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2013 Annual Extrication Training Events

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Firefighters and rescue personnel should consider attending one of the annual extrication seminars and training events around the United States, Canada, and even around the world that offer different methods of instruction and knowledge.  I believe training outside of your region and comfort zone will further your extrication knowledge and keep you are the leading edge.  In addition, you are able to bring back fresh ideas and tactics to your department.  Below is a list of extrication training seminars and events for 2013.

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Southeastern Extrication School

  • Date: February 16, 2013 8:00 AM
  • The 5th Annual Southeastern Extrication School will be held at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology.

KCFTOA Annual PXT 201/202/401 Extrication Academy

  • Date: March 13 – 15, 2013 0800-1700
  • The King County Fire Training Officers Association Present: 2013 Advanced Auto Extrication Featuring the Puyallup Extrication Team and their Unique Teaching Style! Minimal class time with Maximum hands-on training takes you through modern extrication practices using hydraulic and non-hydraulic rescue tools. This 3 day class (PXT 201/202/401)covers vehicle construction, stabilization, disentanglement, and tool knowledge. Scenario based evolutions give the students practical solutions for real world problems. In addition, MGSTECH will give their extremely popular Hybrid and Alternative Fuel vehicles class with up-to-date information to keep first responders abreast of new changes. Lunch is provided. Full PPE is required. Questions regarding the Academy Contact: Lt. Mark Seaver 206.818.2491 mseaver@rentonwa.gov

Heavy Metal Rescue

  • Date: April 5-7, 2013 Corning, NY
  • Last year, T&R Rescue Solutions brought in seven instructors from all over the United States were brought together to help firefighters understand the capabilities of towing and recovery trucks, equipment, techniques and operators as responders in motor vehicle accidents involving trucks, buses, and industrial equipment.

Corona Firefighters’ Auto Extrication Seminar

  • Date: April 12-14, 2013
  • The Corona Firefighters’ Auto Extrication Seminar trains Firefighters in the “art” of removing the vehicle from the patient. Their seminar is often referred to as “the best extrication training in the Western United States”.  For more info, contact Dan Fagan CFA Local 3757 d.fagan@cfa3757.org

Northern Ohio FOOLS Heavy Rescue 101

  • Date: April 19&20, 2013
  • There will be cars, buses, commercial, advanced techniques, newest equipment, Brotherhood, and a great time. Friday evening is typically a classroom session. Saturday is the hands on training part of Heavy Rescue 101.

Crash Course by Howell Rescue Systems

  • Date: May 4&5, 2013
  • Crash Course is a two-day extrication course. It is ONLY held once a year in the spring, and is the undisputed national leader in extrication training.  This course is an intense two-day, all hands-on class involving multiple extrication techniques

Bowling Green State University Heavy Rescue

  • Date: May 6-9, 2013 08:00-17:00
  • The first day of this class will be spent reviewing extrication principles, new vehicle technology, and commercial vehicle/bus familiarization. Days two, three, and four will be held at a commercial vehicle/ heavy equipment facility. You will be challenged to work individually and in teams to respond to increasingly complex rescue scenarios. These scenarios may include; car/truck underride, partially submerged vehicles, commercial truck, school bus, basic rope haul systems, heavy lifting, and torch use. Safety will be stressed at all times

Big Rig Hots

  • Date: June 19-22, 2013 Leduc County, Alberta Canada
  • This learning and hands on training symposium will provide an opportunity for firefighters from all over Canada to witness and participate in extremely complicated large vehicle rescue and extrications. Participants of this symposium will have the opportunity to be involved in four workshops involving complicated stabilization and extrication Techniques that demonstrate: “Cab Extrications”, “Under-Runs”, “Overturns”, and “Dealing with Cement Mixers”.

Crunch Time Extrication Symposium

  • Date: September 27-29 Roscoe,IL

RESCUE DAYS

  • Date: October 4-6, 2013 Geldern, Germany
  • RESCUE DAYS is the worldwide largest training event on technical rescue. WEBER HYDRAULIK initiated a seminar series more than 10 years ago and are continuing it with RESCUE DAYS as an annual highlight.  RESCUE DAYS should be on every firefighter’s bucket list!

