Rescue personnel will relate the results of crash testing
to the real world responses to pickup truck crash scenarios
TASK:
Given photographs of 1998 small size pickup trucks crash
tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, rescue personnel
will explain how specific crash test results indicate potential fire,
medical and extrication challenges at real world pickup truck crash
scenes
Originally Published: July 1998 Note: Photos, an important part of this exercise, will be posted online as soon as possible. RONALD E. MOORE
University of Extrication Editor
Once again, we turn to the experts at the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS) to gain valuable insight into the challenges of
small pickup truck crash rescue. The IIHS is a nonprofit research and
communications organization wholly supported by automobile insurers.
Researchers at the Institute's Vehicle Research Center in Virginia
conducted 40 mile per hour, 40% offset frontal crash tests of five small
size pickup truck models. Models tested included the Chevrolet S-10 LS,
Dodge Dakota Sport, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier XE and the Ford
Ranger XLT. Each vehicle had a seated and belted crash test dummy as
its' lone driver occupant. All crashes were photographed and the trucks
extensively analyzed by research engineers. Results of the testing
reveal several key areas of concern for emergency responders.
Doors
Each driver's side front door jammed during the crash and required tools
to open afterward. The passenger side door however, functioned normally
in every case.
Real world implication: With these small size trucks, there is only
minimal structural materials to resist crushing. It is important to
note that the even with severe damage on the driver's side, the door
away from the impact was always able to be opened by using the outside
door handle. Make sure at a crash scene you try both doors. Even if
one looks bad and doesn't open manually, don't assume both doors are
jammed. Try before you pry.
Driver's side rocker panel
Each of the five pickups tested had significant failure of the driver's
side rocker panel along the bottom of the A-pillar and beneath the front
door. As the hollow rocker panel buckled and crushed downward, the door
itself moved rearward and jammed. The doors were crushed rearward
enough that in several crashes, the outer panel of the door split apart
at the latch end of the door as it was jammed against the B-pillar of
the cab.
Real world implication: The failed rocker panel makes a very weak
structural area. Extrication crews will find that 'jacking' or
'rolling' the dash will be more difficult because there is no
significant strength left to the rocker panel particularly along the
lower A-pillar. Make sure cribbing is placed underneath the rocker
panel to support this area when a ram or spreader tries to move the
dash. Spread the load of the tools across a larger area of the truck by
use of a ram plate if practical.
Floorboard failure
As the driver's side front tire crushed rearward, the sections of
sheetmetal making up the floorboard in the driver's footwell area tore
wide open. Seams of the sheetmetal floor failed along their spot welds
as the floorboard buckled upward onto the feet and lower legs of the
driver. From inside the trucks, the front tires were actually visible
through the ruptured seams of the floorboards below the pedal area.
Real world implication: The floorboard failures mean potential serious
lower leg and foot injury and entrapment can occur in actual crashes.
EMS responders need to be alert to patient complaints of foot, ankle,
lower leg and knee pain. Extrication personnel must check for foot and
lower leg entrapment prior to forcing open a jammed front door.
Cab movement
These body-on-chassis vehicles all showed movement of the cab structure
which is a separate assembly from the pickup truck bed section.
Shifting of the entire cab away from the impact area was evident.
Real world implication: Shifting of the cab will cause the impact side
of the pickup to crush inward trapping occupants. All edges along the
hinge or latch side of the door will be closed tight. This makes
setting up a door to be forced open more difficult. At the same time,
the opposite side of the pickup will stretch wider than normal. Both
the door hinges and the latch assembly should be visible in the wide
seam areas along the door.
Batteries
As the lightweight front ends of these small pickup trucks crushed upon
impact, the battery located under the hood was damaged. The Ford Ranger
battery actually broke loose from its' mounting and was physically
smashed open.
Real world implication: First due companies at crash scenes must quickly
determine the location and status of the vehicle's battery. Be prepared
to find a battery that is completely broken open, with leaking battery
acid splattered throughout the immediate vicinity.
Task: Given photographs of 1998 small size pickup trucks crash
tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, rescue personnel
will explain how specific crash test results indicate potential fire,
medical and extrication challenges at real world pickup truck crash
scenes.
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