Chapter 24: Vehicle Rescue And Extrication Flashcards
Vehicle Anatomy: Parts of a Motor Vehicle:
The left side of a vehicle in the United States and Canada, refers to the drivers side and the right side refers to the passenger side.
In general, vehicles consist of three main compartments. What are they?
The engine compartment is covered by the hood. What is the structure that divides the engine compartment from the passenger compartment called?
- Engine Compartment
- Passenger Compartment
- Trunk (Cargo Area)
The structure that divides the engine compartment from the passenger is called a bulkhead or firewall.
The passenger compartment includes the front and back seats. It’s often called the occupant cage or the occupant compartment.
The trunk may be exposed to the backseat as in a station wagon, enclosed or a sedan.
Vehicles contain vertical post that support the roof and forms the upright columns of the passenger compartment. These post are named alphabetically from the front to the back of the vehicle (Fig 24-1)
A Post: Located in the front of the vehicle and form the sides of the windshield.
B Post: In a four door vehicle, the B Post is located between the front and rear doors of the vehicle. In some vehicles, these post do not reach all the way to the roof of the vehicle.
C Post: In a four door, the C Post is located behind the rear doors, specifically behind the rear passenger windows. I’m a two door, C Post is the rear post.
Motor Vehicle Frames:
There are two types of vehicle frames, commonly found in today’s MV. What are they?
- Body-over-frame construction
- Unibody (unit body) construction
Body-over-frame construction consists of two large beams tied together by cross member beams (Fig 24-2)
The engine, transmission, and body components are attached to this basic frame. This type of frame construction is found primarily in trucks and larger SUV’s. It is rarely present in smaller passenger cars.
Unibody construction, which is used for more modern passenger cars, combines the vehicle body and the frame into a single component (Fig 24-3). They produce lighter weight vehicles.
SRS
Supplemental Restraint Systems:
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
Can be found in most passenger vehicles in the road today. This system commonly includes a series of air bags and seat belts.
Air bags can be found in many locations in modern cars. Even within the seats of the vehicle. Their locations can be identified by markings consisting of acronyms such as SRS, SIR (supplemental inflatable restraint), SIPS (side impact protection system), and AIRBAG. These markings are generally located in proximity to the inflator and may be embrossed, raised, or sewn into the plastic, cloth or leather material. (Fig. 24-4).
The seatbelt pretensioning system is designed to reduce the slack in the seatbelt when a MVA is detected. It can activated in conjunction with the air bags or it can act independently on its own.
ROPS
Roll Over Protection System
May be found in some vehicles, specially convertibles. It protects occupants in vehicle roll over incidents, consisting of deployable roll bars that are connected until activated by sensor detection. Roll bars can extend up to 20 inches. In some models.
FF should be familiar with the different types of SRS devices. Although it is made to protect during a MVA, unexpected deployment during the extrication can cause serious injuries to both the occupants and FF.
⭐️As part of the size up, FF should be aware of any undeployed air bags or ROPS, especially those that’s near trapped occupants or rescuers. Before making any cuts, use a small prying tool to remove interior trim and look for hidden pistons, canisters or electrical wiring. FF should remove trim around the vehicles doors or posts to identify the presence of these SRS components.
AFV::
There are two types of vehicles. What are they? What does each mean?
Alternative-Fuel Vehicles:
- Alternative-Fuel Vehicles
- Conventional Vehicles
Conventional Vehicles: uses internal combustion engines that burn gasoline or diesel fuel to produce power.
Alternative-Fuel Vehicles: uses anything other than a petroleum based motor fuel (gasoline or diesel fuel) to propel a motorized vehicle. These vehicles may be powered by alternative fuels such as propane, natural gas, methanol, or hydrogen, or electricity (battery electric vehicles) or a combination of electricity and fuel (hybrid electric vehicles). Fig, 24-1
Electric drive vehicles that is battery electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles are especially hazardous due to their powerful batteries and high-voltage electrical systems
What is the first priorities during extrication operations?
