Res-Q-Jack: Vehicle Stabilization Struts, Lifting Rescue

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by FETC on July 12, 2009 at 2:27pm

Stabilization only for us too, but now we are fully outfitted with Paratech Rescue Strut Systems, (2) vehicle stabilization kits, building collapse kit and a full trench-rescue kit which are all inter-changeable. If we need to lift we have the option of ResQJacks, Paratech Struts, but we seem to always go back to either the high or low pressure airbags. We have just incorporated the Hi-Expansion low pressure bags for higher lifts, etc.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by T.J. on July 12, 2009 at 2:46pm

Sweet, thanks :)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 17, 2009 at 9:49am

I've used several brands of tensioned buttress devices (Alpha Crutches, Rescue 42 Telecribbing, ResQJacks, Paratechs, JimmiJaks, and Z-Mag struts) and have found that they all have an inherent weakness in the lifting mode compared to rescue air bags.

The strut/buttress systems do not attach to the load at the bottom. When you lift from a point other than at the bottom of the load, you can't control lateral load shift nearly as well as if you lift with the air bags. If the load has a weak point below the strut attachment point, you also risk part of the load seperating and falling during the lift.

Air bag lifts tend to be more controlled, have less lateral movement, and the air bags support the entire load during the lift...all good things.

Just because you can do something with the struts doesn't mean that you should use the struts in that manner.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nick Anderson on July 12, 2009 at 3:30pm

we use the rescue 42 system and I think they are great. It's one of those things that is only limited by your imagination. They are great for lifting in situations where a car is on top of another and airbags aren't practical.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt 723 on July 12, 2009 at 4:00pm

We use them primarily for stabilization on rollovers. They work great for those situations. We have not had to do a lot of lifting but I would assume we would use the airbags and cribbing; every situation is different and it is good to have a variety of tools available.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kirk on July 12, 2009 at 7:07pm

the jacks are a great tool to have and to use. we have at less 3 sets. we use the res-q-jacks and the air bags to raise a trailer house off of a person that was under it one day. we use the jacks to stablize the one end of the trailer and the bags to left the trailer a few in. to pull the guy out.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rescue 1 on July 17, 2009 at 9:35am

We have a set on my Rescue and they are very functional. We use them for all kinds of stabilization tasks. We also lift with them very simply. Our local dealer did a great job showing us the short cuts in using them. He showed us ways to set them up and lift also if we needed to in about 3 minutes. I would call your dealer and have him help you or call the factory.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rescue 1 on July 17, 2009 at 10:26am

Interesting, Our local rep showed us how to attach to the botton of loads while lifting cars so this is not an issue. Heavy loads should be lifted with air bags but simple lifts on cars can/should be done with struts some are better than others. Our thought is if we are using struts in the first place let's have the ability to lift simple cars if needed, less time to set up other equipment and it get's us focused on the real task which is patient care and removal. Also to stop sway you could add straps to help control the load shifting if needed. Seen that done many times.

One other question are the tensioned buttress devices really that? All the ones I have seen used work in compression, with a strap or chain working in tension.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 17, 2009 at 10:57am

Rescue1, if you attach the strut straps to the bottom of the load, it is inherently more dangerous to both the patient and the rescuers, because you can't completely control the lateral shifting that results from the void beneath the straps. Less time isn't necessarily a good thing if it creates safety problems. Remember, our priorities are 1) Rescuers, 2) Bystanders, and 3) Patients, because we don't want to create additional patients. All of those, are the "real task".

Any time you lift, you should crib the load, and that will take time and manpower, so "saving time" by lifting with the struts isn't really a time-saver. If you lift by just cranking on the ResQJack, you're lifting from the top. If you lift with straps, it takes extra time to rig the straps, straighten them so that they don't jam the ratchets, make sure that you're not running the straps in battery acid or fuel, etc. etc. That takes just as long as using a preconnected air system, plugging two hoses and an air bag together with quick-connects, and using the air bag for the lift.

Tensioned buttresses are exactly that. The buttress element always works in compression, but if you use the buttress without putting the foot into tension, it will kick out (Simple Buttress). The engineering principle is the same as the flying buttresses used in European cathedrals, except that they anchor the lower end of the buttress with massive amounts of stone. You could do the same with a simple buttress system...if you could drive pickets into the pavement. It's just simpler to tension the buttress foot to the load, which works on pavement as well as most other solid or semi-solid surfaces.

Back to the patient, if you're lifting with nylon straps, they can and do stretch under tension. No matter how many you use for lateral stabilization, it is still an inherently less stable technique than using the solid buttress part of the struts for stabilization and the air bags for the lift. There's lots less potential for the load to shift. If the load shifts even a little, it can aggrevate patient injuries.

When we're extricating, we must consider not only what we do for the patient, we must consider what we might do to the patient. We need to focus on being safe, effective, and efficient, with speed as the byproduct. Focusing on speed is dangerous, because it doesn't take into account what our procedures are doing to the patient.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Russell on July 17, 2009 at 10:56am

Primarly for vehicle stabilization.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rescue 1 on July 17, 2009 at 11:09am

Let me clarify one thing I did not put in my last post. When lifting we were taught to us grade 80 chain not straps sorry. I forgot to add that point and cribbing should be a given with any strut system. They work together. They fill the void under the object lifted and also create a secondary safety back up in the event something would happen to the device used to lift with.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 17, 2009 at 12:27pm

Any strut-and-sling system is inherently not as smooth as air bags. Lifts that are not smooth transmit any slip, shift, or jerk to the patient. Any fracture or spinal injury can be aggravated by any movement, but especially a shock load such as a jerk.

Chain isn't smooth. The chain links can catch on rocker panel lips, sheet metal edges, or any other corner or irregularity, including wreck damage. That increases the chances of shock-loading that will be transmitted to the patient.

Struts are a good tool, but they're a lot better as a stabilization tool than as a lifting tool.

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last