Chapter 15 Handling Emergency Emergency Situations Tire blowout

Chapter 15 Handling Emergency

Emergency Situations • • • Tire blowout Brake failure Accelerator malfunctions Engine failure Hood flies up

Reducing Emergencies • Proper maintenance can prevent most vehicle malfunctions. Examples: checking wear on tires and brakes with scraping sounds

Brake Failure • Pump brake pedal • Downshift • Apply park brake with steady pressure – If car skids, release park brake

Engine Failure If your engine stops suddenly: • Shift to neutral when engine first stops • Begin moving out of traffic • Turn on hazards, do not brake • Restart the engine while moving, if car starts shift in drive and proceed • If it does not start and retry

Engine Failure • If engine fails to start – Raise the hood – Leave hazards flashing – Set up warning devices – Call or go get help

POWER STEERING FAILURE • Occurs when engine dies • When steering fluid is low • When drive belt slips or brakes • Steering still works but you must use more force

TOTAL STEERING FAILURE • Use horn and flashers • Stop quickly and safely • Use p-brake “on-off-on-off” • Shift to lower gear

Tire Blowout • • Grip the steering wheel firmly Do not brake. Ease up on the accelerator Check the traffic as you gain control of car Signal and drive off the road slowly. Brake gently • Turn on hazards

Flat Tire • • Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel Maintain a straight course Step off the brake. Keep control of vehicle When car is under control, look for a place to pull off

Changing a Flat Tire • • • Park on level area, away from traffic Put vehicle in park and turn on hazards Set the park brake Block wheel diagonally opposite the flat Passengers get out of vehicle Take out jack, spare tire and lug wrench

Changing Flat Tire • • Assemble jack Jack up vehicle partway and loosen lugs Jack up tire off ground and remove lugs Remove flat tire Mount spare and tighten lug nuts Lower vehicle and remove jack Use lug wrench and tighten lugs Leave the wheel cover off to remind you to fix your tire • Put wheel cover, flat, and equipment in trunk

Compact Spare Tire • A compact spare should only be used to get your car to a station to fix your flat.

Accelerator Sticks Use right foot to unhang the pedal – Kick the side of the pedal or put foot underneath and lift Shift the car to neutral or depress the clutch Slow the car by braking Signal and pull off the road This technique should also be used to deal with cruise control malfunction

Hood Flies Up • Slouch down in your seat and look through the crack below the open hood • If you can not see, roll down your window and look in the direction you are driving • Turn on hazards and pump brakes to warn driver behind you • Slow down and find a safe place to pull off

Small Engine Fire • If you have a A-B-C type extinguisher and the fire is small enough to control – Use gloves of rag to protect your hands – Turn you head and open hood carefully – Direct the extinguisher on the fire – Never try to disconnect battery or work on the car while it is still hot

Vehicle Fire • Can be Dangerous – Quickly steer off the roadway @ safe open area – Driver + Passengers move 100 feet away – Do not try to put out the fire – Leave hood closed

LOSS OF VISION HEADLIGHTS FAIL • Turn on right signal to light escape path • Immediately slow down and stop • Try dimmer switch, parking lights, and hazards • Move to safe location

When a battery goes dead, your car will make no sound (or a clicking sound) when trying to start the engine. You can probably start the car by using jumper cables connected to a good battery of another vehicle. Safety Note: The good battery and dead battery must be of the same voltage. Also, do not try to charge a frozen battery because it might explode.

Bring the two cars together so that the jumper cables can reach both batteries easily. Do not let the cars touch. Turn off the engine with each car in park with parking brake set. Do not smoke, create a spark or light a match near a battery. Make sure all battery terminals, are clean and free of corrosion. You can clean them with a wire brush or baking soda and water. (In an emergency, Coke also works)

- + tery t a B ead D Identify each positive and negative terminal. The positive should be marked + or red. The negative should be marked – or black. Securely clamp the positive jumper cable to the positive terminals on each battery. - + ry G tte a B d oo

- + ry e t t a ad B De Securely clamp one end of the negative jumper cable to the negative terminal of the good battery. Securely clamp the other end of the negative jumper cable to the engine block. DO NOT CLAMP THIS CABLE TO THE DEAD BATTERY’S NEGATIVE TERMINAL. IT MAY CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. - + Engine block ry tte a B d oo G Safety Note: Keep jumper cables away from any moving parts.

- + ry e t t a ad B De Start the engine in the vehicle with the good battery and let it idle for a few minutes. Turn on the headlights before starting the car with the low or dead battery. This absorbs voltage spikes that can cause damage to a vehicle's computer. - + Engine block ry G tte a B d oo

What Should You do at the Scene of a Vehicle Breakdown or Other Emergency? • Make Others Aware of Your Problem • Protect Yourself • Make Decisions When Help Comes

First Aid Guidelines and Procedures What Are Some Basic First Aid Guidelines? – – – – – Search scene and decide if you can help Do not give first aid unless you are confident Care for most seriously injured first Keep calm and act quickly Start mouth to mouth if injured person is not breathing Try to stop serious bleeding if possible Do not move injured person unless you must Get medical help as soon as possible Do not leave injured person alone at scene unless absolutely necessary What Are Some Specific First Aid Procedures? – Restoring Breathing – Controlling Bleeding – Treating Shock Always keep a First Aid Kit for Your Vehicle.