By Battalion Chief Keith Risse
On October 24, 25, and 26, 2018 the Sheboygan Fire Department conducted their annual department Vehicle Extrication Training. This exposes every department member to industry best practices, Sheboygan Fire Department specific procedures, and allows our personnel to get practical hands on exposure to the extrication tools that aid us in freeing entrapped victims from vehicle and industrial mishaps.
Typically, we would utilize vehicles destined for the crusher to practice with. As automobile makers improve vehicle gas mileage and safety, new materials are being incorporated into the vehicle structure that include lighter and stronger high strength alloy metals and therefore challenge the tools and procedures that worked on older more conventionally built vehicles. These newer model vehicles generally are not at the fire department’s disposal or because of their salvage value, are outside the means of the department to acquire.
This year, through the generosity of the Acuity Insurance Company, the SFD has been able to acquire some of these newer model vehicles that contain high strength materials and have been damaged in collisions. Through this partnership, we had our first opportunity to train on vehicles containing the high strength alloys. From this training, we assessed the effectiveness of our current tools and have begun to develop procedures that will work on high strength materials or prepare us to work around these areas of the vehicle. Going forward it helps the department make better informed decisions on the purchase of new tools specifically designed to handle these metals.
Through this generous assistance we, as the Sheboygan Fire Department, have the opportunity to be better prepared to handle these emergencies and ultimately come to the aid of our citizens and those who visit here.
The post between the front and rear door is removed to make a wide uninterrupted opening for patient access and removal.
Instructors use this training time to teach methods and explain the mechanics behind them.
Creating this relief cut allows us to move other adjacent portions of the car body more easily.
Utilizing a spreader tool to move the dash and steering column away from the leg area of the passenger compartment.
During a vehicle extrication, firefighters work to remove the glass in a controlled fashion.
A front door is removed to increase access into the passenger compartment.