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Struts Galore at FDIC

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Walking around the floor at FDIC I thought to myself that I must be in extrication heaven, or at least Struts Galore to say the least!  Struts were everywhere at FDIC.  Almost every major strut manufacturer had a booth with a car with the rubber up.  Below are a few pictures from Res-Q-Jack’s and Paratech’s booth.  Please post any comments about struts you like or what your department uses.

Res-Q-Jack offers free training at Stabilization Universities that are held around the United States.   Free, training that covers Vehicle Stabilization, Hydraulics and Over-Ride Extrication, and Advanced Roll-Overs, and Complex Set-Ups.  I’m sure that Res-Q-Jack will be marketing their product lines, but they should get kudos for offering free training.

The Res-Q-Jack_Space-Saver_Extrication_Strut-FDIC_2011The Res-Q-Jack_Space-Saver_Extrication_Strut-FDIC_2011

Paratech was displaying their ALL IN ONE vehicle stabilizer with the Twist Lock Collar seen below.  The product name is the TVS or Twistlock Vehicle Stabilizer. Even though other manufacturers make an integrated ratchet, I think Paratech hit a home-run with the integrated ratchet belt with the strap rolled up.  The whole strut kit looks clean and streamlined.

 

2011_FDIC_Hurst_Extrication_7

Posted by on March 30, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Hurst FDIC Display

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Hurst….. Well every major extrication tool manufacturer had a great display of tools set up at FDIC.  Hurst had a 2011 Ford Fiesta in a plexi-glass box where factory reps cut it to pieces in front of visitors at their booth.  There was also a stack of Boron B-pillars that I would have loved to sneak out the back.  There was also an outside demo area by Lucas Oil Stadium where conference attendees could put on some PPE and make some cuts on a car.  Best part of the outside demo on Friday was Hurst had a bar set up next to the display!

Posted by on March 28, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Packexe SMASH Glass Management for Vehicle Extrication

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Staying with the theme of my previous post – Laminated Glass Poses Significant Danger – I wanted to write about the use of a product to manage the glass during an extrication. Or “Time Critical Glass Management for vehicle extrication” as the Packexe puts it. The product is called the Packexe SMASH. The adhesive used on the Packexe SMASH was specifically formulated for holding glass which protects the patients and rescue team from glass fragments and dust. I have yet to use the Packexe SMASH system but would like to! However, based on the video below the application of the product looks straight forward. Please check out the Packexe website and Fire & Rescue for more information. Fill free to post any comments or experiences with the Packexe SMASH

Packexe SMASH system

Packexe SMASH Kit

Packexe SMASH used on a side window. Also take note of the N95 style mask that the rescuer is wearing.

Posted by on March 27, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Laminated Glass Poses Significant Danger

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Here is a simple question for you. Does your rescue truck or the truck that carries the extrication equipment have N95 masks? If it does not, it should. Have you ever noticed how long glass dust lingers in the air? Did you know that TERC sanctioned extrication challenges it is mandatory for all rescuers and the live patient to wear an N95 dust mask while removing glass? When I was watching the Roadway Rescue team cut apart a Ford Transport for a new DVD series late last year everyone made sure they were wearing a mask whenever glass was broken or removed. Take it from the guys that do it day in and day out, wear a mask and make sure your patient has one too.

If you are still thinking that you don’t need a mask, just check out the Material Safety Data Sheet on Silica below. I found the MSDS and another important reason why we should were a mask on an article that my friend Randy Schmitz wrote for Firefight ring in Canada. Randy contacted some glass makers and found out that modern “laminated glass is made up of 70 per cent silica and other raw materials. Modern laminated windshield glass is made of poly vinyl butyral, iron oxide, silica sand, soda ash, dolomite and limestone”. That should prompt every rescuer to wear a N95-style dust mask when working around glass dust and particles. Two important points to leave you with:

  • Do not rely on your sight to determine if dust is in the air.
  • Respirable crystalline silica dust may be in the air without a visible dust cloud.

Check out Randy’s article called Extrication Tips: Raising the roof (Laminated glass removal poses significant danger) for extrication techniques to minimize glass dust during extrication.