- To disable the vehicles electrical system to prevent accidental starting, electrical shock, or fires.
Brightly colored (typically orange) high voltage cables are routed from a high voltage battery pack to the inverter and electric motor, which are located in the engine compartment (Fig 24-5).
To disable the electrical system of an electric drive vehicle, Skill Drill 24-1
Arrival and Size-Up of the Scene:
The first step in the extrication process is arrival and size up. After arrival of a MVA scene, it is important to assess the hazards present and determine the types of vehicles involved, the scope of the incident, the number and severity of injuries, and the need for additional resources.
LISTEN UP
Traffic Hazards:
Deciding where to position emergency vehicles should take into account the safety of emergency workers, victims, and the motorist traveling along the road. If possible, position your rig in a manner that will ensure safety without disrupting traffic any more than necessary. However, do not hesitate to request the road be closed. Sometimes the most important action to take at a MVA is to slow, stop, or divert the flow of traffic before proceeding with additional actions. Safety First!
Position your rig so that they provide a barrier against motorist who fail to recognize or heed emergency warning lights. Many departments place their apparatus at an angle to the MVA and pointing away from oncoming traffic (Fig. 24-6).
Be sure to look for leaking fuels before using flares. Call law enforcement to assist in traffic control.
⭐️PPE must be worn at all MVA’s. Unless you’re exposed to or are likely to be exposed to fire conditions, you must wear a high visibility vest that is compliant with the American National Standards Institute/International Safety Equipment Association (ANSI/ISEA) 107-2015 standard for type P vest (Fig. 24-8).
⭐️Before exiting your apparatus, be alert for vehicles that might cause injury to FF. Don’t assume that motorists will heed the warning lights. The IC will perform a 360 size up, evaluate the hazards present and determine the number of victims. Using this information from the scene, the IC can create an action plan and call additional resources, if needed.
Fire Hazards:
Look for spilled fuel and other ignitable substances. MV’s use a variety of fuels and lubricants that might pose fire hazards. In addition, vehicles may carry combustible objects and ignitable liquids in the truck or passenger area. A short in the electrical system or a damaged battery may cause a post MVA fire by releasing sparks and igniting spilled fuel. These fires may trap the occupants of the vehicle and require rapid fire suppression.
Electrical Hazards:
Downed and low hanging power lines represent an electrical hazard. Look closely to determine whether the MVA has damaged any electrical power poles. Downed and low hanging power lines may energize other objects such as fences, guardrails, and guy wires (cables designed to add stability to a structure).
If power lines are on or near the vehicle, do not approach the scene until electrical power has been disconnected by the utility provider.
Electric drive vehicles contain high-voltage batteries and electrical cables that require special handling, posing an electrical or fire hazard. Do not touch any of these components. Only special trained personnel should handle the high voltage system during an MVA involving an electric drive vehicle.
Other Hazards:
Environmental conditions can lead to unique hazards at the scene of an MVA. Assume that all vehicles are carrying hazardous materials until proven otherwise. Assess the scene for hazardous material placards, unusual odors, or leaking liquids. More info on hazardous materials can be found in the Emergency Response Guide book. Be alert for i fractious bodily fluids, such as blood and exercise universal precautions. Don’t allow it to get in contact with your skin. Wear PPE to mitigate contaminate fluids and sharp objects.
⭐️If your clothes become contaminated, report the contamination, document it, and then clean and wash the affected clothes and equipment.
Intoxicated people can be a problem at the scene and pets can cause a scene, like a pet dog. Be alert for weapons carried in vehicles.
To perform a size up at an MVA (Skill Drill 24-2).
Stabilization of the Scene:
After performing a size up, the scene needs to be stabilized. This step consist of reducing, removing, or mitigating the hazards at the scene, which should be identified during arrival and scene size up.
