Supplemental Restraint Airbag Systems
Standard driver and front-passenger airbags are now the norm for supplemental restraint protection in minivans. Manufacturers also design the lower surface of the instrument panel to act as a knee "blocker" or "bolster." This padding helps provide a soft "ride down" of impact energy for front-seat occupants during a collision. The bolster and seatbelts also keep occupants from submarining under the dash during frontal collisions and helps maintain the correct seat position as the front airbags inflate.

This customized Volkswagen minivan camper unit can challenge responders arriving at a van fire or accident scene. These vehicles should be studied at dealerships and customizers to fully understand the unusual features that may be present.

There is a critical item that responders must be aware of regarding the "hidden" passenger airbag on Chrysler minivans. Beginning with the 1996 Caravan, Voyager and Town & Country models, there is a seamless cover on the instrument panel door for the passenger-side airbag. Although the "hidden" airbag eliminates unsightly seams and hinges typical of an airbag unit in a dash, the real reason for a seamless dashboard is to minimize theft of that airbag unit by car thieves.

Rescuers at a minivan side collision scenario may access the front-seat passenger side of the van and take a quick glance at the passenger-side dashboard. Because the front bags would still be "loaded" the rescuer may be fooled into thinking that in fact there is no airbag there. It must be anticipated that all vehicles have dual front airbags unless proven otherwise.

Maintaining a safe working distance of at least 18 inches from the surface of an undeployed airbag cover is critical for maximizing rescuer safety.

Also of interest to rescuers is the 1997 Chrysler minivan's Enhanced Accident Response System. This safety system functions when the minivan has been involved in a frontal collision where the airbag units have deployed. Chrysler's system automatically unlocks the vehicle's doors and turns on the interior dome lights. This not only allows occupants to exit the van but facilitates opening of undamaged doors from the outside.

Van Rollovers
Rescuers must practice and prepare for vehicle stabilization when a van or minivan is found on its roof. Roof structure crushing can trap occupants inside and make stabilization and extrication efforts difficult.

Crush damage is evident even from this rollover accident involving an older full-size van. Van and minivan rollover scenes can complicate both patient handling and vehicle rescue procedures.

As is typical at these rollovers, unbelted occupants can be easily ejected. Responders must diligently search for clues that occupants of the van have been ejected and begin searching earnestly for any possible patients.

The large amount of window and windshield glass broken during the rollover will yield a tremendous pile of glass shards over a large area near the vehicle. The 1997 model Chrysler minivans actually have 32% more glass than their previous generations of vehicles. Side and rear window openings can make excellent access or egress pathways once their glass is removed and the metal edges of the window protected.

Special Considerations
Customizing of minivans and full-size vans allows these vehicles to function as transportation for mobility impaired individuals. Wheelchair equipment, special driver controls and handicapped parking stickers or license plates may allow rescuers to quickly realize that the incident involves a special vehicle and patient. Customized minivans serving as campers or motor homes present unique hazards of stored gasoline and cooking fuels such as propane or butane.

Minivan New Technology Summary
Minivan vehicle collisions call for accurate assessment of patients with special attention to possible head injuries, prior knowledge of the vehicle's special features, and an available arsenal of primary and alternative disentanglement techniques to achieve the safest and most efficient possible rescues. Emergency service personnel should make the effort now to inspect the major brands of minivans so that you understand their design and features before you face your next minivan fire or rescue incident.

Task: Identify "new technology" components and explain the influence of these features found on late model minivan vehicles.

OBJECTIVES COMPLETE
At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Have a working knowledge of the various designs, locations, and functions of the new technology items presented.
  
• Recognize the safety hazards associated with each new technology item and how they are likely to affect those present at a motor vehicle accident scene.
  
• Understand the cause and effect influences of each new technology item on present medical, fire suppression, safety and rescue operations at the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
  
• Initiate the necessary practices and procedures to mitigate the hazards presented by each new technology item, thereby rendering the incident scene safe for the accident victims and operating personnel.