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Thanks for a Great 2010!!!!

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What a great year 2010 was! For the first time in a long time the automotive industry started adding jobs here in Detroit! Hopefully, with more people getting back to work the budget cuts in public safety budgets can finally start to slow down, if not end!

As for BoronExtrication.com, I started this blog to help spread around information about the advanced steels used in the body structure of new vehicles. Back in January, I would have never guessed how much traffic to my blog would increase! Also, becoming part of the FireEMSBlogs.com family was huge honor and a great step to gain a larger readership.




One cool thing about writing this blog is all the contacts and people I get to meet in the Fire Service. First off, in May I went to a trauma synopsis at local community college that Ron Moore from Firehouse.com and University or Extrication was presenting at. To my shock, Ron knew who I was when I went up to meet him.

Dave Dalrymple and his crew from RoadwayRescue LLC



Another gentleman I met was Dave Dalrymple and his crew from RoadwayRescue LLC at a DVD filming for Fire Engineering in Dearborn, Michigan. Extrication is not limited to the US. From Canada there is Randy Schmitz from the Calgary Fire Department and Alberta Vehicle Extrication Association. The reach of the internet connects me to a friend across the pond in the UK, Jon Curley from rtc-rescue.com. Last but not lest is the FireEMSBlog.com group of bloggers and support staff. While I have yet to meet any of them face-to-face, they all are a true asset to the Fire Service and I’m looking forward to a great New Year!

Please everyone on-duty tonight or like me, skipping the alcohol just incase there’s a MVA on the freeway (fires or even more rare in Wixom, MI), stay safe out there!!

Posted by on December 31, 2010 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

2007-2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Body Structure

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Just remember, most Subarus are going to made of a ton of Boron and other UHSS.  The Subaru Impreza WRX STi is no different.  Just take a look at all the red colored pieces of the body structure below. 

Posted by on December 30, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Fire LODD, Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer

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I just wanted to post some pictures from the ChicagoTribune that tell the very sad story of the events in Chicago’s South Side Wednesday morning.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the Ankum Family, Stringer Family, and the Chicago Fire Department.

E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune / December 22, 2010

E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune / December 22, 2010

E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune / December 22, 2010

Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune / December 22, 2010

Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune / December 22, 2010)

Heather Charles, Chicago Tribune / December 22, 2010

Posted by on December 22, 2010 • Filed under: in-the-line-of-duty, line-of-duty • Tagged:

2011 BMW 3-Series Body Structure

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The Fifth generation of the BMW 3-Series is what is currently on the road with a model run from 2005-2011.  The Six Generation is due out in 2012.

The  B-pillars are reinforced with a tubular structure throughout the B-pillars for added strength.  The tubular reinforcement is made of ultra-strong steel which is formed from hot steel and then heat-treated while still in the mold.  Something to take note of is the cross section of reinforcement tube is variably contoured based on the space available.  Together with the crash box tailored to the loads, which act on the body, this ensures maximum safety. 



The bulkhead support is made of multi-phase steel . The strength of the side structure is maximized with the doors, the reinforced b-pillars, the seat structure and the instrument panel between the A-pillars.

2011 BMW 3-Series Body Structure

Other Safety features: 

  • Front and rear head airbags
  • Dual front side-mounted airbags
  • Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
  • Front and rear seatbelt pretensioners
  • Post-collision safety system

2011 BMW 3-Series AirBag Locations

Posted by on December 20, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Detroit Fire Tees, Chritsmas in the D!

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If you are looking for a great last minute Christmas gift from the home of the Automobile (also Kid Rock and  Eminem) than look no further than Detroit Fire Tees!!  Detroit Fire Tees  is owned and operated by a Detroit Firefighter and his wife.  They have been making and selling  Detroit Fire shirts for years and will continue to make them if we continue to love them.   I own a few of their shirts myself and love them!  Thinking about getting the “Christmas in the D” shirt to wear to the Inlaws on Chritsmas Night.