Traffic Hazards: Traffic Hazards should be handled quickly before they lead to additional MVA’s or injuries. Use you rig to block traffic from the scene. Traffic cones and flares can be used to slow motorist and direct them in a safe pattern around the MVA scene. Traffic hazards are best handled by the appropriate law enforcement agency, which is their expertise. If they are not on the scene, verify that they are aware of the incident.
Fire Hazard: If fuel or other ignitable liquids are spilled at the scene of a MVA, a charged 1 1/2 inch hoseline should be advanced to the vehicle. Small fuel spills can be mitigated by using an absorbent material like speedy dry to remove the fuel from the area around the damaged vehicle. To mitigate Fire Hazards at an MVA (Skill Drill 24-3)
Electrical Hazard: Disconnecting the vehicles electrical system can mitigate electrical hazards posed by a damaged vehicle. Stabilizing electrical hazards posed by downed electrical wires is essential before FF attempt to approach the MVA site. At times it might be necessary to instruct victims of an MVA to remain in the vehicles until the power can be turned off. Disconnecting the power to damaged electrical lines should be done by employees of the utility company. Do not attempt to approach downed electrical lines until the utility company personnel have turned off the electricity. Direct the occupants to stay in the vehicle until the company confirms that it is disconnected. You may be anxious to extricate the vehicle and give treatment, but shutting off the electric is a crucial part need that’s to happen first.
Other Hazards: ⭐️ Weather related issues must be considered for vehicle extrication operations in extreme heat, cold, rain or snow. Both victims and rescuers must be protected from heat and direct sunlight on hot days. Provide shade for victims and rescuers in the vehicles. Watch for signs of heat related illness. Cover victims in blankets in cold weather. Consider calling for additional resources, so crews can rotate to a climate controlled environment for rehabilitation.
Many MVA’s happen at night. It is important to provide adequate lighting so that rescuers can work quickly and safely. Chapter 19 speaks in Overhaul and Salvage. To prevent slips and falls, call Department of Public Works to put down salt and sand or oil absorbent material, which may help to give solid footing to rescuers. Be alert for oncoming vehicles that may slide into the operations area.
MVA’s often leave a variety of sharp objects that pose a hazard for rescuers and victims. To reduce the chances of injury FF should wear their PPC. Use blankets to reduce the possibility of injury when removing victims.
Incident with animals, it may be necessary to secure the animals before proceeding with other activities. Dogs can be very protective of their owners. If the dogs injured, remove the dog first to a responsible person if not a non injured family member. If a pet is injured call the agency responsible for transporting animals to a veterinary clinic. I suppose animal control for transportation and for unruly pets.
Cribbing:
Unstable objects pose a threat to both rescuers and victims of an MVA and need to be stabilized before FF approach the scene. Use wheel chocks to prevent the vehicle from rolling. The vehicles must be stabilized vertically with cribbing (Fig 24-9).
Cribbing consist of short lengths of sturdy lumber, cut to different dimensions such as 4X4 and 18X24 inch post, but they have other dimensions available.
After cribbing has been placed against the wheels, a vehicle may still be able to move because of the rocking motion the suspension system causes when rescuers get into the vehicle and victims are extricated from the vehicle, causing further injuries. ⭐️The suspension system in most vehicles can be stabilized with step chocks, which are shaped like stair steps and are placed on both sides of the vehicle. Place one step chock toward the front of the vehicle and a second one toward the rear of the vehicle (Fig 24-10). Repeat this process on the other side of the vehicle. Once the steps are in place, the tires can be deflated by pulling out the valve stems to create a stable vehicle.
If step chocks are not available or the right size, rescuers can build a box crib. To do so place cribbing at right angles to each preceding layer of cribbing (Fig 24-11).
What are Struts aka Rescue Jacks?
A tool that help stabilize a vehicle that is side ways or upside down.
After a MVA, some vehicle come to rest on their roofs or sides. Vehicles in this position are very unstable and pose a risk to victims and rescuers. Overturned vehicles can be stabilized using box cribs or step chocks on each end of the vehicle. Vehicle stabilization stores can be used for added safety (Fig 24-12).
