The December 2005 issue of Underground Focus Magazine reports, "Every year in the United States, trenching accidents account for more than 5,000 serious injuries and between 50 and 100 deaths." According to Lt. Dave Adler of the Addison Fire Department, a leading teacher of trench rescue training and safety, when a worker is buried in a cave-in, a critical time clock starts for their rescue. Even when the victim may still be able to breath, dangerous medical conditions can develop from the prolonged over-pressure of the soil (which can weigh 3,000 pounds per cubic yard). The 2003 NFPA 1006 Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications lists a pneumatic soil knife and pneumatic vacuum as elements in the tool kit for trench rescue. Air vacuum excavation is becoming a key element in this very important safety area. CEG is actively working with professionals such as Lt. Adler to spread the word and allow trench rescue teams to become familiar with the AIR-SPADE^® and AIR-VAC products.

Lt. Dave Adler demonstrates the use of the AIR-SPADE® in trench rescue classes		With a regulator the AIR-SPADE® can be run from a high pressure bottle
Firefighters attending trench rescue training sessions in Beechwood, OH and Johnstown, PA find the AIR-SPADE® a significant help to safely remove soil from the buried victim alone or in combination with a vacuum

Please visit our Reference Library page to view our trench rescue brochure, rescue articles that mention the AIR-SPADE^®, and rescue training video.