Posted by on December 20, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged:

Very Cool Extrication Glove or “Schmitz Mitts”

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Schmitz_Mitts_Randy_Schmitz_Extrication_Dan_HobbsAnybody who has researched extrication online or in magazines has most certainly ran across an article or technique that Randy Schmitz from the Calgary Fire Department has written. Randy was in search of an extrication glove that truly meet all the needs of firefighters working on the scene of an extrication while keeping their hands safe. Randy contacted Dan Hobbs over 3 years ago about developing an extrication glove and gave a list of 15 criteria. The result is an awesome extrication glove known as “Schmitz Mitts”. The glove has carbon fiber knuckles with a liner made from a product called Hipora. Hipora is a waterproof/breathable membrane that gives blood borne pathogen protection. There are two separate layers of slash resistance and pathogen protection. The palms are also flame resistant. Make sure you watch the video; Randy really puts the gloves thru some crazy tests! I plan to add a pair to my personal non-issued PPE for website tools and product reviews.

Check out the gloves here: Schmitz Mitts

Posted by on December 18, 2010 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, special-operations • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Do you know where the battery is?

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One job that needs to be completed on the scene of an extrication is securing the power source.  A simple task that even the newest probie should have no issue completing.  However, I have to ask, do you know where the battery is?  Now some of you will say it’s either in under the hood or in the trunk.  That’s a safe assumption. Just remember that automakers position the battery in different locations in vehicles based on weight distribution, cost of running cables, and sometimes, batteries are put the only place they fit.   Took a quick look at the battery locations of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the first two images and the E-Class in the the third.   Just to clarify, we are only talking about the standard 12 volt car battery, not hybrid batteries.

High-end cars like Mercedes-Benz and even domestic brands like Lincoln and Cadillac cover up most of the engine compartments with plastic covers.  The automakers view it as an “under the hood beautification”.  Check out the engine compartment of a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V in the image below.

Posted by on December 15, 2010 • Filed under: extrication, patient-management, rescues, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , ,

SHADE Acronym

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I spend a great deal of time researching extrication on the internet and one topic specifically, Extrication Teams.  I ran across the Puyallup Extrication Team’s website and there are some very useful, free, information available!  Check out their site and make sure you review the information under the “STUDENT HANDOUTS” tab on the header on the top of the page.  One handout that is a quick easy read is the image below, SHADE Acronym.

SHADE Acronym

The San Diego Operational Area North Zone Website has a great 25 page Extrication Training  Manual that really brakes down the SHADE Acronym.

Posted by on December 2, 2010 • Filed under: extrication, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , ,

2010 Chrysler Body Structures

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Here are a few pictures of the 2010 Chrysler Body Structures: 

When the redesigned Chrysler Sebring hit the road in 2007, it had one of the highest combined percentages of high-strength and ultra-high-strength, hot-stamped steel among production-volume vehicles.  How much UHSS and Dual Phase?  Hot-stamped steel is used in the A-pillars, B-pillars and roof rail reinforcements that shed 30 lbs of upper body weight by 30 lbs.  Dual-phase and high-strength steels are located in the sill with as many as four layers of metal that provide impact energy management.  The Sebring has large sills which stiffen the body structure. 

2010_Chrysler_Sebring_Body_structure

2010 Chrysler Sebring

2010_Chrysler_300_Body_structure

2010 Chrysler 300

2010_Chrysler_PT_Cruiser_Body_structure

2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser

2010_Chrysler_Town_Country_Body_structure

2010 Chrysler Town and Country

 

Posted by on December 2, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

Sprinkler Requirement Will Drive Up Cost Of New Homes, Really?

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I know that residential sprinklers is a little off my usually topic, but I ran across a story on Firehouse.com about a new law in Pennsylvania. Sprinklers will be required in all new single-family homes in Pennsylvania starting January 1, 2011.  The full story is located here: thepittsburghchannel.com 

My concern is the huge numbers being thrown around about the cost of a residential sprinkler system that are not real.  Leave it to a builder to start throwing around huge numbers to scare off home buyers about residential sprinklers.  Forget that the insurance savings more than offsets the initial costs of a system when amortized over 30 years.

Jim Eichenlaub, who is the executive director of the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (go figure!) stated the cost at $8,000 to put in a sprinkler system.  I checked the USFA website for some cost information and found the info below:

At the present time, cost of a home sprinkler system is targeted at approximately $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot in new construction. It is hoped that the cost will decrease as the use of home fire protection grows. It is also possible to retrofit existing homes with sprinkler systems.

Numbers as large as $15k to $30k for residential sprinkler systems are mentioned!  Just remember, most builders are trying to save as much money aspossible during construction.  They especially love using the cheap lightweight building materials that threaten our brothers and sisters everyday!  What are your thoughts?

Links:

Posted by on December 1, 2010 • Filed under: fire-prevention-education, firefighting-operations, fires • Tagged: , ,