Wedges can be used to fill the void between the crib and the object as it is stabilized or raised (Fig 24-13). Wedges should be the same width as the cribbing, with the tapered end no less than 1/4 inch thick. Ends that are less than 1/4 will commonly fracture under a load.
To stabilize a vehicle (Skill Drill 24-4)
Rescue-Lift Air Bags:
A rescue-lift air bad is a pneumatic-filled bladder made of rubber or synthetic material (Fig 24-14). They are used to lift an object or to spread one or more objects away from each other to assist in freeing a victim. Rescue-lift air bags are never used to shore or stabilize a vehicle by themselves; cribbing is always required in conjunction with rescue-life air bags. Cribbing must be used in conjunction with rescue-lift air bags and whenever FF are lifting a load because instability can occur from weight shifts, or the rescue-life air bags may fail under a load.
There are three different types of of rescue-lift airbags. What are they?
Fire Fighter Tip:
- Low pressure: commonly used for recovery operations and are sometimes used for vehicle rescue operations. They come in many sizes and shapes, SQUARE BAGS, however, offers greater stability. Because of their lightweight construction, low- pressured rescue-lift airbags can be less stable (at least until they are fully inflated) than high- pressure rescue-lift airbags, which have a lower lift height and stronger construction.
- Medium pressure: Designed so that they contain either two or three cells. For general vehicle rescue, these devices are not appropriate. Medium-pressure rescue-lift airbags are more suitable for aircraft, medium or heavy truck, or bus rescue, and for recovery work.
- High pressure: Used most frequently by FF. Has a very sturdy construction and generally made vulcanized rubber mats that are reinforced by steel or other material woven into a fiber mat and then covered with rubber. When using this type of airbag, chocking and cribbing remain essential actions to provide a safe working environment.
None of these devices should be used without first properly chocking the wheels opposite of the rescue-lift airbag and cribbing the vehicle or object as it is lifted. As they age, rescue air life bags become more prone to failure, so they should be tested regularly.
Break tempered glass: If the victim requires immediate care and you cannot enter into the door, consider breaking the window
- What are windshield made of?
- What are the side and rear mirrors made of?
- What does EPG means?
LISTEN UP:
- Laminated glass, which may be difficult to break.
- Tempered glass, which will break easily into small pieces when hit with a sharp, pointy object; such as a spring loaded punch, a multi purpose tool, or the point of an axe or haligan. (Fig 24-15)
- Enhanced Protective Glass
🌟If you must break a window to unlock a door to gain access, cover the victim if possible, and try to break a window that is farthest away from the victim. If the victim need immediate attention, however, break the closest window. Small pieces of tempered glass do not usually pose a danger to victims trapped in cars. Advise EMS personnel if a victim is covered with broken glass so that they can notify the hospital emergency department.
⭐️ After breaking the window, use your gloved hands to pull the remaining glass out of the window frame so that it does not fall onto the victims or injure the rescuers. ⭐️If I use something other than a spring loaded center punch to break the window, always aim for the low corner.
To break tempered glass using a spring loaded center punch or a striking tool (Skill Drill 24-5)
⭐️Once I have broken the glass and removed the pieces from the frame, try to unlock the door, by using both the inside and outside door handles at the same time. This technique will often force a jammed locking mechanism to open the door, even when the door appears to be badly damaged.
Breaking the rear window will sometimes provide an opening large enough to enable a rescuer to gain access to the victim if there is no other rapid means for doing so. Going through a door or breaking a back window will both enable FF to gain access, even upside down vehicles.
Gaining access to a vehicle following a MVA (Skill Drill 24-6)
Force the door: If FF can’t gain access by the previous mention methods, they must use heavier extrication tools to gain access. The most commonly used technique for gaining access to a vehicle following an MVA is door displacement. (Fig 24-16)
When it is necessary to force a door to gain access to a victim, choose a door that will not endanger the safety of the victim. Do not force a door a victim is placed up against, for example.
