Chapter 10 Special Operations

1. Chapter 10Special Operations

2. Objectives • Identify critical subject areas which present the need for special hazard awareness for the emergency and related vehicle operator. • Describe the considerations needed for safe operation in each subject area. • Discuss the importance of each specialty topic as it applies to emergency vehicle operations.

3. Introduction

4. Preparing to Drive

5. Objectives • Identify the components of driver readiness. • Explain the concept and purpose of route planning.

6. Case Study • Review and discuss the case study.

7. Topic Review • Effective start-up procedures.

8. Summary • Planning and preparation are critical. • Drivers and crew are mutually responsible for assuring the vehicle and equipment are capable to respond at a moments notice. • Knowing various routes to get to the same destination is essential. • Preplanning of alternate routes and escape options should be considered.

9. Summary • Assuring the vehicle and crew are prepared for the response is a responsibility of the driver. • Cursory checks of exterior cabinet doors for closure, crew status, and restraint mechanisms in place are two important components the driver should acknowledge before going en route.

10. Case Study • Review and discuss the case study.

11. Off-Road Driving

12. Objectives • Identify two critical components needed for off-road driving. • List the best practices for off-road driving.

13. Case Study • Review and discuss the case study.

14. Topic Review • Industry experts recommends the following best practices: • Place the vehicle onto all-wheel drive prior to proceeding off-road. • Always proceed slowly and ensure that the vehicle is under control at all times. • Do not “cut” a new road unless there is no other way to traverse the area.

15. Topic Review • Have someone on foot scout an unknown route or one with dense underbrush in order to identify hidden hazards. • Go straight up the hill, do not angle across the face of a steep hill. • If the vehicle starts to slide, steer going downhill but do not steer going uphill.

16. Topic Review • Set the emergency brake if the vehicle stalls on a hill. • Never coast down a hill, always proceed slowly in low gear. • When crossing a ditch or gully advance slowly and proceed at an angle to avoid “bottoming out” the vehicle.

17. Summary • Driving off-road is unlike normal roadway driving. • Use caution, know your vehicle, assure you know and can see what you are driving, know the terrain you are driving over, and make sure that there are no persons in harms way. • Drive slowly.

18. Summary • Review NIOSH findings.

19. Rollover

20. Objectives • Identify the recommended best practices for maintaining vehicle control. • List the five primary components needed to be understood to avoid a rollover crash.

21. Case Study • Review and discuss the case study.

22. Topic Review Remember: Laws of Physics + Mechanics of Vehicle Operation + Driver Error = LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL

23. Causes of All Fire Apparatus Crashes Grouped • Improper backing of the apparatus • Reckless driving by the public • Excessive speed by the fire apparatus driver • Lack of driving skill and experience by the fire apparatus driver • Poor apparatus design or maintenance

24. Five Sub-Factors Within the Referenced Categories • Human factors • Apparatus design factors • Driving surface factors • Emergency scene factors • Other factors

25. Components of a Rollover Crash • Driver • Vehicle • Common rollover circumstances

26. Components of a Rollover Crash • Physical dynamics of vehicle operations • Mechanics of vehicle operations • Effect of Body Roll, Center of Gravity, and Tire Sidewall Flexibility • Effects of Weight Transfer, Under steering, Braking, and Uneven Surfaces – VFIS source

27. Reduce Rollovers • Develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs). • Ensure that drivers have necessary driving skills and experience. • Consider terrain, weather, and bridge and road conditions. • Adhere to the requirements of NFPA 1915 • Inspect the complete vehicle at least once per year.

28. Reduce Rollovers • Adhere to the requirements of NFPA 1901 for an approved mobile water supply vehicle [NFPA 2001]. • Equip all vehicles with seat belts. • Ensure that water tank capacity is adequate and has proper tank mounting and sufficient front and rear weight distribution. • Ensure that the weight of the fully loaded vehicle does not exceed the gross axle weight rating of any axle and the gross vehicle weight rating of the chassis.

29. Reduce Rollovers • Ensure that the center of gravity of the vehicle does not exceed the chassis manufacturer’s specified center of gravity. • Provide proper baffles to control water movement for all vehicles equipped with water tanks. • Verify that vehicles are of proper design and have adequate suspension, steering, and braking ability. • Ambulances also fall within these parameters.

30. Best Practices for Maintaining Vehicle Control • Always wear your seat belt. • Do not panic. • Get control of your speed. • Maintain control of the steering wheel. • Steer straight ahead and slow down.

