Winching Cars with Live Patients Inside- A CASE STUDY

I didn't go to irescue 2010 this year with too many work commitments, but I was looking on the ARRO ( http://www.arro.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=258 )website this morning and came across a Case Study which shows the rescue crews attending a car udner truck call.

As part of the extrication, they winched the car out from udner the truck.

Got some fantastic photos showing it in action.

See attachment below....

0 members like this

Attachments:

2010_iRescue_Heavy_Vehicle_Under-Over_Ride.pdf, 5.5 MB

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 7, 2010 at 1:56pm

I'm consistant in wanting to rescue the patients while they are still alive. That means using the fastest technique that won't hurt the patient.

In my case, by the time we can get a wrecker there, we usually have the extrication done with what we carry.

Nothing wrong with using wreckers...as a last resort...if you can trust the wrecker driver...and if the IC is willing to take the liability for any wrecker driver mistakes that cause harm.

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 7, 2010 at 2:00pm

The firefighter directing the winch operation and the one with the round black head are both at risk for serious injury if the winch cable snaps.

Everyone should be out of range of the cable during the entire time it is tensioned.
Also, the cable should be "feathered" with a spare turnout coat, a tarp, a blanket, etc. to limit the broken cable's reach if it fails.

If the cable fails, it will be an explosive failure with severe consequences to anyone in range.

Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on November 12, 2010 at 5:36pm

If they are delayed,I'm OK with that's the way it is in YOUR area. matter of fact I'm OK with how you do stuff anyway. HERE we work with the Operators that respond to OUR crashes. We work together and know what we can do TOGETHER. Patient viabilty is Job 1. IC HAS no issues because of the way we work/train together. So looks like everything GOOD.

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 20, 2010 at 4:47pm

The very existance of the Golden Hour is under question. There is apparently no scientific evidence to support it.

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 20, 2010 at 4:49pm

That's fine - for YOU. I'd postulate that how it works in your area is the outlier. Most places simply either don't have the quick wrecker availability, the training, or both to do it your way.

That's why I have the philosophy I do. It's better to have the capability to make the rescue without outside help if you can.

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on November 20, 2010 at 8:12pm

Spot on Ben.

The golden Hour I beleive is still a good target to aim for, but that's all it is. There's so many variables that affect it.

Another article attached below...

Attachments:

Golden Hour Fact or Fiction.pdf, 41 KB

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on November 27, 2010 at 12:06am

Also, the cable should be "feathered" with a spare turnout coat, a tarp, a blanket, etc. to limit the broken cable's reach if it fails.
Ben, we've taught (and been taught) for years to do this, however there's just as many who argue that it's a pointless exercise given the amount of force that would be in play if the cable were to fail.

Curious to know others thoughts. I know TC would argue against it as him and I have discussed this before. Anyone else care to weigh in?

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 28, 2010 at 10:39pm

I've only seen a tensioned cable failure one time, but it was feathered with a turnout coat, and the cable only went about 1/3 as far as the length of the free cable end. The amount of force is the same either way, but the feathering technique adds the counter-force of aerodynamic resistance to the cable.

I've also seen a couple of videos showing a comparison, but that was years ago (pre internet) and I don't know if I can find a link.

If you're standing immediately next to the cable when it snaps or a change-of-direction pulley or anchor fails, the force difference probably won't be appreciable. If you're standing farther away, the difference should be considerable.

Obviously, keeping personnel well back from the entire cable span is the best choice, but that's not always possible.

A naked cable is much more aerodynamic than is a cable plus something that adds aerodynamic resistance.

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on November 29, 2010 at 6:36am

Here's a good video showing the potential...

Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on January 7, 2011 at 4:05pm

Amateurs. You see the hook? I'll also BET the termination wasn't rated either.PLUS that amount of Resistance requires the use of a Snatch block,NOPE didn't see that used either. Thank god for windshields.

Permalink Reply by Nenad on January 17, 2011 at 6:53am

I AGREE!
On scene everything looks different! There's no perfect action.
You can do one simple action, in at least 3 different ways, and have the same result. Which one is the right one? Firefighting and rescuing are not exact science, it is more a chaos theory. You do what you can, with what you have.

Permalink Reply by Nenad on January 17, 2011 at 6:58am

A lot of beer, and no brain!