⭐️To force a door, FF typically use a prying tool to bend the sheet metal at the edge of the door near the locking mechanism. Once it’s exposed. A hydraulic spreading tool can be inserted into the small space between the door and the post, and it can then pull the hinge or locking mechanism apart. Once the door have been removed, it should be placed away from the vehicle where it will not be a safety hazard to rescuers.
Powered hydraulic tools are the most efficient and widely used tools for opening jammed doors. ⭐️ Jammed doors can be opened by releasing the door either from the latch side or the hinge side of the door. The decision on which method to use will depend on the structure of the vehicle and the type of damage the door has sustained.
⭐️The first step in opening a vehicle door is to create a PURCHASE POINT where the spreader of the hydraulic tool can be inserted. A hydraulic tool can be used in several different ways, either to pinch or spread the metal surface of the door to expose the hinges and locking mechanism.
⭐️Once rescuers have gained access to the hinges or latch, they can place the spreader in a position so that it is not in the pathway that the door will take when the hinges or latch break.⭐️ Rescuers should not stand in a position that might put them in danger. To ensure the door does not swing open violently, rescuers can use a long pry bar or rope to limit movement of the door when it opens. Activate the hydraulic tool to push up apart the outer sheet metal skin of the vehicle, exposing the hinges or the door latch. Once the outer sheet metal has been exposed, close the tips of the spreader and remove them.
When separating a door at the latch side, rescuers can place a 4X4 inch cribbing under the bottoms of the door to hold it up. Once the latch has separated, start to separate the hinges of the door.
When separating a door from the hinge side, create a purchase point near the top hinge. Place the spreader tips above the top hinge and open the tips to separate the door from the hinge. Use the spreader tips or cutting tool to separate the bottom hinge. Once the hinges have separated, place a 4X4 inch cribbing underneath the door to hold it in place, while separating the latch side of the door.
FF Tip:
To Force a Vehicle Door: (Skill Drill 24-7)
Provide medical care: As soon as you have secured access to the victim, begin to provide emergency medical care. You should provide emotional comfort and physical care, until extrication is complete.
Gaining access and providing medical care to a victim in a vehicle (Skill Drill 24-8)
Displace the seat: In frontal and rear end MVA’s, the vehicle may become compressed (Fig 24-17). As the front of the vehicle collapses, the space between the steering wheel and the seat becomes smaller. If it is necessary to displace a seat, start with the simplest steps, which is moving the seat back to gain some room. As a last resort, use the hydraulic spreader or powered hydraulic tool to move the seat back. Place one tip of the hydraulic tool on the bottom of the seat, but avoid pushing on the seat channel that is attached to the floor of the vehicle. Place the other tip of the spreader at the bottom of the A post door jamb. Support the victim carefully. Engage the seat adjustment lever on manually operated seats and open the spreader in a careful and controlled fashion.
Remove glass: When the roof of a vehicle must be removed, it is necessary to first remove all of the glass from the vehicle.
The side and back windows are made of tempered glass, which can be removed by striking the glass in a lower corner with a sharp object, such as a spring-loaded center punch. FF should protect the victim by covering him/her to prevent from getting cut.
Windshields, however, cannot be broken with a spring loaded center punch. Windshields are made of laminated glass, which consist of a thin layer of flexible plastic between two sheets of glass. The windshield of most passenger vehicles are glued in place with a strong, plastic-type glue. ⭐️The windshield must be removed with a special glass saw, reciprocating saw, or by carefully using an axe. Windshield removal can create a significant amount of glass dust, which can be an inhalation hazard to victims and rescuers.
