Hyattsville Volunteer Fire
Department
Basic Unified Extrication Guidelines
Definitions
• Working Area/Hot Zone/Inner Circle- 10 ft. radius around vehicle
• A,B,C Posts, etc.- Vertical structural member of the vehicle
connecting the roof to the vehicle’s body. Post designations are
from the front of the vehicle to the rear, starting with the two posts
that are connected to the front windshield and the roof (Driver side
A-Post and Passenger Side A-Post
• SRS- Supplemental or Secondary Restraint System
• SIP- Side Impact Protection
• “IC”- Impact curtain…automobile manufacturers have adopted this
icon to identify hidden side-impact curtains. This icon is usually at
the outer edge of the interior roof liner trim.
• Pressurized Vessels- “Piston Rods” can be a component of the
vehicle’s energy absorbing bumper and/or a unit that may serve as
a hinge for a trunk or hood of a vehicle.
Rescue Squad Crew
• Officer - Directs ALL operations within Hot
Zone
• Driver - Responsible for Hot Zone logistics and
all equipment to come off Rescue Squad
• Senior Squadsman – Tool and Team
Assignments, primary rescue tool
• Squadsman (1-5) – Stabilization, vehicle prep,
extrication
Engine Company
• Officer – Oversees squad company support
functions (batteries, suppression efforts, initial
patient care)
• Driver – Water supply, charges hoseline
• Line – Operates safety hoseline
• Back-up – Vehicle battery, assists lineman,
patient care
• Hall/Layout – Initial patient care
BLS/PA Companies
• Tech/Officer – Primary Patient Care Provider
(assesses patient, makes face to face with Hot
Zone Supervisor)
• Driver – Vehicle positioning, supports patient
care
• 3rd – Assists tech
• Observer – Camera…stays out of Hot Zone!
General Scene Safety
• Specific Considerations to take on any motor
vehicle accident include:
– Other motorists
– Hazmats
– Powerlines
– Trees
– Ditches
– Trenches
Basic Vehicle Placement
Basic Fend Away Position blocking traffic from motor vehicle accident
Demonstrates location of other vehicles within incident perimeter
Resources Needed for Safe Scene
• Given aforementioned considerations who or
what might we need to request?
– Power Company
– Gas Company
– Heavy Wrecker
– Crane
PPE
• All members operating within Hot Zone must
be in full PPE and don safety glasses
THIS INCLUDES EMS PERSONNEL!!!
Your turnout gear should always be with you to begin with, and
definitely donned for an extrication
• Suppression crew must be prepared with
SCBA as well
Incident Zones
Hot Zone – Only authorized
operational personnel enter, must be
in required PPE
Warm Zone – Companies serving in a
support role are here. Hoseline, EMS
(stretcher and backboard) prior to
extrication completion
Cold Zone – Vehicle staging, command
post, patient care area
Scene Control
• Rescue Squad OIC is responsible for
extrication game plan
• That information needs to be conveyed to key
players on scene for a smooth operation
• Key Players are: Command, Primary EMS
Provider, Extrication Group Supervisor,
Suppression Group Supervisor
Vehicle Assessment
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•
•
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How do we stabilize based on what we see?
Where are the patients?
What might we need here?
The Rescue Squad OIC must have a steady stream of plans. As the scene
evolves a continuous size-up must happen. A new size-up may reveal a need
to change the plan.
Patient Assessment
• Once the scene is stabilized (including the
vehicle) a patient assessment can take place.
• A C-Spine injury can be aggravated or
worsened by slight movements in the vehicle.
• Suspension should be isolated before anyone
enters the vehicle even to hold C-Spine
Stabilization
• Patient Access should be
limited until proper
stabilization
• Eliminate Suspension Travel
• Ensures vehicle is 100% fixed in
its location
• Must be continuously
reassessed as the vehicle is
dismantled.
Patient Assessment Cont…
• Done by first arriving personnel (triage all patients in vehicle)
• Ongoing, determine trauma status (GCS)
• Identify Mechanisms and Intrusions to the vehicle.
What did the vehicle hit, drive through,
and where did it come to stop?
Where are the intrusions? Passenger
compartment vs. front or rear impacts?
Modern Vehicle Concerns
Alternative Fuels
• Symbols to Identify
Completion of Extrication
• Squad crew removes any unnecessary
equipment from the Hot Zone
• EMS is primarily responsible for actual patient
removal and should determine method or
removal based on how squad left vehicle
• Assistance with victim should be requested
immediately through squad officer