VEHICLE EXTRICATION CHALLENGES AND AWARENESS

Brothers,

I wanted to provide you with a little more information that you can use in your "Mental Toolboxes" regarding the Training Topic from Wednesday night. We face many challenges with Vehicle Extrication, from Multi Layer and Boron Steel construction, multiple Airbags and deployment equipment, and undeployed airbags after a vehicle crash. Even Grandma can cause an airbag to deploy with her purse. Click HERE. When the tones hit the other night I was just about to the Summary on the Power Point and I wanted you to have this information.

So, Here is the Summary of our class on Air Bag Equipped Vehicles from Wednesday Night’s Training.

Emergency Procedures for Airbag-Equipped Vehicles

• Complete airbag “scanning” and initiate electrical system shutdown.
• Check for battery location(s). First place to look is under the hood and then within the trunk, and under the rear seat cushion.
• Have alternative means of accessing the battery: Including through the fender, through the headlight assembly, and through the undercarriage.
• Continue with normal extrication procedures while maintaining awareness and “respect” for loaded airbags. Remember: Do Not stick your head through an open window, and Remember “The 5, 10, 20 Rule”.
• If there is a loaded airbag within a jammed door, it is safer to initiate a “hinge” attack. That is - to begin to work the door open with the Hydraulic Tools from the Hinge side.
• Maintain clearance to metal of the vehicle body when cutting wiring harness in the door. Remember on any Electric Hybrid Vehicle - DO NOT CUT THE WIRING HARNESS. ORANGE WIRES ARE HIGH VOLTAGE and CAN KILL YOU.
• If the Tool or Cutters give great resistance, you might be trying to cut BORON. Many of the new door hinges are being made of this material and it will defeat the Cutters. You can snap the cutting blades. See the Photo above. For more info on Boron hinges and other difficultys to consider check out the links below.
• Place a door with an undeployed airbag in the debris pile airbag side UP! If the airbag deploys at least the door will not become a projectile.

The PowerPoint that I used came from this website:
www.sceneoftheaccident.org
There are a number of Videos and Downloadable PDF Emergency Response Guidelines (ERGS) for download on this website.

Some Great Vehicle Extrication Links

Boron and Ultra-High Strength Steel

Metallurgy 101: A lesson in new vehicle Extrication

Initial Vehicle Assessment

How to Open Jammed Doors – University of Extrication

Trunk Tunneling for Extrication

New Vehicle Technology: Issues for Rescuers
Guide Book 41 Pages

Holmatro Vehicle Extrication Techniques
Guide Book 95 Pages

REMEMBER, PRY BEFORE YOU CUT.
(To locate Gas Cylinders, Fuel Lines, and other Hazards)

5-10-20 RULE
5 Inches from any Side Impact Airbag
10 Inches from Driver Frontal Airbag
20 Inches from Passenger Frontal Airbag
* Side Curtains – 12 Inches from roof *

Let the soul of no man ever say – I WISH I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED!

"BE SAFE OUT THERE"