⭐️To remove a windshield, first make sure that the victim is protected. One rescuer makes a purchase point at the top center of the windshield and cuts along the top of the windshield to the nearest A-post. The rescuers continue cutting down the side of the windshield, close to the A-post (Fig 24-18). Finally, the rescuer cuts along the bottom of the windshield to the center. At this point, the first rescuer stabilizes the half of the windshield that has been cut free. Once this operation is complete, a second rescuer starts on the opposite side of the windshield where the initial cuts were made and cuts the second half of the windshield, following the same sequence of cuts used by the first rescuer. Once complete, the entire windshield is lifted out of its frame and placed under the vehicle or in another safe place, where it will not present a safety hazard. Removing a windshield is an essential step prior to removing a roof of a vehicle.
Remove steering wheel: Steering wheels can be cut with hand tools such as a hacksaw or bolt cutters. Hydraulic cutters and reciprocating saws will also cut steering wheel spokes and the steering wheel rim.
There are three methods of removing a steering wheel. What are they?
Picture of a reciprocated saw that cuts a windshield, which is made out of laminated glass.
One method of removing a steering wheel is to cut the spokes as close to the center hub of the steering wheel as possible.
A second method is to cut the rim of the steering wheel. The steering wheel rim can be removed completely, or one section can be cut and removed.
A third method is to cut the column. (Fig 24-19).
Note that cutting the steering wheel rim leaves sharp edges that present a safety hazard. They must be covered to prevent injury both to the victim and to rescuers.
Displace the dashboard: During frontal MVA’s, the dashboard is often pushed down or toward the seat. When a victim is trapped by the dash, it is necessary to displace this component (Fig 24-20)
- What are the two techniques that is commonly used to displace the dash?
The objectives with these procedures is to displace the dashboard up and away from the victim. These techniques are also sometimes used to displace the steering column up and away from a victim.
- The dash displacement requires cutting tools. Name the four?
- The dash roll and the dash lift.
- Hacksaw, reciprocating saw, air chisel, or a hydraulic cutter.
Air Chisel: View Picture
A cutting tool is needed to make one of more cuts in the A post and other structural members of the vehicle. The dash roll requires fewer cuts that the dash lift and can often be accomplished quicker, but it may not provide as much room to remove the victim.
A mechanical high lift jack, a hydraulic ram, or a hydraulic spreader can be use to push the dash forward and away from the victim, and cribbing is needed to maintain the opening made with these tools.
The first step of dashdisplacement is to open both front doors. Tie them in a certain position so that they will not move as the dash is being displaced. Alternatively, each door can be removed. Place a backboard or other protective device between the victim and the bottom part of the A post where the relief cut will be made. DO NOT PLACE A BACKBOARD IN THIS POSITION IF THE DRIVERS SODE AIR BAG IS NOT DEPLOYED.
Next, cut the bottom of the A-post where it meets the sill or floor of the vehicle. It is critical to make the cut perpendicular to the A-post. Failure to do so may cut the fuel or power line located in the ROCKER PANELS (A section of the vehicles frame located below the doors, between the front and rear wheels).
Place the base of a mechanical high lift jack or a hydraulic ram at the base of the B post where the sill and the B post meet. Place the tip of the jack or ram and the bed in the A post, which is located toward the top of the A post. In a controlled manner, extend the jack or ram to push the dash up and off of the victim. This evolution may be difficult if the vehicle contains high strength steel. Once the dash has been removed from the victim, cribbing and wedges are utilized to hold the sill in the proper position and to prevent the dash from moving. O yo then can the jack or ram be removed.
Performing dash displacement requires careful monitoring of the dashboards movement that if doesn’t injure the victim. Through this evolution make sure the victim is protected and that someone communicates to the patient, what is going on to make them feel comfortable.
To Perform a dash roll to displace the dashboard of a vehicle following MVA (Skill Drill 24-9)
To perform a dash lift to displace the dashboard of a vehicle (Skill Drill 24-10)
Displace the Roof: This technique has several advantages.
1. It enables equipment to be easily passed to the emergency medical providers.
2. It increases the amount of space available to perform medical care and increases the visibility and space for performing disentanglement. Also, fresh air supply improves, reducing the feeling of panic caused by the confined space of the vehicle.
