Chapter 40: Highway Safety and Vehicle Extrication

Jul 28, 2024

Chapter 40: Highway Safety and Vehicle Extrication 🚒

Highway Emergency Operations

  • Biggest Hazard: Traffic; Emergency responders often not seen by drivers.
    • Key Strategy: Limit personnel on busy highways to reduce risk.
    • Use vehicles, especially fire apparatus, as a blocking force to create a safe zone.
    • Be alert to ensure traffic patterns are clear and safe.

On the Scene

  • Hazards: Traffic, vehicle dangers, extrication process, impatience of blocked drivers.
  • Always have someone on lookout for hazards.

Limited Access Highways

  • Driving against traffic flow creates hazards; confirm no traffic is coming when doing so.
  • Keep road impacts minimal.
  • First Arriving Unit: Block traffic, establish Incident Command using green flashing light.
  • Ensure safe work areas and exits for transport/rescue units.

Parking and Blocking Traffic

  • Park at an angle, wheels turned away from the incident for safety.
  • Chock wheels to prevent movement if hit.
  • Ensure enough space for entrance and exit.
  • Safety Vests: Use approved safety vests (Class 3 for highways over 55mph).
  • Use road flares, traffic cones, lights to alert oncoming traffic, with caution about explosion hazards.
  • Shut off white lights at night; use red/amber lights.
  • Utilize traffic directional boards, highway notification signs, barricades for long-term scenes.

Vehicle Extrication

Phases

  1. Preparation: Training, equipment checks, PPE readiness.
  2. Scene Size-Up: Assess needs, manage hazards, stabilize vehicle.
  3. Access Patient: Gain access and perform rapid assessment.
  4. Disentanglement: Remove vehicle components, extricate patient.
  5. Additional Assessment & Transport: Continued care and transport.
  6. Debrief & Termination: Review and learn from the mission.

Protective Gear

  • Fire-resistant gear, helmets, safety glasses, face shields.
  • Appropriate fire gear if close to potential fire areas.
  • Use proper helmets, eye protection (ANSI certified), cut-resistant gloves, body protection.
  • Provide patient with blankets, hearing protection if needed.

Managing Traffic

  • Use fire trucks, converted vehicles, Scorpion impact absorbers for protection.
  • Flares should be used cautiously.

Supplemental Restraint Systems (Airbags)

  • Protects patients if seated correctly but can be hazardous if deployed incorrectly.
  • Hazards: Smoke from airbags, non-deployed airbags as potential hazards.
  • Bumpers: Be aware of shock absorber energy releases.

Electrical Hazards

  • Treat all wires as live; establish danger zones.
  • P-Mounted Transformers: Can be hazardous if damaged.

Vehicle Fires

  • EMTs Role: Small fires with extinguisher, wait for fire department otherwise.
  • Electric Vehicles: Only extricate patient; observe the fire.

Stabilizing and Gaining Access

Stabilizing Vehicles

  • Turn off engines, use step chocks or cut tire valve stems for stabilization.
  • Step Chocks: Secure vehicle to prevent movement.
  • Additional Tools: Ropes, cribbing, stabilizer bars.

Gaining Access

  • Try all doors before using extrication tools.
  • If needed, break glass away from the patient.

Disentanglement

  • Remove vehicle components for easier patient access.
  • Create large exit path, remove steering wheel from patient, move seats back.
  • Avoid cutting columns with wiring and airbags.

Thank you for your participation!

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