A veteran fire service official says he has something special to be thankful for this holiday season -- his life.
Jim Munger, who was seriously injured at the National Fire Academy on Nov. 17, still has stitches in his right elbow and a fractured wrist.
"I'm very lucky to be around," Munger said in a telephone interview with Firehouse.com Wednesday.
In an e-mail to colleagues across the country, Munger described what he remembers about the incident.
"I think what happened serves as a reminder that even when you do the right thing, things do go wrong."
Munger said there are investigators looking into what went wrong. And, he wants to know.
"Maybe they can figure it out," he said. "Maybe something failed. I don't know. But, I'd like to. And, I think it's important to find out so it never happens again."
Munger, who plans to be back in front of a NFA class early next month, said the incident occurred while he was doing something he's done maybe a dozen times before. "I knew what I was doing," he said. "Maybe, it was the cylinder that had been used and restored a number of times. I just don't know."
He also says he's fortunate that his co-workers came to his aid immediately after the incident. Local ambulance personnel from Emmitsburg determined the regional trauma center in Hagerstown was the best facility for the injury.
Munger said he was wheeled into surgery not long after he arrived at Washington County Hospital. "They were worried about the debris and possible nerve damage to my right elbow."
He added: "I realize how fortunate I was to have such good care from the onset."
This is the e-mail Munger sent to colleagues recalling the incident.
Last Wednesday, Nov 17th I was doing routine work in the NFA fire protection lab as I have done for many years. Specifically I was installing new smoke detectors in the burn room and restoring the water mist system. After getting the new detectors and their control panel installed, I turned my attention to the water mist system.
The particular system was initially installed in the early 90s and is an intermediate pressure system used to extinguish demo fires in the burn room. This system incorporates a water storage tank of 70 gallons, which is pressurized to 320 psi with a dry nitrogen cylinder. The nitrogen cylinder is pressurized to approx 1800 psi.
About once a year the system is completely blown down and the water tank and nitrogen cylinder refilled. The nitrogen cylinder is removed from the system and recharged by a local compressed gas supplier.
The nitrogen cylinder has a special control head/valve simulator to CO2 or Halon bottle. Because of this, a special fill valve must be attached to the cylinder. For some reason (unknown why at this time) the supplier brought the cylinder back with the fill valve still attached. Because the cylinder was neither in storage nor in use, it had not yet been secured to its mounting brackets.
The last thing that I remember before the incident was standing behind the bottle with my arm curved around manually removing the fill valve assembly from a check valve type fitting which is intended to stay in place. I remember a loud hiss and bang and then finding my arm at the elbow embedded into the wall. I then remember seeing a large puncture wound in the inside of my elbow bleeding profusely. I wrapped a towel around my elbow and attempted to control the bleeding with direct pressure.
About the time I remember first seeing my elbow embedded in the wall a USFA staff member (Betty Riffle) came to the lab door and asked if I was okay. Needless to say I wasn't and told her to call 911 and that I would need a medic.
Very quickly several other staff members arrived including Bill Troupe who immediately took effective steps to control the bleeding. Very soon after NETC security officers and members of Companies 6 and 26 of Frederick County Rescue arrived.
Because of the very loud sound associated with the cylinder discharge and the displacement of a considerable portion of the acoustical ceiling tiles the incident was initially reported as an explosion.
Given the amount of bleeding, the location of the injury and the violence of the event there initial concerns that I had received a through and through puncture wound. There was also concern about crushing injuries to vessels and nerves. Because of these issues, the original call put life flight on standby. After consultation, it was decided that life flight was not necessary and I was transported to Washington County Hospital the nearest trauma in Hagerstown, Md.
After evaluation in the ER, I was taken to surgery to remove debris from the wounds on both sides of my right elbow. The wounds were closed without difficulty. Received a deep puncture wound on the inside of the elbow. Wound on outside of elbow were due to blunt force trauma as a result of impact with the wall. It was also found that I also have a fractured wrist. I was hospitalized until Friday night primarily due to the need for IV antibiotics because of debris in the wounds.
Today I had my first follow-up with the ortho surgeon. The wounds are healing very nicely and no complications are expected. Stitches should come out in two weeks and then will be in small wrist cast.
I realize how lucky I am for the impact could have easily resulted in loss of use of my hand. Had the wall not given, my arm could have been severed. Had the impact been into my chest or head it would have been fatal.
As of right now I have no clue as to what failed. I do know that the cylinder itself appears to be intact and the control valve/head did not separate from the cylinder.
I fully expect to be back in the NFA classroom on December 6th.
Lets us all be thankful for everything this holiday season.
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