3. Removing a roof provides a large exit route for the victim. (Fig 24-21).
⭐️ Remember when removing a roof on a vehicle, cut all of the seat belts so that they will not interfere with the operation.
⭐️One method of displacing a roof is to cut the A-post and fold the roof back toward the rear of the vehicle. This technique provides limited space, given that it is often preferable to remove the entire roof.
Roof displacement can be accomplished with hand tools, such as hacksaws, air chisels, and manual hydraulic cutters.
Be aware that some A post are made of high strength steel and may be difficult to cut. Especially with cutting tools. If your cutters are old, it will be unable to cut the A post. So the cuts must be made above the seatbelts.
- The first step in displacing the roof is to ensure the safety of both the rescuers and the victim inside of the vehicle. Rescuers cut the post that support the roof, but they must support the roof to keep it from falling on the victim.
- Remove the glass from all windows and the windshield to prevent it from falling on the victim. Before cutting any materials, be sure to identify the presence and location of any hidden pistons, canisters, electrical wiring, or SRS devices, such as air bags and seat belt pretensioners, and address the hazards accordingly. ⭐️ It might be to remove interior trim around the post to locate these devices.
- Cut the vehicle post farthest away from the victim. Cut each post at a level that will ensure the least amount of post remains in place after roof removal. When cutting the wider rear post, cut them at the narrowest point of the post. As each post it cut, the rescuer needs to support that post. Cut the post closest to the victim, last, because it provides some protection for the victim.
Working together, several rescuers should remove the roof and place it away from the vehicle, where it does not pose a safety hazard. Then cover up the sharp ends of the cut post with a protective device, thereby ensuring the safety of both rescuers and victims.
To remove the roof of a vehicle (Skill Drill 24-11)
Removing and Transporting the Victim:
The final phase of the extrication process consist of removing the victim from the vehicle. During this stage, the victim needs to be stabilized and packaged in preparation for removal. Make sure the pathway is clear and make sure that there is enough rescuers to assist with the removal, confirming that everyone understands the commands that will be given.
Terminating an Incident:
Terminating an incident included securing the scene by removing the damaged be and equipment from the scene and ensuring the scene is left in a safe condition.
Securing the Scene: Law enforcement will secure the scene by conducting their on scene investigation. A potential crime scene, such as a homicide, should be managed by law enforcement. Once the scene has been released by law enforcement, the removal of vehicles will be coordinated with a tow agency.
In some cases a vehicle may need to be turned right side up. This may cause sparks of a fire. In addition high voltage batteries in electric drive vehicles may cause a delayed fire. Be aware of smoke, sparks, irritating fumes or a gurgling sound from the battery. These are warning signs of a damaged high voltage battery that is undergoing a thermal event and is at risk of toxic off gassing. Being proactive by standing by with a hoseline is always good practice. Use speedy dry for any spilled liquid chemicals and the tow truck company will take the remains.
It is advisable to carry a contact list of various private and public organizations or businesses that can offer a particular resource to be utilized on the incident, such as public works, utilities, the department of transportation (DOT), or a heavy equipment company.
Action Action Review
Definitions:
- There are two types of vehicles…what are they?
- There are two types of electric vehicles…what are they?
- There are two types of alcohol for blended liquid fuel- powered vehicles…what are they?
- There are 3 forms of Compressed Gas-Powered Vehicles…what are they? (CNG) (LNG) (LPG)
- There is also Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicles
- Conventional Vehicles & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
- Battery Electric Vehicles & Hybrid Electric Vehicles
- Methanol & Ethanol
- Compressed Natural Gas, Liquefied Natural Gas, & Liquefied Petroleum Gas
- Fuel Cells: Generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to produce water and in the process, produce electricity and heat. The purpose of fuel cells is not to produce water, however, but rather to produce electricity that can be used to drive an electric motor. They are electric vehicles with a different device for generating the electricity.
