Rescue Points to Ponder: VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
BY RAY DOWNEY
Motor vehicle accidents are an everyday occurrence in the fire service. The availability of powerful spreading, lifting, and cutting equipment has been of great benefit for members having to deal with modern day vehicles involved in accidents.
Is it more likely that there would be a fuel spill if the car were passenger-side down in photo 1? (The fuel fill is at the top right of photo.)
Would it have been easier to try and upright the car–would that be a safe practice?
Is entry through the rear window a viable option?
Should a charged handline always be in position during such operations?
Is there a need for the victim to be properly protected?
What is the victim`s condition in photo 2–is medical treatment being administered? If the victim is deceased, is the body going to be removed? Should the body be covered? (Prevent scenes such as this.)
Does an investigation require that the victim not be removed?
What is the “Golden Hour,” and how does it apply to vehicle accidents?
Besides possible fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid spills, what other safety precautions must be taken?
Have you considered establishing a “safety zone” in and around the accident scene to protect the victims and rescuers?
What precautions must you take to prevent additional accidents such as a pileup?
How much and what type of stabilization is needed for both incidents? n
n RAY DOWNEY is a battalion chief, chief of rescue operations, and a 37-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York. The former captain of Rescue Company 2, he is the USAR task force leaders representative to FEMA for all 26 teams and is a member of FEMA`s Advisory Committee. Downey is also the author of the book The Rescue Company, the video Rescue Operational Planning: Factors for Success, and the video series Collapse Rescue for the Fire Service, published by Fire Engineering.
