Motor vehicle accidents pose unique challenges. Speed, vehicle design and environmental factors effect access to victims involved. In these instances we are trained and equipped to extricate victims trapped in their vehicles after an accident. Extrication
operations involve very specialized equipment such as hydraulic
spreaders (“jaws of life”), hydraulic cutters and rams. With
these tools we are able to separate doors from the hinges, cut/remove
roofs and spread parts of the vehicle that may be entrapping the
occupants. In addition to specialty tools, we
utilize cribbing blocks to stabilize the vehicle, air tools for smaller
cutting operations and other equipment to provide overall safety. All
tasks are performed while stabilizing/treating the patient and
protecting the patient and firefighters from debris caused by
extrication operations.