So-Cal Auto-X Academy

  • Date: TBA

So-Cal Big Rig Rescue

  • Date: TBA
  • The second annual Southern California Big Rig Rescue Academy will be hosted by the Riverside County Fire Department at the Ben Clark Fire Training Center in Riverside, California. The 3 day So-Cal Big Rig Rescue Academy is packed full of the most current heavy lift and big rig extrication techniques.  The academy curriculum is taught by the industry’s leading instructors and delivered through 80% hands-on instruction.

Southern Region Advanced Auto Extrication Seminar

  • Date: TBA

 

 

Telsa Motors Extrication Training Video

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Telsa Motor Extrication Training Video Ron Moore Fremont

  • Ron Moore and Brock Archer have been working with Tesla Motors to develop some training for first responders.  Below is a detailed breakdown of the free extrication training video on Telsa Electric Vehicle:

  • The project involves the creation of an approx. 30 min long Electric Vehicle Response Video. The video uses the Tesla Model S as an example, but addresses general EV response considerations. Some of the topics covered are… basic electrical concepts, how electric vehicles work, high voltage component locations and their function, stabilization considerations (specific to EV’s), high voltage shut-down procedures for EV’s, and more…

Telsa Motor Extrication Training Video Ron Moore Fremont Brock Archer

  • The NFPA has supported the creation of the training video by contributing graphics, video clips and animations from their EV Safety Training program.
  • The video includes a hands on instructional demonstration (cutting on a Model S) of some special considerations that must be maintained when an extrication assignment is received for a vehicle that utilizes high voltage components.
  • The video is part of a training package that, with Tesla Motors support, Brock Archer will be releasing in mid Dec 2012. The training package includes the 30 min training video, a Tesla EV Response Training Presentation, a ground breaking ERG that’s complete with suggestions for UHSS and high voltage workaround techniques, and a Model S quick reference card. The entire package will be completely free and first responders will be able to download the material online.

Telsa Motor Extrication Training Video Ron Moore HV Battery

Safety First, Especially when training!

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Is safety at the scrap yard and at extrication training a priority?   Here is one reason to drill and drive home to peel away the trim and look for airbag inflators even on old cars in the scrap yard.  Yesterday a 2001 Volvo S40 was included in the vehicles at the local scrap yard for the man behind FirtDueTackle.com and me.  When I looked inside the driver door the was a small door in the trim at the top of the B-Pillar.  The door had a marking cooling out a roof airbag.  I pulled out Moditech’s Crash Recovery System and looked up the vehicle and sure enough there is a roof airbag with the inflator located in the middle of the C-Pillar.  It was easy to assume that that a 11 year old vehicle wouldn’t have inflators in the pillars, but that is a dangerous assumption.

Vovlo S40 Airbag Extrication Safety Inflator

NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Emergency Field Guide

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Emergency Field Guide, EFGThe NFPA just released a Emergency Field Guide for sale.  The price is modest at $45 for a print copy.  I like to see extrication field guides hitting the market.  There’s a pocket electric/ hybrid guide getting ready to be released soon. A lot of rescuers still like to have a printed copy in their hands to flip through.  Hopefully, I can get a copy yo review and provide a complete review.  In the mean time, here’s what the NFPA has to say about it.

Respond to electric and hybrid vehicle incidents involving damaged high voltage batteries, battery fires, submersion and charging stations with NFPA’s full-color Electric Vehicle Emergency Field Guide, 2012 Edition. It’s packed with color visuals and technical data reviewed by the auto manufacturers!

Learn about everything from vehicle immobilization to disabling high-voltage and SRS systems, conducting safe extrication cuts, and executing vehicle recovery and disposal. The hands-on EV Emergency Field Guide covers:

  • Disabling procedures and extrication hazards specific to individual makes and models — checked by manufacturers for technical accuracy
  • NFPA-developed procedural guidelines for fire response, extrication, submersion, spill hazards, and first aid
  • Original manufacturer diagrams and images
  • Leading-edge Lithium Ion vehicle safety information from third-party research such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Fire Protection Research Foundation
  • Post-incident recovery procedures
  • Warning signs of latent fire risks
  • Storage guidance

The Emergency Field Guide is updated as technology changes, so make sure you have the latest!

Compact, spiralbound, and organized for easy access to information, the Electric Vehicle Emergency Field Guide is essential for fire and rescue personnel, EMS technicians, law enforcement, and towing/recovery professionals. Stay safe and be prepared to respond — order today. (Spiralbound, Approx. 145 pp., 2012 Volume 1)

Purchase a pdf or print copy from our online catalog today! 

