Haddam Fire Trains and Qualifies Members on Extrication Equipment

The car is an older station wagon, looking as if it has rolled over several times.  All of the doors have become jammed closed, and the left side windows have had their glass blown about the interior.  The windshield is starred in front of the steering wheel.  A quick look inside shows a victim wedged under the dashboard, with his feet entangled in the pedals and head resting below the glove compartment. 

A team of trained members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. race into action.  Several go to the Rescue Truck 5-13 and get armfuls of cribbing to stabilize the vehicle.  Others will make contact with the victim to assess him as to his medical condition.  He answers back, so the rescuers know they must work quickly if they are to save the person in the car. 

The team goes to work, much like an orchestra – each knowing the proper order of what to do – first scene safety/size-up, then cribbing, then glass, then doors, then roof, then dash.  Tools are laid out on a tarp so everyone works from a portable tool area that would rival many a good race track extrication team. 

Within minutes the vehicle is cut away from the victim and he is freed.  Sound scary?  In real life it can be for the patients inside of a car while it is being cut away from them.  This scenario took place on a recent weekend at a fire station, and the victim was one of the lead instructors.  This was the final exam for the latest class of extrication students – to safely and swiftly extricate one of their teachers who was purposely wedged inside of a car that had its doors pounded closed with sledge hammers.

“Extrication is something we don’t do every day, but when we need it, there is little room for error” said 2^nd Assistant Chief and Fire Service Instructor Robert Norton, the victim in the mock motor vehicle crash.  “Time is most always of the essence.  The most important thing in any crash though is keeping the scene safe from any further injuries.”  Firefighters are trained to do a scene safety check first.  Down power lines energize cars or guard rails, flammable liquids can make the area around a car volatile, and sharp-jagged metal could easily cause severe injury to an unwary rescuer.  The scene itself must be protected from oncoming traffic, including using an additional fire truck as a blocking vehicle, forcing traffic into an un-used lane.

Students in this weekend Extrication Qualification process began Saturday by reviewing the types of equipment carried and practicing the skills of using them on several cars brought in for this purpose by New Image Automotive of Higganum.  New Image has been supporting the Fire Company and its training for years.  Cars are cut up, jacked up, rolled over, and pretty much torn apart in an effort to improve student’s skills.  After a final review on Sunday, one vehicle was saved for the final exam. 

The students operated as if there were no instructors or senior members around – they needed to run the entire operation, gaining access and safely extricating the victim in the same time as if it were the real thing on a town road or Route 9.

“Training on Extrication doesn’t stop here,” Norton said.  “We have several members signed up for the State Fire Academy June Fire-school class which covers the latest Hurst Tool equipment and techniques.”  Firefighters practice several times a year on handling motor vehicle crashes.  No two extrications are the same, so members must constantly be ready to improvise and push the many tools carried to their limits.

During this Extrication Qualification Weekend, LT Rich Zanelli, Firefighters Steve Bates, Nate Meyer and Kyle Vallera, and Probationary Members Peter Brown and Rob Goldfarb successfully completed all requirements and are qualified to operate any of the extrication equipment carried.

More information on the activities of the . and ways you can get involved can be found on our website – www.HaddamFire.com.