Firefighters Support Foundation Basic Vehicle Extrication About FSF

Firefighters Support Foundation Basic Vehicle Extrication

About FSF The Firefighters Support Foundation is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop, produce and distribute training programs to firefighters and first responders. All of our programs are distributed free of charge. Basic Vehicle Extrication 2

Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this material so long as the Firefighters Support Foundation is credited as the source Basic Vehicle Extrication 3

Accompanying Video This Power. Point presentation accompanies the video presentation of the same title. Basic Vehicle Extrication 4

Presenter Lt. Drew Livesey • 10 years as a Professional Firefighter in the Portland-Metro area • 17 years of experience in the fire service • Active team member in USAR as well as Vehicle and Heavy Machinery Instructor Basic Vehicle Extrication 5

Overview • • • Extrication Philosophy Scene Approach and Control Passive and Active Safety Systems Safety System Mitigation Extrication Considerations Basic Vehicle Extrication 6

Extrication Philosophy • Safety First (Turnouts, Gloves, Eye Pro, Charged Hose Line) • Patient Protection and Care (Triage, # of patients, types of injuries) • Remove the car from the Patient! Basic Vehicle Extrication 7

Extrication Philosophy Less is More Approach - Time vs. Benefit • The average extrication takes 30 min. • What does a trauma entry patient need? . . surgery… • Remove the vehicle from the patient and not the patient from the vehicle (when appropriate…. . it takes time) • Perform rapid extrication when appropriate (immediate danger to life) Basic Vehicle Extrication 8

Scene Approach and Control • Call for resources early • Approach to scene • Stabilize – Scene – Vehicle – Patient Basic Vehicle Extrication 9

Scene Approach and Control Plan ABC…. – Assign one person as extrication Team Leader – Team Leader determine Plan A; communicate it to team; begin execution – Establish Plan B and C and ensure adequate resources are available to execute – Monitor progress of plan, and switch to new plan if progress is stalled Basic Vehicle Extrication 10

Passive Safety Systems Vehicle construction – Body configurations – Reinforcement – Exotic materials – Other Basic Vehicle Extrication 11

Body Configurations • Full frame “frame rail running front to back on each side” Reliant upon no one component • Unibody “pass area floor pan with sub frame connectors” Reliant upon all parts for integrity • Space frame “birdcage framework” Reliant upon cage for integrity Basic Vehicle Extrication 12

Reinforcement • Soft points and hard points • Hinge points • Door beams Basic Vehicle Extrication 13

Soft and Hard Points • “Soft” outer skin • “Hard” points attached to soft skin and reinforcements • “Hard” points need to be forced in order to gain door access • “Soft” materials tend to fail when stressed by a crash or by rescue tools Basic Vehicle Extrication 14

Hinge / Latch Points • Can be a very hard and reinforced point • Different hinge types – – – Cast Stamped Forged Hardened Steel Two Parts Basic Vehicle Extrication 15

Hinge / Latch Points Latch points – ‘Nader’ Pin - Safety Bolt – Wedge Design – Other ? Basic Vehicle Extrication 16

Door Beams • • • High strength steels Micro-alloy Boron steel Welded to lighter weight connectors Bar is VERY difficult to cut ! Deadbolting door a possibility Basic Vehicle Extrication 17

Door Beams Basic Vehicle Extrication 18

Active Safety Systems • Airbags • Pretensioners • Rollover Protection Basic Vehicle Extrication 19

Airbags Basic Vehicle Extrication 20

Airbag Identifier • • • ID Plates Shapes/ sizes Can be “hidden” Many locations/ placement ID’ing should be done quickly as possible Basic Vehicle Extrication 21

Pretensioners • Part of the air bag system • Removes slack in the seat belt prior to occupant impact • Works in conjunction with air bag system to put occupant into the proper position before impact • Usually a pyrotechnic propellant Basic Vehicle Extrication 22

Pretensioners Basic Vehicle Extrication 23

Rollover Protection • Identified as ROPS – Rollover Protection System • Spring or Pyrotechnic operated Basic Vehicle Extrication 24

Rollover Protection Basic Vehicle Extrication 25

Rollover Protection Basic Vehicle Extrication 26

Peel and Peak • Prior to cutting post in any vehicle you need to peel and peak – Pull all interior plastics and safety system cylinders used to activate side and overhead airbag systems – Pull plastics covering seat belt pretensioners Basic Vehicle Extrication 27

Peel and Peak Basic Vehicle Extrication 28

Safety System Mitigation • • Identify and Recognize Hazards Kill the power – Cut or remove battery cables Cut seatbelts when needed Peel and Peak behind interior Basic Vehicle Extrication 29

Wrap-up • • Scene safety Vehicle type and safety systems Have a plan A, B, and C New vehicles are changing – High strength/exotic materials – Safety systems – Alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles Basic Vehicle Extrication 30

Wrap-up • Newer cars create new challenges to extrication adding to scene time • More hazards to identify with new vehicle • Do not mindlessly cut and spread a vehicle newer, smarter cars require newer, smarter approaches Basic Vehicle Extrication 31

Acknowledgements • Fire Rescue Equipment NW, LLC – Newberg, OR – Holmatro rescue equipment – Thanks to Chris Mills • BLACKHAWK! – Small Pry tool • Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Basic Vehicle Extrication 32