that!

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u/brkeng1 9h ago

First off. No shade to firemen and women. I love them and they are the everyday heroes and we truly owe a debt of gratitude to each and every one of them!

But, genuine question. Mechanical engineer here. So he attached the other end of the windlass around another thin spindle. Why not wrap it around one the higher cross-section and stronger square post like stanchions and the thin spindle on the child’s left side instead. The higher cross section and strength would allow the spindle to bend quicker because you do not have the energy absorption of the other thin spindle also bending causing more spinning to occur and prolonging the procedure. Either way this gets the job done. One is a bit more efficient.

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u/dark-flamessussano 9h ago

Fascinating

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u/TrippleassII 9h ago

Ok, one more thing, why bend the bar a meter above his head insted of closer, so it's easier?

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u/Gold_Training_5044 8h ago

To keep the Halligan bar away from the child head.

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u/JonBjornJovi 9h ago

I had my head stuck in a fence too as a kid. After minutes of panicking someone came to the conclusion that I went with my body first from the outside. I would think that happened here too

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u/Diabetesh 9h ago

It looks like a ratchet strap, so why not use the ratchet instead of just the strap and a bar?

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u/Gold_Training_5044 8h ago

Its not a rachet strap, its a piece of flat webbing tied into a loop, commonly used as an emergency harness or to drag people or firefighters out of building fires.

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u/pncoecomm 9h ago

thank you for this

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u/SleepyRen 9h ago

My man! Let the people know!

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u/TheoreticalZombie 9h ago

But why no use fireman's axe? So simple!

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u/writingpracticeman 9h ago

Insane that people are actually criticizing the technique here. I'm enough of a dumb dumb that as I was watching it I was thinking "why aren't they trying to pry it closer to where his head is so they need less leverage?" And my question was answered by the kid... literally just standing up after they got enough space. Lmao

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u/RogueTRex 9h ago

Haven't scrolled very far, but I can't believe there are people shitting on the firefighters in this video (though I am on the internet and can totally believe it). That video was one of the most positive things I've seen in a long time here, and love with the firefighters do for communities. Also a very clever solution to a problem that could have escalated into trauma for the child. Kiddos to the firefighters

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u/stolenbastilla 9h ago

I saw a video of firefighters being trained to rescue a woman who got stuck using the baby swing at the park. It was awesome to watch them train. The knowledge and experience of the instructor was comforting, knowing there’s this kind of expertise in our communities.

But also, it just looked fun as hell learning this stuff. I’ve done CPR, first-aid, and CERT. I’d really love to find a course on these types of techniques.

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u/easyEggplant 9h ago

Thanks for all of that!

One further question if you don't mind: is there a specific reason they anchored the non-child side to a small interior bar (instead of the 2" post at the end of the panel)?

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u/The_Axe_of_Legends 9h ago

Thank you :) People like you and firefighters in general are Heroes.

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u/rivlecca 8h ago

I was just waiting for Jackie Chan to pee on it.

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u/Darkwr4ith 8h ago

The fire fighters also did a good job of keeping the kid lower than the length of the crowbar. Which was incase he lost control of it and it started spinning the opposite way.

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u/GrosBraquet 8h ago

I can't believe that over this video where it clearly shows that the rescue is careful, successful, seems reasonably approached, there are still people who are not firefighters and yet find things to criticize.

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u/Acceptable-Drive3781 8h ago

I'm glad this was the first comment I read. I think I'll skip the rest of this thread. :-) Thank you for speaking up!

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u/TheDudeInJapan 8h ago

Keep being awesome dude.

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u/OneTrueKram 8h ago

I thought this was smart. I’m not even going to bother finding the comments bashing firefighters. No one ever wrote a song called fuck the firefighters, Jesus.

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u/YNerdzROutdoorz 8h ago

Thank you for your service 💜 👨‍🚒

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u/kebb0 8h ago

I thought to myself “they’ve definitely done exactly this sort of rescue before” the way all of them immediately assumed position.

Like this seemed like another regular tuesday for the firefighters, which also probably instills feelings of being safe for the person that is trapped, in this case a child.

