Tag Archives: Extrication

The 2011 Durango body structure is made from over 50% high-strength and ultra high-strength steel. The inner and outer rail reinforcements protect occupants from intrusion during impact. Although Dodge does not state where heavy gauge metal is located in the body structure, it is optimally placed for increased performance. The different airbag locations are located below.

Advanced body structure: The uni-body construction of the R-Class uses advanced technology and robust materials to create a virtual fortress for the vehicles’ passengers. High Strength/Low Alloy steel is used in strategic areas and accounts for more than 60% of ...

I have a free TRECK from Talon Rescue to give away to a lucky reader. Tom DeRossa is the man behind Talon Rescue and the TRECK. Tom was nice enough to send me a free TRECK when I ordered one to keep in my gear so now I will pass the free TRECK along.

Working in the automotive industry I’m very proud of all the advancements that the United States has made in terms of making a safer car and protecting the occupants. Many times automotive safety pioneers like Mercedes-Benz are first to implement new costly safety devices in production vehicles. I mean Mercedes-Benz has a car with automatic partial braking that intervenes if driver does not react in face of acute danger of accident. So I was not surprised to find out that a revolutionary extrication tool was implemented across the pond. There is something that an international foundation has started and needs to gain the legs to get it spread around the globe, especially here in the US. The FIA Foundation has developed a standardized A4 "rescue sheet" that includes information on the location of cabin reinforcements, tank, the battery, airbags, gas generators, control units etc. - and indicating adequate cutting points must be used throughout Europe. The best part, the rescue sheets are free! The only catch is that individual vehicle owners, our “customers” if you will, need to print out the sheet and put it on the driver side sun visor.

The automakers have really stepped up their efforts to provide the fire rescue service with useful information on the new technologies. Volkswagen has published several very informative pdf files about the 2011 VW Touareg Hybrid SUV. Several important notes about the hybrid Touareg:

The 2011 Volvo C30 body structure has a patented front and rear structure that use different grades of steel to absorb and redistribute impact energy around the body of the coupe during a crash. The C30 was tested by the ...

Randy Schmitz and Dan Hobbs have launched the Schmitz Mittz website. Schmitz Mittzs are a true product designed and developed by a firefighter for fighters. The name Schmitz Mittz has taken the fire service by storm while sparking interest in many other fields like military, police, roughnecks, wrecker drivers, and list goes on and on! Check back for some new videos of the gloves in action!

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.

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!

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 for more information. Fill free to post any comments or experiences with the Packexe SMASH