31. Best Practices for Maintaining Vehicle Control • Take your foot off the accelerator, but do not brake. • Allow the vehicle to slow down on its own. • When you reach a slow, safe speed, turn the steering wheel to the left and gently steer the vehicle back onto the highway.

32. Drivers of Any Emergency or Related Vehicle • Recognize that they are responsible for the safe and prudent operation of the vehicle under all conditions. • Wear a seat belt when operating a vehicle. • Take training to meet the job performance requirements stated in NFPA 1002 before driving and operating the vehicle [NFPA 2001].

33. Drivers of Any Emergency or Related Vehicle • Take refresher driver training at least twice per year. • Understand the vehicle characteristics, capabilities, and limitations. • Be aware of the potential for unpredictable driving by the public.

34. Summary • Most situations resulting in a rollover could have been prevented. • Several subject areas and contributing factors must be taken into account. • Excessive relative speed is common in most rollover crashes. • Relative speed is determined in relation to your environment, road conditions, and your vehicle. • Drivers must always maintain a slow, steady, and safe speed. • Specific road conditions that affect rollovers include a high center crown, reverse or negative camber, “S” curves, and restrictions of lane widths.

35. Summary • The effects of body roll, center of gravity and tire sidewall flexibility must also be considered. • The body of a vehicle pivots around the center of gravity side to side. • Drivers must keep body roll to a minimum. • Radial tires are designed to flex; uncontrollable conditions can cause the tires to flex too much and contribute to vehicle rollover.

36. Summary • Drivers must also consider moving loads in an ambulance • Speed is a major contributor to weight shifting back and forth and control of the vehicle. • Effects of weight transfer, understeering, braking, and uneven surfaces must be understood. • Know how your vehicle handles under emergency and non-emergency conditions. • Braking and deceleration have an effect on weight transfer.

37. Summary • Overcompensation and over steering can cause the vehicle to go out of control. • The steering angle and subsequent tire friction are important. • Six patches of rubber are the only things holding you to the road. • Do not oversteer if your vehicle drops off the road surface.

38. Summary • The slosh effect from liquid is a frequent contributor to rollover incidents. • Solid loads tend to be steady, more controllable, and hold in place. Liquid loads slosh side to side and front to rear. • Baffling is used to minimize the slosh effect in tankers, but it still occurs. • Ideally the apparatus should be totally full or totally empty.

39. Summary • Adjust speed when driving on wet or icy roads, in darkness or fog, or under any other conditions that make emergency vehicle operation especially hazardous. • Applied basic defensive driving concepts could have avoided the results in both of the case studies. • Policies with enforcement and low force driving practice simulations can build the knowledge base of drivers in order to prevent or avoid such instances from occurring.

40. Private Vehicle Use

41. Objectives • Understand basic POV use during ESO operations. • Review applicable state laws. • Identify areas that can get POV operators into trouble.

42. Case Study • Review and discuss the case study.

43. Topic Review • SOGs

44. SOGs • Limit POV use in emergency situations. • Train personnel on proper SOP/SOGs pertaining to safe driving practices. • Assess and prioritize responses using an approved risk management protocol. • Respond to low severity incidents in a nonemergency mode. • Volunteers responding in personal vehicles should obey their state motor vehicle code with respect to courtesy lights and siren privileges.

45. SOGs • Courtesy lights should not be used by volunteers as a license to operate their personal vehicle as if it were an emergency vehicle. • Volunteers responding in personal vehicles should never exceed the posted speed limit. • Volunteers responding in personal vehicles should always stop at every stop sign and red traffic signal and wait for normal right of way before proceeding.

46. SOGs • Procedures for at-the-scene parking/staging should be included in the SOPs. • Train dispatchers in the use of preset questions to determine emergency versus nonemergency response. • Every volunteer must have personal auto liability insurance with appropriate liability limits that protect not only the volunteer but also your organization.

47. Summary • The use of POVs for response in the emergency service arena is essential to many ESOs. • Responders must think about their response attitude and mode from the moment the alert tones activate. • Acknowledging the adrenaline rush can allow the responder to act responsibly and drive sensibly.

48. Summary • The associated inherent risks must be addressed by the ESO management and sound doable policy established. • All responders should be trained annually on best practices and on the applicable policies. • These basic management processes coupled with appropriate training and enforcement can avoid situations and the potential consequences, as depicted in the case study.

49. Vehicle Security

50. Objectives • Describe the importance of maintaining vehicle security. • Identify the key components of vehicle security. • Discuss the purpose for ESO policy pertaining to vehicle security.