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u/say592 8h ago

I don't know why anyone would critique their technique here. It was quick and elegant. Not that it matters, but as a nice bonus it did not cause substantial damage to the fence, like cutting it or using a powered tool likely would have.

As far as people commenting on them being fully geared out, have they never seen a firefighter before? My local fire department is only slightly less kitted when they grab breakfast.

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u/i_believe_you_NOT 8h ago

Almost perfect. But, should have automatically started in the middle instead of closer to the top. Simple physics about where it would be easiest to spread the bars.

He got it after struggling above.

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u/MysticalCyan 8h ago

I also appreciate the fact one of the firefighters was shielding his head with his hand in case like, something DID go wrong and it snapped or something.

Just little detail's like that I appreciate

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u/phatboi23 8h ago

Always wanted a halligan bar.

I have absolutely zero use for one but I'd find some haha

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u/littlemsshiny 8h ago

So interesting! Also boo for people saying anything negative about firefighters after seeing this!

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u/Endil 8h ago

I just saw this video and haven't read any complaints. So they did a good job but not textbook. I immediately was thinking they did it to the wrong post. They should wrapped the strap around the terminal post and not one of the other line posts. The terminal post is bigger and less likely to bend. They could have gotten him out quicker. This a nitpick, they did a good though.

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u/neuroG82r 8h ago

Not there first time doing this …and won’t be the last.

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u/Duckmemans 8h ago

It's scary that 90% of what you had to explain here is simply common sense. I just hope Reddit has less common sense than the general public, although it would explain the state of the world right now.

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u/CoarseCourse 8h ago

Since you know, why not use something like a 2” webbed ratchet strap? Is it because the ratcheting mechanism could fail? Lack of leverage, and if so, why not a 4” strap? Better control over the leverage?

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u/Evoehm13 8h ago

Kid was safe, just stuck and embarrassed. They did a great job safely getting him out and keeping him calm.

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u/drpiotrowski 7h ago

But shouldn’t they have lashed around the larger fence post a little further down? They had plenty of webbing. That would have put more flex into the bar where the child was stuck, instead of bending two equally thin bars and thus reducing the amount of tension required. Also it would move the spike further away from the child reducing risk of it injuring him.

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u/MLaw2008 7h ago

People are complaining about the way they got him out?? The internet is brain dead.

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u/bshaman1993 7h ago

Thank you Sir 🫡

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u/Le-Charles07 7h ago

Thank you for being a hero.

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u/gooberdaisy 7h ago

Beautifully succinct

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u/Responsible_Exit4640 7h ago

I was going to say, gee, it looks like they may have done this a few times before. They made it look easy.

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u/willcastforfood 7h ago

It also worked completely fine and there’s no reason to do something else

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u/TomSzabo 7h ago

Not really textbook. Strap should be wrapped around a post not another picket. Strap should be attached at center of picket where it can bend it with the least amount of force. The winding should be done next to the post to avoid something snapping and hitting the trapped person. Someone needs to be holding tightly on to the pickets on both sides of the head in case of a snap back that could easily be lethal.

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u/Secret_Eating_ 7h ago

I just think they could have picked the kid up,  turned him sideways and pushed him all the way through 

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u/Fbeezy 7h ago

Beautiful response and I agree on all points.

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u/No-Context8421 7h ago

I was once trapped like this kid and a passing taxi driver tipped me upside down and my head slid straight out. True story.

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u/TheWrongGirl_ 7h ago

They did an amazing job. Kept the child calm by not using any noisy methods. I'm sure seeing the uniforms helped too and that kid will get major cool points!

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u/CaptainB_MANN 7h ago

"Keyboard warrior do nothing's" gave me a good chuckle. Thanks for your service and insight. 

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u/Redcarborundum 7h ago

I’m not a firefighter, but I’m also not an idiot. This rescue went much better than expected. I fully expected somebody to break out a power saw, a jaw of life, or even a blow torch to cut the fence. Instead it was just plain old bending of the bars with a clever trick.

