Vehicle Extrication
IIHS Small Overlap Impact Test (2015 F-150)
IIHS Small Overlap Impact Test
The news in the auto industry today is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) test of the 2015 Ford F150 that has an aluminum body structure. The test results are mixed. The four-door Super Crew version is only full-size truck on the market with the institute’s “Top Safety Pick” rating. However, the Super Cab version did poorly in a small front overlap test. How is that possible? First off, consider the Super Cab version has an integrated b-pillar with the rear door. The rear doors are hinged from the – C-pillar – rear of the body structure. Based off what we learned over the last few years is the b-pillars got stronger and the ring around the driver door is strong. The Super Cab version is latched at the b-pillar, top and bottom. The picture below highlights how the Super Cab rear door is latched. But could that be the reason?
The four-door Super Crew version has several frame reinforcements that the IIHS believes helped that version preform better than the Super Cab version. The reinforcements are in the pictures below.
Keep in mind that the 2015 Ford F-150 is the first full-size truck to be tested with the IIHS Small Overlap Impact. The Institute picked the F-150 to test first because it is not only the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. but also the first mass-market vehicle with an all-aluminum body. I would guess that other full-size trucks could struggle with the Small Overlap Impact on their super cab versions. The complete IIHS recap of the test is in the video below.
Lastly, rescuers should always pay attention the IIHS tests when researching vehicles for training or teaching. The IIHS post crash pictures provide great insight into possible dash entrapment among the occupants while giving a great picture to ask the what if questions! Take a look at the pictures below from the IIHS’ website.
Heavy Rescue
Big Rig Technician Training (2/27/2020)
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue played host this week to firefighters from around North America for a three-day training conference on heavy vehicle rescues.
Big Rig Technician Training (2/27/2020)
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue played host this week to firefighters from around North America for a three-day training conference on heavy vehicle rescues. A variety of rescue scenarios were in place at MDFR’s Urban Search & Rescue Training Facility in Kendall for the grand finale of the course on Thursday afternoon. Technical Rescue Technicians from fire departments as far away as Ontario, South Dakota and West Virginia participated in the exercises that required rescuing victims in unique traffic crash situations.
Pictures below from the Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403 and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Facebook Pages.
I ran across some great pictures on the Big Vehicle Rescue Facebook Page from a training course. The 2019 Virginia Department of Fire Programs Spring Rescue Week was held at the VA Public Safety Training Center. Below are pictures from the vehicle rescue technician class. Thanks again to
John Burruss for allowing us to use his pictures. Make sure you follow his page!
Stabilization, Lifting, and Vehicle Relocation
The bus was captured with struts for stabilization. The black guard rails on school buses are strong points for struts tips for stabilization and lifting.
The bus was rolled off the car with two griphoists anchored to the duals on a semi-tractor while the Paratech gold struts chased the movement automatically with air extended the struts.
Vehicle Extrication
Power Pole Stabilization
Here is a look at a unique extrication and stabilization that took place in Seattle, Washington.
Here is a look at a unique extrication and stabilization that took place in Seattle, Washington. The first Facebook post is video from an area camera that captured the power pole falling on the vehicle.
Per the Seattle Fire Department’s Facebook page:
Seattle Fire’s Rescue 1 was called to a multi-company extrication with Boeing, South King, and Tukwila Fire. Over fifteen power lines were down and 1 patient trapped in a car. Using Rescue 1’s hydraulic-fusion struts, the only of their kind in the area, 1 patient was safely extricated and a total of 2 patients were transported with minor injuries to nearby hospitals.
