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This morning around 00:30 hours, Engines 11 and 3, Rescues 1 and 2, Ladder 1, Car 3 and Medics 601 and 602 were all on the scene of an incident that involved the removal of a morbidly obese patient from a NorthWest Reading home.
Paramedics responded to the home two times during the night shift that began at 18:00 Friday evening. The patient was being made comfortable after his health had deteriorated to the point where doctors said he could no longer be treated successfully. He suffered from a myriad of ailments and needed a machine to assist his breathing. Around midnight, a medic unit responded and the decision was made to transport the patient to the hospital. The patient was documented at just under 950 pounds several years ago but his current weight was not known.
The fire department had many contacts with the patient including one visit where a plan was drawn up to remove him from his home for transport to the hospital for treatment, the first of five such moves including the last one this morning.
The plan involved hoisting the patient from his bed onto a temporary ramp constructed inside his home designed to allow firefighters to slide him up through the front bay window and down another ramp build onto the front porch that led to a waiting rollback truck. Ropes and rigging were used to assist in the operation as well as the winch from the truck.
Firefighters responded and began making preparations. The hospital was notified and began preparing to receive the patient with an unknown ETA. Police were also on location to help secure the scene in front of the home. The towing company was called to secure the rollback.
Crews unloaded all the materials including all the Rescues' cribbing and plywood sleds that were made after one of the last four operations. The front window was removed and construction began on the inside and outside ramps while paramedics treated the patient. During the process the patient's progress deteriorated and he passed away.
The operation was suspended to allow family members to pay their respects after officers from the coroner's office responded and pronounced him dead.
After some time had passed the work continued to remove the body, now to a funeral home. After the ramps were completed and all other implements were in place, the body was hoisted onto the sled and he was slowly drawn up the inside ramp. Guidelines were used inside to stabilize the sleds movement and steel bars were placed under the sled to roll it. The sled made it's way through the window opening and down the ramp outside leading to the rollback.
The body was reported extricated just after 04:00 after which crews tore down the equipment and secured the scene back to the occupants. Units cleared the scene around 05:00.
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