Train With Willis

By Jonathan Willis Every winter, someone goes through the ice. And almost every winter, someone else dies trying to help them. That second death usually isn’t from a lack of courage. It’s from a lack of understanding. Ice rescue, although one of the least complicated rescue problems  technically , is still—by definition—a  technical rescue discipline . And like every other technical rescue problem, it is best approached by  appropriately trained, appropriately equipped personnel . That reality doesn’t stop people from trying. Recently, a local man stepped onto the ice to rescue his dog. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t overthink it. He did what most of us  feel  we would do. The ice failed again. When responders arrived, it wasn’t a rescue anymore—it was a recovery. That outcome wasn’t about intelligence or intent. It was about emotion colliding with physics. I led my department’s ice rescue program for years, and I’m alarmed—every season—by how often well-intended...

Chest Seals, Tension Pneumothorax, and What Really Matters By Jonathan Willis  Tension pneumothorax is  one of the leading causes of preventable traumatic death  in the United States. It sounds complex, but the concept—and what you need to do about it—doesn’t have to be. In simple terms, a tension pneumothorax happens when air enters the chest through a hole in the chest wall and becomes trapped. With every breath, pressure builds inside the chest until the lungs can no longer expand and the heart can’t fill or pump effectively. When that happens, the patient will deteriorate quickly. For lay responders,  preventing that pressure buildup is the goal .                       What You  Should  and  Should Not  Do Let’s clear up some confusion right away. Needle decompression  is  not  appropriate for lay responders. Chest seals are . A chest seal is the safest and most effective to...