Car Over Bridge- What Would You Do?

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on June 1, 2009 at 7:52pm

Four J-Hooks rated at 3500 lbs can handle 14,000 lbs. I don't think the entire vehicle weighs that much. The hooks are supporting only part of the vehicle's weight, and the frame, although damaged, is supporting the rest of it. It's going to be difficult to get any kind of short hook on the frame in this one, due to the limited reach and hook openings on the smaller hooks.

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Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on June 1, 2009 at 9:54pm

It doesn't,probably 3500-4000#.But wouldn't it be easier(and quicker)to run a 4"recovery strap thru the cab windows(behind the B post)? We don't carry J's on any of the FD rigs and I only have a pair on the tow truck(see previous commentary)And that J is rated at 3500 only in a certain load configuration(straight loading).In any event,it poses a interesting scenerio both in securement and rescue.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on June 1, 2009 at 10:18pm

The recovery strap through the cab windows will block the best patient egress route, which is to remove the back window and cut away the rear panel.

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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on June 2, 2009 at 4:26am

Gotta agree with that one- rear window egress makes the most sense....

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Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on June 2, 2009 at 10:02pm

My bad. Thinking vertical hold with a boom again which would allow you to cut the cab back.Not possible with many FD vehicles. Damn crosstraining,hehe T.C.

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Permalink Reply by sarah tinsley mackenzie on June 1, 2009 at 8:06pm

i would have climbing gear on and be anchored to something,i would try stap the car to something so while trying to extricate it has a safety catch, or call a helicopter in to lower down strops and cable to attach and slowly move car up back on to the road

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Permalink Reply by Marc on July 12, 2009 at 3:02am

ok, well about 6 months ago we got a call to a "physical rescue: car over the side". The whole station went on this one. Task-Force58, Rescue (ambulance)58, and plug-buggie58 (pickup truck/utility...which i was driving!!!). We had Heavy Rescue 56, E68, RA868, EMS18, and Batt.18 dispatched as well. Once on scene we found the gaurd rail bent and broken and tire tracks leading down to the LA river. We looked for about 10 minutes for anything, then my CaptII saw a blinking light and we all raced down there. It was a new 2009 Cadilac Escalade. half of the car was on the dirt, and the other half was hovering over a 35ft drop into the LA river. We quickly chained the car up to our truck and then 2 firefighters hoped in the back seat and held c-spine on the two people up front. We then slowly pulled the SUV up onto the dirt and started the exrication prosess. After about 20 minutes we had both Vic's out of the car and on their way toward the ambulances (about 200yrd up a hill.) We did a great job that day. all untils responded withing 10 minutes. Later that night we had LAPD and CHP stop by, only to tell us that the car had been reported stolen about 20 minutes before the crash. The moral of this story, is: what goes around, comes around.

so what to do at a car over the side,
#1) secure the vehical(s)
#2) treat patients
#3) extract patients
#4) secure car for towing
#5) clean up
#6) go back to quaters
#7) eat a cookie
#8) go back to sleep

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bates on July 17, 2009 at 9:52pm

Marc , was their debate among personnel about moving the vehicle with patient in it? What was the feeling of risk vs reward? Was the movement of the vehicle smooth, did you use a winch or just put the truck in gear and go? I'm not second guessing you. Tell us after doing this, how would you approach it differently , if at all ?

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