During the month of September, all Cherry Hill Firefighters received training on new equipment that aids in serious motor vehicle accidents. When firefighters arrive at an accident scene where victims are trapped inside their vehicle, or there will be an extended period of time removing them, they perform stabilization on the vehicle. Vehicles involved in accidents can easily move, fall over, or slip on uneven surfaces depending on where and how they come to rest. By stabilizing the vehicle, it removes as much risk as possible of moving the vehicle during the rescue process that might further injure the patient. Stabilization includes many things; from simply making sure the vehicle is turned off and in park; all the way up to building intricate cribbing systems for overturned vehicles. Firefighters reviewed all these systems and techniques.
Highlighted in this training was the use of a new type of stabilizer that saves valuable time setting up translating to quicker extrications and more rapid patient transports to the emergency rooms. The new tool firefighters worked with is known as a Twist-Lock Vehicle Stabilizer - referred to in the field as a rescue strut. It incorporates a simple twist lock technology instead of screwing a locking ring all the way down the shaft. Also, the strap that secures the stabilizer to the vehicle is now integrated in the system already, so no secondary equipment is required to use it.
For a quick review on how struts work, click here for an informational video. http://www.paratech.com/multimedia/Overview/RSS_VSK_OV.swf
http://www.paratech.com/multimedia/Animations/VSK.swfHere are some recent pics of accidents in Cherry Hill where this type of strut stabilization was used.
