Our predecessors tell us that we must study building construction and understand how fire behavior affects different structures. Read Frank Brannigan’s books, they say. And just like building construction, we must study vehicle construction and understand how collisions affect our patients and our rescue efforts. The difference: Building construction changes over decades and generations, but vehicle construction changes rapidly. We’re still fighting fires in 100-year-old buildings, but no one’s driving Model Ts. Vehicle construction and technology change every 6 months, as car companies constantly try to out-do each other. Eight cup holders just aren’t enough. Cars are parking themselves. We have to deal with high-strength alloy steel, magnesium, knee air bags, struts that fly and so much more. There’s much to know, and we therefore must stay current and be proactive about our training methods and programs.
Develop a Training Plan
What level do you want your personnel trained at– awareness, operations or technician? If you want them to perform well at the operations or technician level, you’ll have to support them with multiple cars and multiple drills. After all, you can’t expect your firefighters to be trained to the technician level by cutting one car per year! So develop a training program that uses NFPA 1006 and 1670 as guidelines.
And don’t forget that you’ll need a plan for implementing the new program. In my youth, I was sometimes called a “rogue” firefighter. My intentions were good, but I didn’t always communicate them effectively. So develop a plan and ensure that your boss knows the plan so they’re not caught off guard. When six school buses show up at your facility unannounced, it won’t go over very well. But if you have a plan and are within budget, administration will hopefully support your actions.
Develop your training program with safety as a priority. Some firefighters will ask, “Can you stack five cars on top of a moped?” and you just have to say “No!” Think through your evolutions. What if the load shifts? Do you have escape routes? Your cars should be reviewed for safety hazards, and you should have fire extinguishers on hand.
Involve Others
Don’t forget that you can’t do it all. Develop other instructors to help your cause. Give them direction and responsibilities. Seek out people who are willing to work hard and not just be there for the glory.
If your department can’t afford an in-depth training program, or if you lack a training center or experienced instructors, you can partner with neighboring departments. Share expertise, resources and expenses. This will benefit you when you need to call these folks for mutual aid. Work out the kinks on the training ground, and there will be fewer bumps on the highway.
Get Out & Drill
Once your training program is in place, it’s time for some simple drills. Take a field trip to your local car dealership. Crawl over the cars, grab brochures and talk to mechanics. It’s amazing what flipping a vehicle on its roof does to someone trying to take doors. Even after countless extrications, I sometimes have to turn upside-down to make sense of what I’m looking at. Whether the car is on its roof or on its wheels, use the available void spaces, look for weaknesses, be aware of your hazards and peel material away from your patient. Be cautious, though, if you’re weakening the structure with the weight up top.
Find out if your local wrecking yards and tow companies will assist in your training. Some companies may donate cars. If they aren’t within your city limits, they may deliver cars to your station or training ground for free or a small fee. Ask them to process the vehicles (remove batteries, fluids, hazards, etc.). Remember that these companies may be more willing to do this on their own schedule. If you demand certain times on short notice, it may get more expensive.
Talk with your power or phone companies to see if they have any poles they could donate. They may have loose poles that you can shove through vehicles or place under or on top of them, simulating a lost load from a logging truck. The possibilities for these poles are endless and, when stored, they don’t take up a lot of space. The utility companies may also be willing to come out and set up poles with wires and other components.
We often get cars from the wrecking yard that aren’t damaged. A couple of jersey barriers (K-rails) can change this dramatically. Local barrier companies may donate barriers to your department, especially if they have old ones that are no longer certified. Kelley blocks (large concrete retention blocks) can also work.
You can drop the car on the barrier and, depending on the rotation, the barrier will cause damage that simulates different wrecks. Put some dummies in the car before the drop, leave the car on the barrier, and you have yourself a nice stabilization and extrication problem.
If you can’t drop the car, shove it into the end of the barrier, right into the doors at the B-post. Leave the vehicle there, using the barrier as an obstacle, or wrap the damaged car around a utility pole.
It’s a simple fact that we often overlook the patient care portion of extrication training. Everyone wants to cut, roll that dash up a foot and pound their chests, but no one wants to hold C-spine. We need to know how our actions affect the patient and their space, so add some dummies to the mix. You might also add some rules of engagement for your training sessions that effectively challenge the students (i.e., every occupant is viable and needs to come out on a backboard).
Note: All these maneuvers should be done with caution and with proper personal protective equipment.
Say Thank You
A thank you goes a long way. Be humble and appreciate the efforts made by the local companies you call on. A simple letter on department letterhead thanking them for their donations or help is great. I know, I’m a firefighter on a truck, and I stopped writing letters in the ninth grade, but a letter, a press release to the local newspaper or even a “tweet” can keep many doors open for future training.
In Sum
Setting up and maintaining a successful training program takes hard work, patience and cooperation from many parties. But through the banged-up knuckles, sweat, snow, rain and heat; it’s all worth it when a student realizes, “This saves lives!”