 

 

Material Safety Data Sheet on silica:

OSHA regulatory status
This material is considered hazardous under the OSHA Hazard Communications Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).
Potential health effects

Inhalation:

  1. Silicosis: respirable crystalline silica (quartz) can cause silicosis, a fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs. Silicosis may be progressive; it may lead to disability and death.
  2. Lung cancer: crystalline silica (quartz) inhaled from occupational sources is classified as carcinogenic to humans.
  3. Tuberculosis: silicosis increases the risk of tuberculosis.
  4. Autoimmune and chronic kidney diseases: some studies show excess numbers of cases of scleroderma, connective tissue disorders, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney diseases and end-stage kidney disease in workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.
  5. Non-malignant respiratory diseases (other than silicosis): some studies show an increased incidence in chronic bronchitis and emphysema in workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.
  • Eye contact: crystalline silica (quartz) may cause abrasion of the cornea.
  • Chronic effects: The adverse health effects  – silicosis, lung cancer, autoimmune and chronic kidney diseases, tuberculosis.
  • Signs and symptoms of exposure: Generally, there are no signs or symptoms of exposure to crystalline silica (quartz).
  • Inhalation: No specific first aid is necessary since the adverse health effects associated with exposure to crystalline silica (quartz) result from chronic exposures. If there is a gross inhalation of crystalline silica (quartz), remove the person immediately to fresh air, give artificial respiration as needed, seek medical attention as needed.
  • Eye contact: Wash immediately with water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention.

Precautions during handling and use:

  • Do not breathe dust.
  • Use adequate ventilation and dust collection. Keep airborne dust concentrations below permissible exposure limit (PEL).
  • Do not rely on your sight to determine if dust is in the air.
  • Respirable crystalline silica dust may be in the air without a visible dust cloud.
  
   

 

 

 

Posted by on March 26, 2011 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

UKRO Challenge 2011 London – Vehicle Extrication Information

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The United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) is a fast moving dynamic organisation that is determined to push vehicle extrication to its professional pinnacle, to drive the national agenda on road death reduction and to showcase other rescue disciplines including trauma, line rescue and urban search and rescue.

The UKRO Challenge 2011 London has 4 different challenges; Extrication, Trauma, Rope Rescue, and USAR.  For the Vehicle Extrication challenge the UKRO has made the assessor sheets availbile on their website to download and use for your training.

Posted by on March 20, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

FDIC and Too Much Work!

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So far the month of March this year has really kept me very busy with basically everything!   My day job designing car seats has focused on the new Fiat 500 that is now ready to be sold in the United States.   A high performance version of the Fiat 500 is what has kept me busy for the last few weeks.   All this work is also shortening my stay at FDIC.   However, I will be down at FDIC all day Friday and at the Firefighter Nation & FireEMSBlogs.com Meetup. The Meetup in Indy will be at O’Reilly’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, just blocks from the Indy Convention Center.   I hope to see you all there!

Posted by on March 20, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,

Fire & Rescue Magazine (A Free UK Magazine??)

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Fire & Rescue is a magazine out of the United Kingdom published by the Hemming Group.  The magazine is published quarterly and is available for download and by free subscription with free worldwide delivery!  To subscribe, go to HemmingFire.com and feel out your information!  Your free subscription also provides unlimited access to FireandRescue.net!  You will recognize an author in the first quarter 2011 issue as none other than David Dalrymple from RoadwayRescue!  Dave writes about the different types of steels used in today’s body structure! So check it out below!  A quick note, if the wording is not clear on the flash version on the online magazine, just zoom in and the words will sharpen right up!

One thing that I really love about the Internet is how it connects the fire service all around the world!  Facebook is the main tool that many people think of when social networking is mentioned.  However there is another site, LinkedIn, which is a business-oriented social networking site that has been around since December 2002.  LinkedIn has a huge following in the fire service and is only getting bigger!  If you don’t have a LinkedIn account you really should sign up for one.  LinkedIn is a great professional networking tool with close to 100 million users.  Join the Fire & Rescue Magazine group on Linkedin and Facebook!  Well, like the Fire & Rescue Magazine page on Facebook! 

Also, if you haven’t checked out the BoronExtrication.com page on Facebook, please do!

Posted by on March 12, 2011 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

2011 Lexus IS Body Structure

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The 2011 Lexus IS has a body structure has a high structural rigidity.  This body structure is used in the 2006 through 2011 models.   As with most late model vehicles, the Lexus IS has a boat load of safety features!

Other safety features to keep in minds:

  • Front-impact airbags for the driver and passenger have been designed to protect the head during a frontal crash.
  • Side impact airbags for the front seats have been designed to protect the torso during a side impact collision.
  • Overhead airbags are used to protect the occupant’s heads in the event of a side collision or rollover.
  • Knee airbags help to protect the occupants lower extremities from serious injury in the event of an accident.
  • Seatbelt pretensioners automatically tighten seatbelts to place the occupant in the optimal seating position during a collision.
Posted by on March 1, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,