Vehicle extrication is the process of removing a person from a vehicle that has been involved in a motor vehicle accident when conventional means of exit are impossible or unadvisable. This is typically accomplished by utilizing hydraulic tools, including the Jaws of Life. Standards and regulations can be found in NFPA 1670 and 1006.

It is sometimes referred to as "removing the vehicle from the person" in reference to the often delicate touch needed to avoid disturbing the victim as much as possible during the extrication.


The basic extrication process consists of, but not limited to, six steps:

* the protection of the zone, to avoid a risk of collision (marking out the zone, lighting) and of fire (switching off the ignition, disconnecting the battery, absorbing powder on oil and gasoline pools, fire extinguisher and fire hose ready to use) ;
* patient triage and initial medical assessment of the patient by qualified medical rescuer;
* the stabilisation of the vehicle (see cribbing), to avoid the movements of the vehicle itself (e.g. falling in a ditch), and the movements of the suspension (risk of worsening of an unstable trauma) ;
* the opening of the vehicle and the deformation of the structure (such as removing a window) to allow the intervention of a first responder, of a paramedic or of a physician inside the vehicle to better assess the patient and begin care and also to release a possible pressure on the casualty;
* removal of the section of the cabin (usually removal of the roof or door) to allow an extrication in good conditions, especially respecting the head-neck-back axis (rectitude of the spine).
* removal of the patient from the vehicle

In less complicated cases, it is possible to extricate the casualty without actually "cutting" the car, such as removing a patient from the side door or another part other vehicle.

As soon as possible, best before beginning the mechanical operation, a medically trained person enters the cabin to perform the first aid to the casualty: mid-level assessment, stopping the bleeding, putting a cervical collar (these operation are likely to provoke vibrations), providing oxygen first aid. In France, this rescuer is called the "squirrel" (écureuil). NFPA regulation 1006 and 1670 state that all "rescuers" must have medical training to perform any technical rescue operation, including cutting the vehicle itself. Therefore, in almost all rescue environments, whether it is an EMS Department or Fire Department that runs the rescue, the actual rescuers who cut the vehicle and run the extrication scene are Medical First Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians, or Paramedics, as a motor vehicle accident has a patient involved.

After the vehicle has been stabilized and access gained to the patient, the EMS team then enters to perform more detailed medical care.

The deformation of the structure and the section of the roof take several minutes; this de-extrication time can be used for medical or paramedical acts such as intubation or placing an intravenous drip. When the casualty is in cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be performed during the freeing, the casualty being seated. The use of this incompressible duration is sometimes called play and run, as a compromise between scoop and run (fast evacuation to a trauma center) and stay and play (maximum medical care onsite).

The last step is usually performed with a long spine board: the casualty is pulled up on it. An extrication splint (KED) can help immobilising the spine during this operation.

Extrication, as defined by NFPA must be done by medically certified individuals, and as such, many Rescue teams are run by standalone Emergency medical services departments. In major cities, where fire departments have FF/Emergency medical technicians, fire departments can run rescue. In NYC, the police department handles some aspects of rescue. In many rural areas, and specifically in New Jersey, usually volunteer First Aid Squads handle rescue. In the midwest, there are dedicated Rescue Departments that run neither fire trucks nor ambulances and focus strictly in rescue. There are some departments that are a combination of Fire/EMS, Police/EMS or Rescue/EMS, but the concept is that most organizations that run Rescue have some sort of EMS division or EMT training. As such, there are many different ways extrications are handled. Some are by run completely by one organization, such as strictly by an EMS department. Some are a run by a combination department that runs ambulances and fire trucks. Some are run as an inter-agency joint effort. Some are backups to others. And some departments run just a heavy rescue truck. Some departments also might only handle light rescue and door pops, leaving the more complicated rescue and heavy rescue dedicated to a heavy rescue unit.

Extrication includes patient assessment, treatment and removal of patient from vehicle. Some departments only carry with them minimal tools such as one set of jaws of life and are only capable of simply "popping" a door off and then must step away to allow the medical rescuers in or to allow a more dedicated heavy rescue team in who has more equipment. Extrication units are supposed to not only have many different kinds of extrication tools, but medical equipment, oxygen, and backboards as well. Extrication is the entire process from fire protection, power unit disengagement, vehicle stabilation, patient stabilization and treatment, removal of vehicle from patient, removal of patient, and transfer to ambulance. Extrication is not just simply popping a door off.

Additional risks with new technologies

Active systems such as airbags make the operations more complicated: when they did not explode (e.g. shock from the rear or vehicle on the roof), the activation can occur any time during the operation, and cause additional trauma to the victim or to the rescuers. This is one of the reasons rescuers disconnect the battery and wait the correct airbag deactivation times before cutting the vehicle. These deactivation times can take anywhere from 5 seconds to 20 minutes to deactivate, even after the power source has been disabled.

New hybrid technologies also include additional high voltage batteries, or batteries located in unusual places. These can expose occupants and rescuers to shock, acid or fire hazards if not dealt with correctly. Some references to the actual nature of the Hazards : Honda Toyota Ford News Summary More.

Some vehicles have an additional autogas (LPG) tank. As the system was not built in, there is a risk of damaging the pipe which is often under the car, releasing the pressurised fuel. The risk of this is minimised by locating the line in a protected position during installation. Modern installations also have a shutoff solenoid at the tank so that rupture will only release the fuel in the line rather than allowing fuel to come out of the tank.