Soft & Hard Stabilization Techniques

When we see a large, beautiful home, we tend to notice the stately stone or brick accents, the trim work around the windows and the majestic columns holding up the structure. What we tend to ignore is the most important part of the structure: the foundation–what the entire weight/load of the home is resting upon. If the foundation is weak or inadequate, the house will deteriorate, crack and eventually fall apart.

If you’ve found yourself scratching your head, asking if this is a building construction article, the answer is NO. I’m trying to make the point that the above concepts about building foundations also apply to extrications. Without a solid extrication “foundation”–cribbing and strut stabilization, for example–we take unnecessary risks that could cause things to go terribly wrong. We stabilize the vehicle to protect the patients–and ourselves.

Stabilization Size-Up
When we arrive on scene of a chaotic two-car accident with one car resting on its side against a tree and the other car on its top, we’re usually not thinking about the word “foundation.” We’re looking at the damage, counting patients and wondering which hand tools, spreaders, cutters and airbags will be needed and where. But this is the time when we need to take a step back and ask ourselves what type of foundation we need.

Can we simply let air out of the tires in a controlled manner, allowing the vehicle to come to a rest on its rims? Will step chocks or cribbing stabilize the vehicles enough? Is this going to be a long and intricate extrication requiring a system of stabilization struts for us to be able to work safely? Do we need to contact a heavy wrecker to help stabilize and/or lift the vehicle? These are all questions that we must ask at every accident involving extrication or lifting.

Soft vs. Hard Stabilization
Basic vehicle stabilization, or what I like to call “soft stabilization,” is the use of step chocks or the controlled deflation of a vehicle tire (or tires). Soft stabilization is a function that should be performed by the first-arriving companies. I recommend this type of stabilization on ALL vehicles, even if you’re performing a standard “door pop.” Further, soft stabilization is a must even if you know that the vehicle will also require “hard stabilization”–the use of a vehicle stabilization strut, box cribbing and wreckers, for example. You need to use hard stabilization anytime the accident requires rescuers to work for long periods of time with vehicles that are on their sides or top, or when any lifting is necessary.

Step chocks or pre-cut pieces of cribbing will fit about anywhere on an engine or truck, and with minimal training, everyone can use these safely. The tools involved in hard stabilization, including struts and box cribbing, are more intensive, so it’s best to conduct regular training with them. Not only do you need to know the capabilities and strengths of these tools, but it’s even more important to know the application process and the associated do’s and don’ts. When a strut is put into place, it’s paramount that everyone is on the same page and knows the game plan. It does no one any good, especially the patient, if you build a strut stabilization system and place it in the area from which the patient was supposed to be removed. This is where communication is crucial. The building, removal and rebuilding of a strut stabilization system because of a lack of planning is, in my opinion, comparable to a rekindle on the fireground. Do the job once and do it right!

When a vehicle needs to be lifted with the use of airbags or even a jack of some type, you must build a crib box! If an airbag or jack fails, the cribbing is the back-up. One important thing to keep in mind: Lift an inch, crib an inch. In other words, for every inch you lift the vehicle, you must crib the vehicle an inch as well. The cribbing position is a one-person job at a minimum, and you must always have a sufficient supply of cribbing, wedges and shims within reach. Additionally, it’s valuable for the firefighter in charge of cribbing to have a basic knowledge of estimated vehicle weights and/or axle weights. For example, the 4 x 4 cribbing has a much lower weight rating than 6 x 6 cribbing, and each contact point also has a dramatic affect on the rating in pounds.   

What to Know & How to Train
As noted, vehicle stabilization is a must at all accidents, from your standard fender-bender to your multi-vehicle accident with vehicles on their tops and sides. Not only is it important to master the art of “soft and hard stabilization” operations, it’s even more important to know their limitations and weight-bearing capacities. I’ve found it handy to have a small “cheat sheet” that I can reference on site. This cheat sheet should include estimated axle weights for standard cars, trucks, heavy trucks, trailers and buses. It should also include ratings for cribbing contact points and the different dimensions of the lumber being used to build the box crib. You can add more information to your cheat sheet, but these two items are a great start. Finally, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of putting all of this knowledge into practice. Train at your local crusher during the day and at your local training facility at night.

Train hard, work smart, and stay safe!