Tag Archives: Extrication

In this pit the students had the opportunity to use a Petrogen torch and a slice pack. The Fire Cam videos were taken by Austrian FF Bernd Altinger as he used both torches.

Columbus FF JD Vasbinder talks the crew through the steps of gaining access to a pinned driver in the video below. The teaching points are in the video, so be sure to watch with your crew to learn new or review already known techniques.

Day 1 in the classroom for the Heavy Rescue class at the 2013 BGSU State Fire School has come and gone. Part of the crew was at the HOT training group prepping the pits for the rest of the week.

After getting home late Sunday night from the Rippin Rescue in Westminster, SC, I was hurrying to the curb with my bags of trash Monday morning just as the garbage truck rolled up. Two days earlier we were finding ways to extricate a victim pinned by a car that rear-ended the truck.

For those of you in and around Northern Ohio, here is a training scholarship opportunity sponsored by the Northern Ohio Fools and Hasenmeier Training.  Simply fill out the application and return it to the address listed.  Recipients will be announced at the Northern Ohio Fools Heavy Rescue 101 on April 20, 2013.  Last year, several thousand dollars were awarded. 2013 ...

Have you been on the call for a kid stuck in a bucket swing at the local park? If you haven't, it might happen any day now.

In many extrication classes the techniques of extricating a victim's foot from the brake pedal focuses on cutting. The ability to cut the brake pedal is dependent on if you have a hydraulic brake pedal cutter or reciprocating saw and more importantly if you have room for those tools. Remember, you might just need an inch to get the victim out. What is safest and fastest for the victim and the rescuers is key.

What are your options when faced with a vehicle roll-over pinning? What comes to mind first? Airbags, hydraulic tools, wreckers, jacks, lifting struts, pry bars, wedges? For this scenario you have a single victim pinned under an overturned vehicle. What is the safest and fastest option to free the victim? For the remainder of the discussion we are going to show the use of a jack. In the picture to the left and video to follow you will see the First Responder Jack in use, another common option is the farm-jack. Add other options in the comments below.

We have recently had the opportunity to review the First Responder Jack. Although we have more to do, a bunch of techniques with this jack have been completed. This tool is firefighter-designed and has up to a 46oo lb. of lifting and winching options.

The video below shows parts of Blue Bird Corporations manufacturing process.  It will help you get an idea of where the strongest parts of the bus are located.  Of course different manufacturers have varying methods. It is important to know the construction of school buses, so we can attack them in the weakest areas first.  Ultimately they are built like ...