Although our roads and vehicles continue to become safer, Mother Nature and Mama Moose will always hold the upper hand, and accidents will occur. If a motor vehicle accident causes an occupant to be trapped inside, rescuers must be able to safely and quickly extricate them from the tangled mess of wreckage. SFR has vehicle rescue assets on constant alert and continually trains to ensure that Vehicle Extrication is available for Salcha.
Extrication TrainingSFR volunteers practice Vehicle Extrication several times each year. It is a core competency for our squad, and unfortunately gets used in real life all too often. You may have seen us cutting up old Chevys or Fords (we don't descriminate) on the Richardson Highway pull-off near Station 1. The training is always very challenging.
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Rescue 8 functions not only as our mobile command center, but also carries all of our extrication equipment, hydraulic and electrical power generators, and scene lighting. |
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The team reviews and practices using all personal protective equipment needed to avoid injuries while using the power tools in the hazardous environment of a wrecked vehicle. |
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Extrication is truly a team effort. Working together, anticipating what needs to be done next, communicating with each other. This is how it is done safely and expeditiously. SFR "team leaders are a critical element of success. |
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Ideally, rescuers try to eliminate potential hazards as much as possible, to include stabilizing the vehicle and removing window glass prior to beginning an extrication. Doors jammed closed? No problem! The team practices various techniques to use hydraulic-powered tools to "pop-open" a door that won't open normally because of crash damage. |
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Sometimes a frontal impact can cause the front end of a vehicle to crunch in on the passenger compartment leaving little room to remove a passenger. Salcha volunteers practice using their hydraulic-powered equipment to make quick work of opening up the passenger compartment to safely remove a patient |
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The team discusses prepping the cutters. Hydraulic cutters will be used to cut the roof posts, and eventually remove the roof. |
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Power saws make quick work of cutting the vehicle's roof support to eventually remove the roof. Removing the roof can allow easier access to injured patients. |
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Working under the lights can present additional problems, but our volunteers are well practiced in doing their work during times of darkness, also known as winter in Alaska. |
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It is always an excellent opportunity to review using all the specialized power tools that aren't part of our normal daily routine. |