Story & Photos by Les Baker

Departments routinely respond to rollover collisions where occupants are laying on the interior roof of a roof-resting vehicle. The occupant’s only entrapment may be due to the vehicle position and/or their orientation in the vehicle. If a door readily opens, many times the patient can be manipulated and removed from the opening. In other situations where a path of egress must be created, responders are generally required to complete some form of side removal or tunnel operation. Although these tactics are fairly simple in concept, they can prove to be more complicated and time-consuming because of the vehicle position. A quick and easy alternative involves the displacement of the rear roof rail. This tactic can be traced back to the Tampa Bay area, where departments have been innovative with extrication tactics. They refer to it as the “C-130” due to its similarities to the military airplane’s rear cargo door movement. This tactic may also be a viable option in situations where the patient is in critical condition and requires immediate removal, but no path of egress is apparent.

Step by Step
Initially treat the incident as any other vehicle collision. Take the necessary steps to establish incident command, survey the scene carefully, call resources as necessary, control hazards and stabilize the vehicle in the position found. During stabilization of the rear points where the roof line curves up off the ground, ensure that the cribbing is placed in a position that does not extend toward the midline of the vehicle.

Before beginning the rear roof rail tactic, evaluate the rear of the vehicle for the presence of a hatchback or liftgate. If one is present, it may be more beneficial to open it and remove it instead of trying to displace the roofline. Additional steps are required to restrain the sides of the hatchback/gate if cutting outside of the hinges. If cutting inside the hinges, the size of the opening will be limited. Also, if the patient is lying near the rear, it may be necessary to place an additional cribbing point in the middle of the roofline. Once the cuts have been made, it can be removed and the roof lowered in a controlled manner.

Remaining Steps
1. Ensure the rear glass is completely removed from around the edges, and cover any sharp hazards. Responders will have to work in that area, and it will eventually be used as the path of egress. If the glass has to be removed, ensure mitigation measures that limit the amount of glass fragments in the area. If glass was broken as a result of the collision and remains in the area, cover it with a blanket.

2. Displace the interior trim and headliner to evaluate for possible hazards and determine the width of the side roof rails. This step also helps determine the presence of a sunroof and its impact on the distance the roof can be cut forward. The presence of a sunroof does not necessarily rule out the tactic. The components should be evaluated to determine the ability to make a long enough cut to create the needed relief. Throughout the tactic, place hard protection between the cut locations and the patients and interior rescuers.

3. If readily available, use a hydraulic cutter to make a roof rail cut on the driver and passenger side just inside the side roof rail. The cutter should be able to make the cut in the thicker and larger material easier than other tools, especially if the collision has damaged the structural components. However, if the hydraulic tools require time to setup and a reciprocating saw or chisel is readily available, responders can begin the tactic with these tools. Ensure that other personnel continue to set up the hydraulic tools in case they are needed.

4. Lengthen the initial cuts to the ground by cutting toward the front of the vehicle with a reciprocating saw or chisel.

5. Once the cuts are completed, fold the severed middle portion of the roof to the ground and cover the resulting edges.

Beyond the concept of just creating more space, rear roof rail displacement allows the angle of the backboard to flatten out so that the patient does not have to be wedged out the rear window opening. This can be visualized easily when you look at before and after photos of the positioning.

The initial steps of the tactic are comparable to the steps needed to complete a rapid roof removal or total sunroof removal—two tactics developed recently as an answer to advanced steel-equipped vehicles. Conducting a rear roof rail displacement provides a quick and fairly noninvasive tactic that creates a path of egress at the rear window opening. It is not intended to take the place of tunnel or side removal tactics, but rather to provide an additional choice when faced with entrapped occupants in a roof-resting vehicle. The tactic requires the same procedures as any other incident, but is limited to minimal equipment, simple stabilization, glass mitigation and two uncomplicated cuts.

Les Baker, a 12-year veteran of the fire service, is an assistant engineer with the City of Charleston (S.C.) Fire Department and a volunteer with the Darlington County (S.C.) Fire District. He has an associate’s degree in fire science from Pikes Peak Community College. Baker is an adjunct instructor with the South Carolina Fire Academy, a member of the Darlington County Extrication Team and a co-contributor to www.navra.net.

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