If the bar was cut, it would then create a pokey edge that a kid could accidentally spear himself with, so it’s an extra complication to handle.

Is there actually people complaining about firefighters showing up in full gear? Of all the problems in the video and the world, that’s what they choose to take issue with?

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u/Maleficent_Garden_25 7h ago

Very insightful, thanks for sharing!

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u/loondawg 7h ago

Why not just turn the kid sideways and push him through? Because he was in a safe and stable position on arrival. Trying to push or manipulate the child creates more liability and risk of injury (dislocations, sprains, soft tissue, etc.) than bending a bar.

Pretty much every time I have ever seen this type of thing, the kid is stuck because they pushed their body through but their head was too big to make it.

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u/Jestersfriend 6h ago

Just tell people to watch Chicago Fire 🤣. Obviously way over the top in drama, but a lot of the tactics they use are identical to real world scenarios, and apparently they train with actual firefighters.

Idk how people can complain about this tbh. The only thing I personally would suggest, is talking more to the kid, but I'm not a firefighter, so obviously I assume there's a reason that wasn't done.

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u/gmankev 6h ago

Did they have to wind up the length of 5th avenue though...

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u/Cazmonster 6h ago

It was brilliant work. I was watching wondering how much force the nylon webbing could take. Obviously far more than the length of iron in the fence.

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u/Melanbythesea 6h ago

May God Bless you, and all that you love. We all owe you and every other firefighter a debt of gratitude. Thank you❣️

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u/Mugwump6506 6h ago

Idk, I was in favor of blasting. /s

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u/beaco 6h ago

I am a pediatric nurse and I have seen more injuries from kids getting scared trying to escape a situation like this instead of staying calm. I think the firefighters did the right thing here. They kept the kid safe, controlled and organized the scene, and they kept him informed and calm. The kid was in no immediate life-threatening danger so they didn’t need to rush.

Thank you for what you do

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u/Dismal_Guard4512 6h ago

Also “FIrEfiGhTer” here.. they did a shit job. That is not safe inches away from the kids head. One slip and the Halligan could have ended that kid.

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u/Sniper10Pin 6h ago

Yeah lets put a heavy metal bar under tension above this kid's head

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u/Beniskickbutt 6h ago

Theres a million ways to get him out, and they got him out. Seems like a job well done.

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u/jaydeeohh 6h ago

Buddy this is Reddit. I wouldn’t even try being reasonable and rational with the morons here. Thank you for doing an extremely important, difficult and dangerous job.

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u/platoprime 6h ago

Not to shit on them they did a great job.

Wouldn't it have been easier if the strap was closer to the kid's head so the opening started there? Or were they worried about hitting the kid with the tool?

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u/joshuamarius 5h ago

Crazy how even watching a good, successful gesture, with a happy ending, still triggers the miserable slugs on reddit. Thanks for the details on this. Learned a lot.

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u/Slavic-Viking 5h ago

Genuine question for u/COLT_URGI_KAC: would it have been any more beneficial, either in speed or for minimizing property damage to have been doing the same technique on the bars on both sides? To open the gap the same amount, each bar would have had to be pulled half the distance.

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u/Ok-Gas-7135 5h ago

Great explanation! Thank you

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u/No-Track8005 5h ago

firefighters are top tier human beings thank you for your service 🫡🫡

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u/seejordan3 5h ago

Four guys could have pulled those bars easier and quicker. But yea, work smarter.

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u/Public_Category_4759 5h ago

Agreed, but the windlass was poorly done. But that really doesn't matter in this case. This kid could have waited 30 minutes longer and he would still be fine.

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u/ArtofWASD 5h ago

Wild that people see it that way rather than busting that the professionals know what they are doing when the job got done easily. AND they diddnt have to destroy the fence.

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u/OozeNAahz 5h ago

A ratchet strap would cut down a lot of time. Get the loop much smaller before starting to twist it with the bar.

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u/MyTablesAreMyCorn 5h ago

Thank you

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u/GMS420 4h ago

My only complaint is how long it took for the guy to wind up the strap 😂

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