PAX Centurion - Special Edition 2013

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • Special Boston Marathon Bombing Issue 2013 • Page 23 I respectfully report that on MondayApril 15, 2013 I was assigned as the MD693S to Boylston St., between Ring Road and Fairfield St., even-numbered side of the street. My supervisor was Sgt. Hobson. There were no issues on post that day that were unusual or out of the ordinary. The fans and spectators were well behaved. At approximately 2:50 PM there was a large explosion near the finish line on Boylston St. at Exeter St. I heard a large blast, similar to the firing of a large cannon. I saw a large white cloud of smoke, followed by an orange flame and black smoke. As I began to walk towards that event, another loud explosion occurred in front of 755 Boylston St. There was a large explosion, followed by a large orange flame. I ran to the blast site and observed numerous casualties. I immediately saw aW/M laying on the sidewalk on Boylston St. nearest to the green mailbox in front of 755 Boylston St. TheW/M victim sustained a major injury to, I believe, his right leg. TheW/M had no clothing below his waist and his upper body and clothing were on fire. I used my gloved hands to extinguish the flames on the front and back of his upper body, mid torso, upper legs. Another person, unknown, poured a drink on the flames to assist in extinguishing the flames. After the flames were out, aW/F. was administering first aid to the serious leg wound. She was applying pressure to his lower leg/knee. I asked people to remove their belts, or straps to bags and purses, so we could apply tourniquets to the injured that were missing limbs. It appeared that many victims had traumatic injuries to their lower limbs. I was handed a belt by a person and applied a tourniquet to theW/M nearest the green mailbox. TheW/F was still tending to his injuries. I placed the tourniquet on his, I believe, right thigh and tightened it. I instructed theW/F to keep it tight. I moved to the next victim. I observed other persons tending to the injured. I observed aW/M that had an open stomach wound with his organs extruding from his body. As I began to attend to a victim, an unknown persons) yelled that there was a child in the blast site. The person yelled to me “get this child out of here” (something to that effect). I was handed aW/M child. I grabbed him under his arms and walked from the sidewalk onto Boylston St. I placed the child in my arms and carried him towards the BAAMedical Tent I could see that the child had a head injury and was bleeding. I ran towards Exeter St. and could see a Boston EMS (found out later P-40) Ambulance coming down Exeter St. from HuntingtonAve. I waved the ambulance over, the two paramedics exited the ambulance. I handed the child over to them, told them of his injuries, and told them about the second blast site located at 755 Boylston St. I ran back to the blast site to continue to assist in helping the injured. When I returned there were numerous injured that were being attended to by police officers. EMS personnel, fire personnel, and citizens. I was approached by two people who identified themselves as doctors. I told them to “jump in!” They did jump in and began treating the injured. A Boston EMSAmbulance had pulled up to the scene from Exeter St. Fire personnel had asked for stretchers to carry the injured. I went to Boston Fire L-15 which had pulled up to the scene. I began to open the various compartment doors on the truck. I found a metal litter and slid it over to the sidewalk. I located two red backboards and slid them over to the sidewalk. The next victim I helped to treat, with assistance from numerous persons, had also received serious lower leg injuries and tourniquet(s) had been A report from the blast sites By P.O. Thomas Barrett, ID #96731 placed on his leg(s). Approximately six of us loaded this seriously injured person into the metal litter and brought him to the Boston EMSAmbulance. We placed him inside the rear. There were three victims, the one child I had given them earlier and two others, inside being attended to by Boston EMS personnel. Boston EMS stated that they could not fit other victims and were transporting these victims to Mass. General Hospital. I found out later that his ambulance had been routed to BWH and Children’s Hospital. I then went back and tried to help in any way I could. There were people yelling concerns about possible secondary devices. However, I saw no one leave the injured over the concerns of a possible second explosion at 755 Boylston St. The next victim was aW/Mwho had sustained injuries to his legs. possibly two broken legs, injuries to his chest, back, and neck. The victim was rolled over as safe as possible, and I slid the backboard under him, and we rolled him onto the backboard. We used belts to secure him to the board. We carried him to another waiting ambulance and placed him in the rear. After returning to the scene, all of the injured were being removed and officers were being directed by Sgt. Det. Keeler, Sgt. Det. McDonough, Sgt. Det. Perkins, Detectives Jack Joyce, Jimmy Simpson, and Tom Connolly were beginning to identify evidence located at the scene. The front windows of the businesses had been smashed and glass was on the sidewalk, along with blood and body parts. There were severed limbs on the street. Officers had been clearing civilians out of the scenes once the injured were removed. Sgt. Det. Keeler then began clearing all police personnel from the immediate scene, securing the perimeter, and beginning to bring in EOD members to sweep the area. I removed myself to the Shaw’s Supermarket on Ring Rd. I remained at this post with Boston Police Officers, Mass. State Troopers, and Federal Agents. After approximately one hour. Officer Pat Murphy and I went to HuntingtonAve. and Harcourt St. to assist with crowd control and traffic. While assisting at this location with Officers Fred Stevens and Angel Hernandez fromMOP, and Officers Joe Glynn and Bill Louberry from D-4, there was a report of a possible device located in the pedestrian bridge connecting theWestin Hotel, Marriott Hotel, and Prudential Center. We began directing pedestrians out of the area and down Harcourt St. towards the South End. I had the Marriott Hotel secure the outer doors exiting onto HuntingtonAve. to prevent pedestrians from entering the area. I remained at this post, or HuntingtonAve. and Exeter St. until approximately 11:30 PMwhen I was relieved by a supervisor. Boston Police Officer Thomas Barrett carries an injured child out of harm’s way in the aftermath of the Marathon blasts.