Essentials of Fire Fighting , 5 th Edition

1. Essentials of Fire Fighting, 5th Edition Chapter 8 — Rescue and Extrication Firefighter II

2. Chapter 8 Lesson Goal • After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to operate various kinds of rescue equipment and practice correct extrication procedures at an accident scene following the policies and procedures set forth by the jurisdiction (AHJ). Firefighter II

3. Specific Objectives 1. Discuss maintaining emergency power and lighting equipment. 2. Describe characteristics of hydraulic rescue tools. 3. Describe characteristics of nonhydraulic rescue tools. (Continued) Firefighter II

4. Specific Objectives 4. Discuss cribbing for rescue operations. 5. Describe the characteristics of pneumatic tools. 6. Discuss lifting/pulling tools used in rescue operations. (Continued) Firefighter II

5. Specific Objectives 7. Explain the size-up process for a vehicle incident. 8. Describe items to look for when assessing the need for extrication activities. 9. Discuss stabilizing vehicles involved in a vehicle incident. (Continued) Firefighter II

6. Specific Objectives 10. List the three methods of gaining access to victims in vehicles. 11. List the most common hazards associated with wrecked passenger vehicles. (Continued) Firefighter II

7. Specific Objectives 12. Explain the dangers associated with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) and Side-Impact Protection Systems (SIPS). 13. Describe basic actions taken for patient management. (Continued) Firefighter II

8. Specific Objectives 14. Describe patient removal. 15. Describe laminated safety glass and tempered glass. 16. Discuss removing glass from vehicles. 17. Explain considerations when removing vehicle roof and doors. (Continued) Firefighter II

9. Specific Objectives 18. Describe common patterns of structural collapse. 19. Describe the most common means of locating hidden victims in a structural collapse. 20. Describe structural collapse hazards. (Continued) Firefighter II

10. Specific Objectives 21. Describe shoring. 22. Discuss technical rescue incidents. 23. Service and maintain portable power plants and lighting equipment. (Skill Sheet 8-II-1) (Continued) Firefighter II

11. Specific Objectives 24. Extricate a victim trapped in a motor vehicle. (Skill Sheet 8-II-2) 25. Assist rescue teams. (Skill Sheet 8-II-3) Firefighter II

12. Maintaining Emergency Power/Lighting Equipment • Review manufacturer’s service manual • Inspect spark plugs, plug wires • If spark plug damaged or service manual recommends, replace • Check equipment carburetor • Check fuel level, fill if necessary (Continued) Firefighter II

13. Maintaining Emergency Power/Lighting Equipment • If fuel old, replace with fresh • Check oil level, replenish as needed • Start generator; run any tests identified in Operator Manual • Inspect all electrical cords (Continued) Firefighter II

14. Maintaining Emergency Power/Lighting Equipment • Test operation of lighting equipment • Replace light bulbs as necessary • Clean work area • Document maintenance on appropriate forms/records Firefighter II

15. Powered Hydraulic Tools • Operated by hydraulic fluid pumped through special high-pressure hoses • Most powered by electric motors or two- or four-cycle gasoline engines • May be portable • May be mounted on vehicle Firefighter II

16. Spreaders • First tool available to fire/rescue service • Capable of pushing, pulling • Can produce tons of force at tips • May spread as much as 32 inches (800 mm) Firefighter II

17. Shears • Capable of cutting almost any metal object • May be used to cut other materials • Capable of producing tons of force • Opening spread of approximately 7 inches (175 mm) Firefighter II

18. Combination Spreader/Shears • Two arms with spreader tips • Inside edges of arms equipped with cutting shears • Excellent for small rapid-intervention vehicles, departments with limited resources • Capabilities less than individual units Firefighter II

19. Extension Rams • Straight pushing operations • May be used for pulling • Useful when pushing farther than shears’ maximum opening distance (Continued) Firefighter II

20. Extension Rams • Extend from closed length of 3 feet (1 m) to around 5 feet (1.5 m) • Open with tons of pushing force; close with ½ opening force Firefighter II

21. Manual Hydraulic Tools Firefighter II

22. Porta-Power Tool System • Operated by transmitting pressure from manual hydraulic pump through high-pressure hose to tool assembly • Advantage — Operates in narrow places • Disadvantage — Assembly/operation time-consuming Firefighter II

23. Hydraulic Jacks • Designed for heavy lifting applications • Excellent compression device for shoring, stabilizing operations • Lifting capabilities up to 20 tons (18 tonnes [t]) Firefighter II

24. Nonhydraulic Jacks • Screw jacks • Extended/retracted by turning threaded shaft • Check for wear after each use • Keep clean, lightly lubricated • Bar screw jacks • Trench screw jacks (Continued) Firefighter II

