Vehicle Stabilization
Dump Truck Rescue
The City of Hackensack Fire Department responded to a truck driver trapped in his truck after the tailgate malfunctioned when dumping a load of stone.
Dump Truck Rescue
The City of Hackensack Fire Department responded to a truck driver trapped in his truck after the tailgate malfunctioned when dumping a load of stone. The truck was stabilized with struts prior to removing the driver. An aerial ladder was used to remove the driver from the truck without incident. First question, do you have long enough struts for this scenarios?
Second question, what would be your concerns if you were on scene of this rescue? Two items that pop into my mind is the weight of the truck and is the load of stone stable? Sense the driver was dumping a load of stone, could the load shift?
Nice work by the City of Hackensack Fire Department! Make sure you stop by their Facebook and give it a like!
It never hurts to review the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of the truck in this scenario. Based off the pictures, it would be a Class 8.
Lifting and Capturing the Suspension
Capturing the suspension “Capturing the Crash”
One of the most beneficial and under-used techniques is suspension capture. Capturing suspension is the method of taking away suspension rebound when a load is to be lifted off a vehicle. This technique is extremely beneficial in numerous situations such as under-rides, tree on vehicle, etc. If the suspension is not captured, the vehicle will “chase” the load during the lift until normal suspension height is reached. When the suspension is captured an almost instant separation of load and vehicle will be established and in turn less lift is needed. “Capture” is easily established with a heavy duty ratchet strap or chain with tensioners. With heavy lifting our main goal is to lift as little as possible to reach our ultimate goal and this facilitates just that.
Sept 22-23, 2017 Advanced Heavy Rescue Symposium at the CFD Training Academy registration forms ready to be sent out, email me if your interested. Only 60 spots available.
Vehicle Stabilization
Strut Multiplier
Great information on how struts are a system and are affected by forces.
Strut Multiplier
The image on the left was taped onto a trailer at the Alberta Vehicle Extrication Association (AVEA) annual Alberta “BIG RIG” H.O.T Symposium. I thought it was a great picture to share. However, the folks at the Blue Collar Training Network took that image a bit further with a detailed post on their Facebook Page. A screenshot is below, but for the full post head over to their Facebook Page and make you like to follow all the content they post.
