Tag Archives: Extrication

Below is the description for my classroom presentation at FDIC 2012, April 19, 2012 (1530-1715 hours).  Check out the rest of the program options here. School Bus Extrication  Imagine arriving on scene to find an overturned school bus with students trapped, injured, and screaming for help. Whether you are in an ambulance or a fire engine, your first priorities will ...

Coming in 2012 will be an option from General Motors for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) in Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway 4500 vans, which are used in Type A school bus applications.  About 2,600 LPG (autogas) fueling stations are scattered around the country with an anticipated increase in the future making this a feasible option. As firefighters, our challenges will ...

Here is a basic review of wood cribbing capacities and then some thoughts on how to increase your crews critical thinking before the heavy rescue lifting call. Are you prepared to lift a heavy vehicle off of an entrapped victim?  Do you have the knowledge, equipment, and cribbing to make the rescue fast and safe?  Fast is a relative term ...

Many of us in the fire service are getting back to the basics and this post will dive into Sawzall / reciprocating saw operations.  I’ve included a bit of history, pictures, and some tips that will hopefully help contain your emotions prior to throwing this valuable tool to the side.  Don’t be fooled, it takes practice to rip through the ...

Awesome night extrication training with the Oregon Fire Department.  Even some good media press for the fire service, click the link for the video below. Oregon Fire Department School Bus Extrication News Clip The school bus we trained on was involved in a crash over three years ago in Jerusalem Township (OH).  Just happens that we did a school bus ...

I’ve been on somewhat of a rant about getting back to the basics with some extrication techniques lately.  Mainly because we sometimes get overzealous in our efforts to use the most fancy electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic tools.  Tunnel vision, maybe.  Remember, you may need two or three options to perform a rescue.  Keep it simple, fast, and safe. A recent ...

I was invited to train with Sandusky (OH) firefighters.  Lt. Matt Lesch saw an opportunity to review basic auto extrication techniques with a hands-on drill for his crews.  Kudos to Lt. Lesch for making it happen and the firefighters that worked to perfect their trade. We performed a few techniques that will be familiar, but they are worth passing on. ...

Heavy lifting takes tools, training, and critical thinking.  For this training tip, we are going to look at the basic mechanical high-lift jack.  Pretend for a few minutes that all of your pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric tools are broke.  I’m not saying go back to the Stone Age all the time, but some basic tools and skills may help you ...

This past week at BGSU’s State Fire School  (www.fireschool.org) we spent a great deal of time in the Heavy Rescue class focusing on lifting.  For this post, I am going to show some options for lifting a rolled over school bus that is pinning a victim.  Your thoughts might be gravitating towards the use of airbags, but what other options ...