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.
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.
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.