2013 Volvo C70 Body Structure and Safety Systems

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Here is a quick look at the 2013 Volvo C70.  The doors and B-pillars have been reinforced in various ways.  In a side impact the doors and B-pillars work together with the reinforced sills and a comprehensive system of cross-members and bulkheads to absorb the collision forces.

2013 Volvo C70 Body Structure Safety ROPS

The C70 retractable hardtop also features a roll over protection structure (ROPS) with two pyrotechnically charged roll hoops hidden behind the rear seats that deploy under roll-over conditions whether the roof is retracted or not.2013 Volvo C70 Body Structure Safety BIW

2013 Volvo C70 Body Structure Safety

Take a look the screen shot from Moditech’s Crash Recovery System.  Notice that the B-pillars don’t show any advanced or reinforced steel?  Just remember, most convertibles have a very large B-pillar structure behind the sheet metal.

2013 Volvo C70 CRS Moditech Extrication Safety Airbag

2006-2013 Volvo C70 Body Structure

Extrication Airbag Door

Extrication Airbag Door

2013 Volvo V40 Pedestrian Airbag

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The world’s first pedestrian airbag fitted as standard on the all-new Volvo V40 is the next step towards the manufacturers target that no-one should be killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020.

For complete A to Z on how the pedestrian airbag works, check out the Technology update May 2012 | PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION AIRBAG from our friends over at Moditech.

Moditech’s extrication expert Jörg Heck provides a quick reminder for us. “Switching the ignition to the off position and, if possible, isolating the vehicles electrical system are very important measures to keep in mind. In addition, rescuers should always maintain a safety distance from an undeployed pedestrian protection airbag, while working on the crashed vehicle with heavy equipment. Therefore it’s essential to know what’s inside!”  Remember as more safety features are added rescuers need to keep learning and adding to their mental toolbox!

2013 Volvo V40 Pedestrian Airbag Deployed Extrication Body Structure

2013 Volvo V40 Pedestrian Airbag Deployed Extrication

Pedestrian Airbag Extrication

Moditech May 2012 Crash Recovery System Tech Update Extrication

Volvo is not the only auto maker with pedestrian airbags, the 2014 BMW X5 will have one!

2014 BMW X5 will come with Pedestrian Airbag

Audi A5 Body Structure

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Here’s a quick look at all the different steels in the Audi A5.

Audi A5 Body Structure Extrication

Audi A5 Sportback body structure BIW

2013 Ford Hybrid and Electric Vehicles HV Batteries and Disconnects

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The 2013 Ford Towing Guide is available online and has some good information that we can use while we await the release of the 2013 Emergency Response Guide (ERG).

2013-ford-focus-electric-badgeFocus Electric Battery and High Voltage Service Disconnect Locations

  1. High Voltage Batteries
  2. High Voltage Service Disconnects
Focus Electric Battery and High Voltage Service Disconnect Locations

Ford-Fusion-Hybrid-2013 BadgeFusion Hybrid Battery and High Voltage Service Disconnect Locations

  1. High Voltage Service Disconnect
  2. High Voltage Battery

Fusion Hybrid Battery and High Voltage Service Disconnect Locations

2013-ford-c-max-energi-door-badgeC-Max Hybrid Battery and High Voltage Service Disconnect Locations

  1. High Voltage Battery
  2. High Voltage Service Disconnect

C-Max Hybrid Battery and High Voltage Service Disconnect Locations

 

2012 GMC Acadia Body Structure

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The GMC Acadia, Chevy Traverse, and the Buick Enclave share the same vehicle platform.  The battery location is behind the passenger seat under the floor.  Also be on the look out during the fall of 2012 for the 2013 models.  The 2013 models will have a center seat airbag in the driver seat that deploys to protect the driver and the passenger from each other.

2012 Chevrolet Traverse Body Structure

2012 Chevrolet Traverse Body Structure

2008 Chevrolet Traverse Side Impact Crash

2008 Chevrolet Traverse Side Impact Crash

2008 GMC Acadia Front Offset Crash Test

2008 GMC Acadia Front Offset Crash Test

2008 GMC Acadia Front Offset Crash Test

2008 GMC Acadia Front Offset Crash Test

Buick Enclave Left and Right Roof Curtain Air Bags

Buick Enclave Left and Right Roof Curtain Air Bags

Here are several posts on this vehicle platform:

 

CODA Automotive Electric Vehicle

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Yet another electric vehicle on the road!  CODA Automotive re-engineered an existing gasoline-powered vehicle, the Chinese Hafei Saibao. The CODA is a rolling-chassis Chinese sedan with some Chinese-made lithium-ion cells that are installed along with the drivetrain in California. CODA Automotive is a privately held company headquartered in Southern California that designs, manufactures and sells electric vehicles and lithium-ion battery systems, purpose-built for transportation and utility applications.

AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power, added the CODA sedan to their fleet and will use the vehicle on their gridSMART® Demonstration Project, located in the northeastern part of Central Ohio.

2005 Volkswagen Passat Airbag

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So you are getting ready to cut the roof off a 2000 thru 2005 Volkswagen Passat, do you peel away the trim or do you think that the car could be over 12 years old and there’s no way there would be an airbag inflator in a cut zone?

2012 Audi A3 Body Structure

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2012 Audi A3 Body Structure

2012 Audi A3 Body Structure

2012 Audi A3 Body Structure

2012 Audi A3 Body Structure

Extrication Update

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During my classroom portion of the train the trainer class in Ann Arbor, I talked about how useful the Internet and even Facebook is to the fire service, especially the extrication discipline!   Take a look at the links below for some great extrication information!

  • First Due Tackle by Paul Hasenmeier (Paul will be a great addition to the FireEMSBlogs.com network,  make sure you like the First Due Tackle Facebook page)
  • Rediscovering the Air Chisel by Les Baker (Why so many firefighters don’t use this tool—and what they should know about its many practical uses)
  • Interior Ramming vs. Exterior Spreading by Les Baker (What the interior rescuer needs to know to conduct aggressive clearance tactics to displace the roof)
  • Game Plan Your Extrications by Desmond Fulton (The IS-SAVED acronym offers an easy-to-remember plan for the extrication scene)
  • Episode 274: X-Trication Radio by David Dalrymple (David Dalrymple hosts X-Trication Radio once a month on Fire Engineering’s Blog Talk Radio channel. Make sure you listen when you have the chance. All the previous episodes are available on Fire Engineering’s channel. You can even stream past episodes thru your car radio. I caught up on a couple of episodes I missed during my drive to FDIC. There’s no place that you cannot turn into a training place!)
  • Moditech CRS screenshot on Facebook (Moditech posts a Crash Recovery System (CRS) screenshot and asks their Facebook page followers what they notice about the vehicle and the hazards, etc on the vehicle. )CRS Moditech Extrication Facebook

2012 Dodge Avenger Body Structure

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Below are the 2012 Dodge Avenger body structure and airbags.  Also take note of the location of the 12 volt battery.  The Avenger also has double-laminated glass on the front doors and windshield.  Another safety feature are the active front head restraints move forward and upward during a rear-end collision to decrease the space between the headrest and head, helping reduce the risk of head and spinal injuries.

Advanced Steel Extrication PowerPoints

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Below are the advanced steel PowerPoints I presented at the Train the Trainer in Ann Arbor Michigan.  Feel free to use, share, and change it fit your departments needs.  Also, please let me know of anything you think should change.

2012 Dodge Ram Truck Side Airbag

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Here is a quick look at the driver side airbag in the Dodge Ram Truck model year  2008-2012.

2013 Toyota Yaris Hybrid

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First look at the 2013 Toyota Yaris Hybrid.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell Supercar

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Mercedes-Benz  has a 526 horsepower electric drivetrain in the upcoming SLS AMG E-Cell supercar. Power for the E-Cell will be provided by four electric motors. The E-Cell employs a permanent all-wheel drive system which is powered by a 400-volt battery made up of 12 modules of 72 lithium-ion polymer cells.  The battery is housed in within the carbon fiber transmission tunnel, which is structurally integrated into the E-Cell’s aluminum body shell.  This is a 2013 model year vehicle expected to hit the roads in the fall of 2012.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Body Structure

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The all-new architecture incorporates a new design that not only improves distortion rigidity by 16 percent, it also incorporates a 30-percent increase in the use of ultra high-strength-tensile steel to improve collision energy management. High-strength steel also allows the suspension to work optimally and reduces weight. Ultra-high strength tensile sheet metal has also been applied to the outer door panels for the first time in the company’s history. In addition, anti-corrosion steel was applied to 70 percent of outer frame and floor structure.