25. Nonhydraulic Jacks • Ratchet-lever jacks • Rigid I-beam with perforations in web and a jacking carriage with two ratchets on geared side fitting around I-beam • Least stable; can be dangerous • Can fail under heavy load Firefighter II

26. Cribbing • Essential in many rescue operations • Most commonly used to stabilize objects • Wood • Plastic • Storage Firefighter II

27. Pneumatic (Air-Powered) Tools • Air chisels • Pneumatic nailers (Continued) Firefighter II

28. Pneumatic (Air-Powered) Tools • Impact tools • Air knifes (Continued) Courtesy of Supersonic Air Knife, Inc. Firefighter II

29. Pneumatic (Air-Powered) Tools • Air vacuums • Whizzer saws Firefighter II

30. Tripods • Create anchor points above manholes, other openings • Allow rescuers to be safely lowered into confined spaces and rescuers/victims to be hoisted out Firefighter II

31. Winches • Excellent pulling tools • Usually deployed faster, greater travel/pulling distances, stronger than other lifting/pulling devices • Usually behind front bumper of vehicles (Continued) Firefighter II

32. Winches • Most common drives • Electric • Hydraulic • Power take-off • Pull by using chains/cables (Continued) Firefighter II

33. Winches • Should be equipped with handheld, remote-control devices • Should be positioned as close to objects being pulled as possible Firefighter II

34. Come-Alongs • Portable cable winches operated by manual ratchet levers • Attached to secure anchor points • Lever rewinds cable • Common sizes 1-10 tonnes (0.9-9.1 t) Firefighter II

35. Chains • Used with winches and come-alongs • Only alloy steel chains should be used in rescue work • Special alloys available for corrosive/hazardous atmospheres • Proof coil chain not suitable for rescue Firefighter II

36. Pneumatic Lifting Bags • Give rescuers ability to lift/displace objects • High-pressure bags • Low- and medium-pressure bags • Lifting bag safety rules Firefighter II

37. Block and Tackle Systems • Convert given amount of pull to working force greater than the pull • Useful for lifting/pulling heavy loads (Continued) Firefighter II

38. Block and Tackle Systems • Block — Wooden or metal frame containing one or more pulleys called sheaves • Tackle — Assembly of ropes used to multiply pulling force Firefighter II

39. Scene Size-Up • Begins as soon as first emergency vehicle approaches accident scene • Importance • Prevent injury to rescuers • Prevents further injury to victims • Clarifies required tasks • Identifies needed resources Firefighter II

40. Positioning Apparatus • Officer in charge should position according to SOP/situation at hand • Position close enough for equipment, supplies to be readily available • Should not be so close that it might interfere with other on-scene activities (Continued) Firefighter II

41. Positioning Apparatus • First-arriving engine should be positioned to provide protective barrier • U.S. DOT recommends headlights be turned off, unless needed for scene illumination • At least one traffic lane should be closed to nonemergency traffic (Continued) Firefighter II

42. Positioning Apparatus Firefighter II

43. Considerations When Arriving On Scene • What are traffic hazards; what types of control devices needed? • How many/what types of vehicles involved? • Where/how are vehicles positioned? • How many victims/what is their status? (Continued) Firefighter II

44. Considerations When Arriving On Scene • Is there fire or potential? • Any hazardous materials involved? • Any utilities that may be damaged; if so is this hazardous? • Need for additional resources? Firefighter II

45. Assess Immediate Area Around Vehicle • Number of victims in/around • Severity of injuries • Condition of vehicle • Extrication tasks that may be required • Hazardous condition Firefighter II

46. Assess Entire Area Around Scene • Other vehicles not readily apparent • Victims thrown from vehicle • Damage to structures/utilities that present hazard Firefighter II

47. Stabilizing the Vehicle • Is vital to prevent further injury • Uses cribbing/shoring devices • Prevents sudden/unexpected movement of vehicle • NEVER test stability by pushing/pulling (Continued) Firefighter II

48. Stabilizing the Vehicle • Prevent horizontal motion • Chock vehicles’ wheels • Do not rely on mechanical systems • Prevent vertical motion • Jacks • Pneumatic lifting bags • Cribbing (Continued) Firefighter II

49. Stabilizing the Vehicle • Rescuers should avoid placing parts of their bodies under vehicle • Vehicles upside down, on side, or on slope should be stabilized using whatever means available • Shut down electrical power in vehicle Firefighter II

50. Methods for Gaining Access to Victims in Vehicles • Through normally operating door • Through window • By cutting away parts of vehicle body Firefighter II