PPE on Vehicle Accidents

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on December 30, 2007 at 7:43pm

Lots of sharp tools and lots of sharp edges on the vehicles; not to mention vehicle fluids, blood/mucous from victims. Turnout gear including head and eye protection a must.
If you are not in the hot zone and not engaged in traffic control (perhaps something the cops should be doing), then with the permission of the IC, you may return to the rig and remove your coat and helmet. However, you must stay in the rig.
There is a reason that there is reflective stripes on the gear. Day time or night time.

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Permalink Reply by Greg on December 30, 2007 at 9:12pm

i could go either way here, as far as extricating the patient from the vehicle yes some type of protective gear should be worn. helmets are a must all the time, but if you are one of the medics perhaps waiting at the ambulance for the patient to be delivered to you wearing a simple reflective coat/vest is fine. Anything on scene should be reflective no matter what. But unless you are directly involved with the vehicle bunker gear is fine to wear but why not wear something lighter but still just as visible. Getting hit by a speeding vehicle your bunker gear is not going to provide any more protection than a bright jacket. But helmets need be worn

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Permalink Reply by Marc on October 11, 2009 at 3:08am

About the whole lighter coat thing. We use our Brush Coats mostly. smaller and thinner, and tend to be less dirty and brighter than out structure coats.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on December 30, 2007 at 9:34pm

Our SOP is for everyone to wear full PPE at all MVAs. PPE generally is structure fire gear, however a few years ago we outfitted EMTs with lighter weight Nomex gear with crosstech vapor barrier for protection against BBPs. The lighter gear consists of jacket, pants and rescue helmet. It makes climbing into and inside of a car less of a chore, although I find myself just staying with my regular bunker gear.

Those directing traffic wear reflective vests in warm weather, but in winter we encourage them to suit up in their bunker gear.

We are thinking about allowing the extrication crew to wear lightweight gear similar to wildland firefighting suits. I'm not convinced that regular wildland gear will provide enough protection from sharps, but it would reduce the amount of heat stress on the crew.

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Permalink Reply by eric seaton on December 30, 2007 at 10:29pm

Our SOP is all persons must be in full gear before we roll out the door. Most LODDs happen on just another routine call. We should not ever think it is just another routine call.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on December 30, 2007 at 10:34pm

I like the way you think.
Kudos.

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Permalink Reply by Greenman on February 17, 2009 at 8:12pm

There is specialized extrication PPE, which is designed for working in and around MVAs, wild land PPE is NOT for MVAs.

My thoughts are that everyone should roll with Structural firefighting PPE, then if the scene doesn't present a fire hazard (i.e. a simple rear-ender), then the IC should be able to authorize the lighter-weight extrication jacket when appropriate. It shouldn't have to be stated that all gear should meet the new reflectivity standard, including wearing a reflective vest at all times, and that helmets at all times with the appropriate level of eye protection for the task being performed (i.e. secondary eye protection for those directing traffic).

From reading here, I think we're all preaching to the choir regarding PPE on MVAs, the ones who need the message are those who aren't discussing safety, since they are the ones who keep showing up in shorts and a department T-shirt when the pager goes off.

So how do we get those departments, and those officers who continue to not use proper PPE and allow their Firefighters to not use proper PPE, to turn off the iPod when they are driving to the firehouse and actually put on the fancy firefightin' duds they sold five million pancakes to buy for everybody?

On a similar note, who carries a reflective vest in their personal vehicle for those times when they witnesses/good Samaritans, or when they have to change a flat?

GM

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Permalink Reply by Marc on October 11, 2009 at 3:12am

I had my brush coat and helmet in the back of my car for a while. Since i was riding out almost everyday its was just easier to keep it in my trunk rather than going back and forth from my post station to where-ever i was riding out at.

It came in handy 3 times. 2 for MVA's and 1 for a structure fire that i happen to roll up on. Threw it on, called dispatched gave a prelim size up and got everyone far back. even tho i was in lacrosse shorts, people listend to me.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on December 31, 2007 at 10:30am

Everyone bunkers up if they enter the hazard zone. Alot of times the guys on the engine and truck will get the patient and bring them to the medics so they can work more comfortably in the back of the medic with no gear. But sometimes the medic is needed in the car for extended or difficult extrications.

I personally wear my gear on EVERY call except for an ems call (and even some of those if its at a dump or construction site). We ride with only 3 and it is extremely inefficient for a guy to be standing around in street clothes on a scene. So even if I am driving I will put on my bunker pants to drive to the call then put my coat and helemt on once I arrive.

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Permalink Reply by Greg on December 31, 2007 at 11:47am

as i was getting ready to reply to this, we got toned out for a 1 car mvc rollover on a back woods road. As usual i put on full turnout gear because there was possible entrapment. Upon arrival the patient was out with minor injuries. Fire police had traffic shut down coming both ways, so it brought up a thought to me, another variable added into play. yes some type of gear should be worn at all times. among the crews that were up there maybe 10% of everyone had some type of gear on, whether it be reflective or otherwise... we need to take the precautions to be sure we are visible. That is after all the big deal

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Permalink Reply by Phil on December 10, 2008 at 8:08pm

yeah, I dont get it, do you guys just go to the scene?... How are you even allowed on the truck/engine without turn out gear....when i get to the station, we all get into the vehicle that the incident calls for, and that vehicle will not move untill everyone is geared up and buckled up... I guess I dont even know anything else. I really couldnt imagine going to the scene without going to the firehouse first.

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Permalink Reply by turk182 on December 31, 2007 at 12:42pm

ours are full ppe on all alarms no exceptions

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