2013_Hyundai_Santa_Fe_body_Structure_Extrication

New hot stamping and roll forming methods have also been applied to impact members, which provide added strength, reduces the number of body parts and makes the architecture lighter. The amount of structural adhesives has also been increased significantly for improved body rigidity, crashworthiness and durability.

NFPA Commends MA for New Electric Vehicle License Plates

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Emergency responders in Massachusetts will now have another way to easily identify electric and hybrid vehicles. Massachusetts has become the second state to unveil a new license plate for hybrids and electric vehicles, a move that aligns with the goals with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Electric Vehicle Safety Project.

Read the complete story at FireEngineering.com

Also check out the NFPA‘s website and learn more about NFPA’s electric vehicle training series.

Northern Ohio Fools Heavy Rescue 101

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Like most extrication folks, I’ll never miss a chance to cut up some cars and even better yet, cut up some school buses. So I jumped in my car and drove down to the Huron County Fairgrounds in Norwalk, Ohio for the Northern Ohio Fools Heavy Rescue 101. Paul Hasenmeier invited me down and I was glad he did. The Northern Ohio Fools put together a top notch training opportunity! There were a bunch of different extrication stations that student we free to rotate thru as they wanted. Included in the stations, a garbage truck under ride, school buses, semi tractor and trailer on a vehicle, all levels of vehicle extrication with over 30 vehicles to cut up. All the major hydraulic tool companies had their local dealers there. The event was broken up into a classroom that covered New Vehicle Technology on Friday evening and then an all day hands on training on Saturday. The best part of all, it was free with just a $10 donation to the Northern Ohio Fools!

Click on over to the Boron Extrication Facebook and like it to see more pictures.

Paul Hasenmeier and I in front a bus he set up to have a victim trapped between the top of the seat, roof of the bus, and the Jersey barrier.

 

Also check out the Northern Ohio Fools.

Heading South to the Northern Ohio Fools Heavy Rescue 101

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The Northern Ohio Fools are holding their 8th annual Heavy Rescue 101 this evening and on Saturday. This is a great free training opportunity with just a $10 donation to the Huron County Firefighters Memorial. You needed to pre-registration, if you did, I’ll see you down there tomorrow. Looking forward to see what Paul Hasenmeier has cooked up with the school buses!

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Body Structure

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The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Body Structure, which is predominantly aluminum, plus a few magnesium parts here and there, along with some high-strength steel placed judiciously for a rigid and safe structure. Taking this and other heft-shedding ploys into account, Benz claims a 2013 SL550 will be around 310 pounds lighter than its predecessor.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Body Structure

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Body Structure

2012 Avalon Body Structure and Airbags

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Body Structure

Avalon’s body structure is strengthened to help meet the latest side impact standards, accounting for higher-riding vehicles such as SUVs. In the event of collision, reinforced members, pillars, panels and doors absorb impact energy, then distribute it around and away from the passenger cabin for enhanced impact protection.

Airbags

Avalon’s Dual-stage Front Airbags are designed to deploy with the most appropriate amount of force – lower and less forceful in the event of a moderate collision; higher energy level for more severe impacts. Front Seat-mounted Side Airbags, built into the seat and not the door pillar for enhanced protection, have been designed to provide a greater coverage area. In addition, standard front and rear Side-curtain Airbags help provide protection for all passengers in side impacts. Avalon also features a driver’s knee airbag as standard equipment.

Notice where the side airbag inflator is located?

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

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First off, if you haven’t liked the Boron Extrication page on Facebook, please do!

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Body Structure Extrication BIWThe 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is set to hit the US market during the second half of 2012.  The hybrid has a State-of-the-art battery: A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy to the electric motor. The compact 220-volt, 1.1 kWh battery is integrated behind the rear bench seat and weighs less than 80 lb. The battery consists of 60 individual cells with a combined energy capacity of 5 Ah. The frequency of the discharge and charge cycles in hybrid operation requires high- performance battery cooling, which is handled by a fan mounted directly on the device. The battery also has its own management system that performs safety, diagnostic, and monitoring functions as well as temperature management. The battery is disconnected when it‟s not in use or if the car is involved in a collision.

Standard safety equipment for all Jetta models includes Electronic Stability Control (ESC), anti- lock brakes (ABS), and six airbags (driver and front passenger airbags, front side thorax airbags and Side Curtain Protection® airbags front and rear).

2013-Volkswagen-Jetta-Hybrid.

2013-Volkswagen-Jetta-Hybrid

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Battery

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Battery