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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on September 15, 2007 at 2:38pm

First off knowing the cars charectoristics can help. This is tough because they change the cars each year. One thing you can do if at all possible is 80% of new vehical owners leave the manual in the glove box. Check the manual it will tell you whether it has side or curtain airbags. As far as preventing them, it is hard to prevent sometimes because of the extent of damage, and also the need to cut. Maybe you could contact the differant vehical manufacturers for a general spec of the vehicals airbag system, and find the don't cut zones.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Davis on September 20, 2007 at 2:39pm

I haven't heard so much of the side impact air bags going off, however, in BMW's convertibles, I have heard that the head restraint system that deploys during an accident has not deployed during the accident. Instead, in some cases, the retraint system has deployed once F.D personnel start to cut on the car. The issue with this is if you are following procedure with having a provider hold C-Spine, the provider is being put at risk with the system deploying, causing severe injury to the provider. I have heard this first hand from someone that had it happen to who had to spend 8 weeks with his jaw wired shut. They do make a net for the system that can be placed over the restraint system that would prevent this from occuring, however, most departments don't want to spend the extra money on it because it would be used so few and far between that it can't be justified on the budgets.

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Permalink Reply by matthew seals on September 26, 2007 at 2:05pm

In most new vehicles, they will put a symbol or indication of some sort near the airbag. So, just check wherever you cut, airbags have killed many firefighters while they performed extrication.

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Permalink Reply by Oldman on September 26, 2007 at 4:42pm

The following link is a good (free) source of information not only on this topic but hybrid vehicles and extrication. I have had some of these classes, and they are well worth the time. I have also found information from the vehicle manufacturers themselves. I have never had this happen (tapping on my head), but I have made it habit to check for little things which can cause the bags to deploy even if the battery is disconnected. Check the cigarette lighter or auxiliary power ports including in the back seats for anything plugged in such as cell phones, ipods, or laptops. These items can have enough battery power which could reverse flow back into the vehicle electrical system and cause the deployment. As a general rule, if you maintain 5-10-20 inch rule, meaning personnel and equipment stay 5" from side impact bags, 10" from the drivers airbag, and 20" from the passenger front airbag, if at all possible, you minimize your chances of injury. While I cannot find documented proof of rescue personnel being killed by accidental deployment of airbags, I can see how it might really mess up your day.

http://www.sceneoftheaccident.com/

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Permalink Reply by Butch McCurdy on October 18, 2007 at 9:11am

With as many cars that it is on the market today there is no way you can remember where every airbag is on every car truck or suv. The best way to protect your self is to first cut the power from the battey. Before you cut a post or make a cut on the roof line you can pull off the interior plastic and look for the placement of the air bags. In a recent class the instructor told us that he was told the static electricty form a helicopter can set off air bags, so make sure your LZ is far enough away from the scene.

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Permalink Reply by John Mc. on October 18, 2007 at 4:06pm

I havent had any trouble with air bags yet considering that before we start the extrication we have guys take out windows and pry off the moldiong and panelling n give a progess report about where each air bag is located and all the guys stay away from the area until its cut away or unless the air bags have gone off... it works pretty good but of course not every mvc has a car on all 4. For the most part as long as the car is deenergized the air bags arent really a problem but of course (Mercedes and other crazy cars) come with as many as 3-8 batteries and they can be under the hood... under the passenger seat and even trunk.

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Permalink Reply by Randy Schmitz on January 5, 2008 at 9:18am

Hello Steve,
do you have any more information that you could share about the firefighter that was hurt from the BMW head restraint system firing off, I am gathering injury cases such as these to include in my conference material that discusses the hazards of airbags so I can heighten the awarness for the fire sevice.
Any info would be helpfull. thanks

Randy Schmitz
Calgary Fire Dept
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on January 5, 2008 at 7:14pm

Remember the 5-10-20 rule.

Keep 5 inches clear of side airbag deployment zones.

Keep 10 inches clear of drivers airbag deployment zones.

Keep 20 inches clear of passenger airbag deployment zones.

5-10-20

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Permalink Reply by Paul H on January 5, 2008 at 7:41pm

Hey Bobby - good call on the neg bat cable - that's SOP for us, cut the bat cables (BOTH of them, Negative First) and cut them again to leave a gap between so they won't re-touch each other.

I've heard 90 seconds, I've heard 20 minutes, and variations between on the capacitors, so the sooner you cut it, the sooner the capacitor will bleed it's energy off.

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