Vehicle Extrication Training
On March 11, 2004 the fire fighters and explorers of Sugarloaf Volunteer Fire Department, extricated a training dummy from a vehicle at the rear of the Fire House. With the combined efforts of post 569 and the fire fighters we successfully chopped the doors, and the roof of the car off.
The night started out in a debate to see what we would do for training. Then a SLVFD member Lt. Eric Bonar suggested we do extraction training on one of the cars that were donated to the station. His suggestion was approved, so then began the shuffle of vehicles, including Squad-10 to the rear of the building.
The squad was moved to the back of the building, the car pulled behind it. They quickly decided on the procedures that we going to be taken. Then dawned their gear. Numerous members began cribbing (stabilizing) the vehicle. After the vehicle was stabilized most of the explorers began taking the tools off the squad and laying them on a staging tarp. Some of the tools they were readying were Hurst spreaders, and cutters, axes, and halogen tools.
First responder Diana Nelson held c-spine on the training dummy while the extrication was being conducted. First the windows were taken out using a window punch. Explorer chief Chris Boveda took out the two passenger side windows with the assistance of FF. Ed Russell. Then the two began making purchase points (holes on the door jam so the tips of the spreaders would fit) on all the doors. Lt. Eric Bonar used the hurt spreaders to spread open the doors of the vehicle. FF/EMT Brent Nelson and FF/Engineer Ron Rodamer used the Hurst cutter to remove the doors for vehicle. They did this by cutting the hinges of the doors.
Chief Mike Bowden instructed the members to cut the seat belts before the roof was cut. Assigned to the task of removing the vehicles roof was Deputy Chief Bob Adair, Lt. Eric Bonar, FF. Ed Russell, FF/EMT Brent Nelson, and Explorer Chief Chris Boveda. Using the electric saws, and the Hurst cutting tools they cut the A, B, and C posts (main beams) of the roof. After severing the roof form the car members lifted the roof and moved off the vehicle.
Lt. Eric Bonar used the cutters to remove the steering wheel from the steering column. The Lt. with the assistance or Brent Nelson rolled the drivers side of the dash board using the Hurst spreaders. While the spreaders stayed at a full spread supporting the dash Brent Nelson called upon another tool in the fire service the Hurst ram. Using the ram, he placed it between the door frame and the underside of the dash; he rolled the passenger side of the dash board.
After the roof was cut and removed, the doors removed, and dash board rolled the dummy was successfully extricated for the vehicle. After all the cutting, ripping, and spreading it was time to clean up. All the tools were put back into the squad, and the car pieces were placed inside of what remained of the vehicle.
Written By: Alex Boveda Pictures By: SLVFD Members
