Rural MVC's

[mobey]

I know all about the frustrations of MVC's in a rural setting. Just the other day I attended a high speed roll-over MVC (vehicle still on its roof). We where on scene waiting for fire/rescue for 30 minutes just so I could confirm the patient was deceased. It was impossible to even check for a carotid from the patient's side of the vehicle and I couldn't enter through the other side of the vehicle because the airbag hadn't deployed (No point risking serious injury for a patient who is likely dead). It's extremely frustrating to say the least. Our "paid on call" Fire/Rescue guys are usually fairly prompt but there is only one rescue in a small city surrounded by major highways. In our area the FRS is dispatched automatically whenever there are confirmed entrapments. Otherwise it is only at our request. The real key in these events is educating the public and getting them to actually stop so that entrapment can be confirmed ASAP.

Ed

Do you have tools and knowledge enough to cut the battery cable?

I know alot of placed do not, but out here in no man's land we keep some basic extrication tools in the rig.

I hear ya though, Rural vollies can take a long time and may not even be a benefit when they do show up!

Side Note: Just because you cut the Battery cable does not mean the airbag will not go off. Perhaps a FF on this forum can explain this further. I believe they have a battery of thier own that lasts like 30min or something??

[tniuqs]

Good Points ALL:

Just because you cut the Battery cable does not mean the airbag will not go off. Perhaps a FF on this forum can explain this further. I believe they have a battery of thier own that lasts like 30min or something??

And/Or a pyrotechnic device and does one cut on the top of A post or bottom ? The higher end Caddies or Beamers have been known to kill the uninformed, but Cutting the Battery Cable when the vehicle is on the roof in the snow maybe quite a feat in itself !

Then there is the stupid Hybrid's ..... ?

There is a PDA program available for exactly these Extrication issues and is updated almost weekly not a bad investment for Fire Departments (the locals in my Hood use one)

cheers

[rock_shoes]

Do you have tools and knowledge enough to cut the battery cable?

I know alot of placed do not, but out here in no man's land we keep some basic extrication tools in the rig.

I could disconnect a battery and have in the past. Unfortunately in this case the vehicle was still upside down with the hood beaten shut. Also, as you mentioned, I don’t have the vehicle extrication knowledge to discharge the electrical system safely afterwards so the airbags remain a hazard for a time (someone with more vehicle extrication experience is welcome to chime in here).

The greatest irony of it all is that in rural BC, extrication (including making like a can-opener with the jaws) originally fell to the Ambulance crews. I don’t want all the extrication equipment back on the ambulance, but some extrication training would be a huge benefit to rural providers (at least enough to disconnect a battery and discharge the electrical system).

I hear ya though, Rural vollies can take a long time and may not even be a benefit when they do show up!

I must say our guys are usually pretty good. Thanks to the Coquihalla highway they get a lot of experience for a rural FRS. They are usually relieved to see me whenever rope rescue is required as I’m one of the only attendants with enough rope training to participate. That way patients are not left to a nervous volunteer with a 40 hour first responder course under his belt until the patient gets up to the roadside.

Ed