Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on July 18, 2010 at 8:06pm

A lot depends on how many related calls we get in a given year . Each call is training especially if you debrief it afterwards. so we generally run about 4-6 extrication related training annually. split about 50/50 classroom only and classroom plus hands-on. hands-on can be anything from using the air bags to lift the chief's unit to complete extrication on a wrecked vehicle from the junk yard. Normally 1 car lasts us years as we do, glass with a door or two , then next time a side roll over stabilization, then maybe a couple more doors, then roof flap, then vehicle fire a couple times, then full roof removal/third door, on roof roll over, maybe another burn or two and the a dash roll to complete it. (by this time not much is left to do to it. On average we have 2 extrication and 4-6 vehicle accident calls a year.

Permalink Reply by Robert C. Baker on July 19, 2010 at 8:46am

It is sad to say but probably not enough, most of our 10-50's are usually single vehicle MVC's with no injury or entrapment. However we do occasionally about once a year maybe twice get a real metal and plastic bender which puts us to the test. Again though it is not as if we don't train but rather not enough, our bread and butter operation is firefighting and we tend to lean more that direction. I agree it really depends on what your actually running in most aspects, but I also see the need for a more blended training program to include Vehicle Rescue and Extrication. Drills on the subject entail a trip to the junk yard once a year or on and old car behind the station popping doors/removing doors/flapping roofs and so forth. In my opinion though and it's just mine, we are actually rescuing people not vehicles, tow trucks rescue vehicles. We in addition to our cutting, pulling,bending should also be incorperating into our training and element of victim care at it's most basic levels, the A,B,C's, C-spine stabilization, use of a KED,and short and long backboards since EMS where I live anyway is a third party service and their crews are not properly protected to be climbing into a wrecked vehicle. So a drill on basic victim care wouldn't be out of line best of luck to you there brother.