Emergency Response and Dehydration: A Tale of Tire Blowout Survival

September 6^th… part 2

The Roadside Nightmare: Dealing with a Sudden Tire Blowout

Near Henderson, NV, Brian radio messaged me and asked if I was using my phone while driving. He noticed that I was swerving on the road. I explained to him that I felt like I was on ice. Within a few minutes, while I was driving, I suddenly heard a loud boom. It was unmistakable, and I knew I had a blown tire. Just as I was trying to process what had happened, I received a radio message from Brian. He informed me that I had experienced a left rear tire blowout. The timing of it all was quite remarkable – within just a few minutes, my peaceful drive had turned into a chaotic situation.

I pulled off to the side of the road as safely as I could. Brian, who was driving behind me parked his truck and together, we managed to safely maneuver my vehicle even further away from the road.

When we realized the predicament, we decided it was the best course of action to contact AAA for assistance. The AAA representative who arrived at the scene was driving a compact car, resembling a toaster. Unfortunately, the jack he had brought with him was not powerful enough to lift the heavy truck camper combination.

It was scorching hot in Nevada that day, the first real heatwave of the season. Coming from a comfortable 70° weather, the sudden jump to a blazing 114° in Las Vegas was a shock to our systems. Exhausted from only getting two hours of sleep in the past twenty-four hours, we were not prepared for what was about to happen next.

The spare tire had been left untouched for years, causing the bolts to become rusted and difficult to remove. Adding to the challenge was the fact that there was only a mere 4 inches of ground clearance, making it even harder to access the bolts. This situation presented a frustrating obstacle for anyone attempting to remove the spare tire.

Brian’s dehydration was exacerbated by the scorching heat and the newly laid pavement, which radiated intense heat. The blistering temperature caused the asphalt to become so hot that a AAA guy’s jack, got buried into the pavement. The extreme heat and the resulting dehydration highlight the importance of staying hydrated and taking precautions in such weather conditions.

A Nevada DOT IRT stopped to help, but he didn’t have the right jack for the heavy load. He called another DOT worker who had a bigger jack. We had a jack that would have worked, but it didn’t have enough ground clearance to lift the truck high enough and it was packed deep into the utility trailer.

One of the DOT workers noticed that Brian was showing signs of dehydration and discomfort. At the same time, a state patrol trooper arrived to block off the area and insisted on calling paramedics to assess Brian’s condition.

When the Nevada State Troopers arrived at the scene, they swiftly took action to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They blocked off lanes to prevent any further accidents or disruptions in traffic. Additionally, they recognized the need for medical attention for Brian and made sure that he received the necessary care. Their prompt response and commitment to maintaining safety highlights the professionalism and dedication of the Nevada State Troopers.

The paramedics swiftly arrived at the scene and attended to Brian’s needs. They guided him into the ambulance, ensuring his comfort and safety. Recognizing the importance of hydration, they promptly administered two bags of fluids to replenish his body. The paramedics’ prompt and efficient response highlights their dedication to providing immediate medical assistance in times of need.

While Brian was being attended to in the ambulance, the DOT guys efficiently managed to lift the tire, remove it, and replace it with the new spare. They also successfully freed the AAA guy’s Jack from being stuck in the pavement. The AAA guy’s jack was broken, which left him feeling frustrated and unhappy. He didn’t even say goodbye before leaving.

As the DOT guys finished with the tire and jacks situations , the back doors of the ambulance swung open. Brian, full of energy leaped out and shouted, “Let’s go, I’m good!”

The state troopers were insistent that we needed to stop up ahead so Brian could have something to eat. We were grateful for their helpfulness and thanked everyone before continuing on our way.

But our day was far from over…