When responders are summoned to hazardous material calls, one source of critical information on the properties of the chemicals involved comes from Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) forms. These standardized forms are required to be provided by manufacturers of chemical products. In addition to use at hazmat emergencies, MSDS forms are used in training and pre-incident planning for target hazard occupancies.

In the field of vehicle rescue, I feel it is just as important that responding personnel quickly know the exact type and location of certain features on the crashed vehicles they confront. To immediately know the location of items such as all front- and side-impact airbags, airbag crash sensors, the vehicle battery, fuel tank and seatbelt pre-tensioners would be extremely valuable.

Information such as this, immediately available at a crash scene, can improve responder safety and improve our vehicle rescue operational efficiency. A more efficient extrication effort can reduce victim entrapment time, thereby reducing injuries and potentially increasing the chances of survival for occupants trapped in vehicles.

Based upon the success of the nationwide hazmat MSDS concept, I propose a new federal motor vehicle safety standard requiring safety information be provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle. This information form shall be known as the “Vehicle Safety Data Sheet” or “VSDS.”

The VSDS information shall be present on each vehicle in the form of a factory-installed adhesive decal (placard) about the size of a postcard. The VSDS placard shall be mounted in a minimum of two separate and standardized locations on every vehicle sold in the U.S. The VSDS placards will allow all emergency responders to go to the crashed vehicle and obtain critical safety information right at the scene.

VSDS Placard Design

The VSDS placard is to consist of a line drawing. One diagram shall represent the actual vehicle looking down from the top, the other looking at the driver’s side (see following page).

A sample of a Vehicle Safety Data Sheet (VSDS), designed to provide emergency responders with vital information.

The VSDS shall use black ink and be printed on a safety yellow background adhesive label. An additional red color ink along with simple and easily understood symbols or words shall be used to locate specific safety items on the VSDS diagram such as battery, fuel tank and airbag units.

On the overhead view, all vehicle doors will be shown in the open position. Drawn in this manner, the VSDS placard will indicate door hinge locations and which way a door opens. (If it is a third door on an extended cab pickup truck that opens backwards, for example, the VSDS diagram will reveal this fact). The VSDS form will incorporate only artwork icons and some simple text that any fire, EMS or law enforcement responder will be able to read and understand – even at 3 A.M. in the middle of a rain storm.

VSDS Locations

The VSDS motor vehicle safety standard must require and standardize on two VSDS mounting locations. These VSDS locations shall remain the same for ALL vehicles regardless of make, model or style. These locations should be remote from each other. With two separate locations, responders will have the greatest chance of at least one VSDS placard being available to responders at any crash. In order for this system to work, it is essential that the VSDS placard be in two locations and that the locations remain the same on every vehicle.

I propose requiring one VSDS placard to be applied to the underside of every hood. This primary location would be accessed by opening the hood, allowing the VSDS form to be read by responders standing outside the vehicle.

A standard location is needed for a second VSDS placard. A location on the underside of the trunk lid would be good, but not every vehicle has a trunk. A possible second exterior location that would be suitable for all types of vehicles is under or behind the rear license plate. For this location to work, rescuers would have to quickly unscrew the license plate to reveal the VSDS placard information. Another location to consider for the second VSDS placard is on the inside of the fuel filler door if slight modifications are made to the design of the filler door hinge. Potentially a removable form (laminated placard) could be secured inside this small fuel door.

The second VSDS placard could also be required to be inside the vehicle. The best inside location that would work for all vehicles would be glued to the inside of the driver’s side sunvisor. This is a location currently used by automakers for posting airbag safety notices as required by current motor vehicle safety standards. This location inside the vehicle would allow first responder, law enforcement and EMS personnel inside the crashed vehicle to quickly learn of important safety information without having or requiring any effort to open the hood or remove license plates.

VSDS Information

The information displayed on the VSDS placard is specific for the actual vehicle the VSDS form is applied to. The VSDS diagram reveals specific features and options on the vehicle as actually provided by the manufacturer. The VSDS placard diagram can include information such as:

• All airbag unit locations (dual front airbags, side torso, side head protection, knee airbag, foot airbag, rear seat passenger airbags, etc.).

• Airbag system control module location.

• Alternate fueled engine or alternative power type and location (for example, a hybrid vehicle with gasoline engine and electric motor).

• Battery location(s).

• Fuel tank or fuel cell position and tank capacity.

• Seatbelt pre-tensioner locations.

• Reinforced structural areas (example: high strength-low alloy steel, B-pillar side impact reinforcement, etc.).

• Other important vehicle features or unique construction materials such as presence of magnesium or other unique alloys.

• Convertible with pop-up roll bar.

VSDS Training

For a rescuer, the vehicle will now be able to tell us just what we need to know at a glance. This VSDS information shall also be available in hardcopy form and shall be posted online so responders can use it and study it in advance during vehicle rescue and EMS training and rescue pre-planning activities.

At the present time, Firehouse® Magazine has corresponded on my behalf directly with Dr. Richard Martinez, director of the National Highway Traffic safety Administration (NHTSA). He has personally replied and was enthusiastic about an effort such as this.

I hope to be able to muster support from key fire service organizations such as the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). Hopefully, readers of Firehouse® Magazine will be motivated to spread the word and provide suggestions on this proposal. The University of Extrication Message Forum will serve as our online communications point for developing this concept.

Political influence by the Congressional Fire Service Institute, Congressmen Curt Weldon and Steny Hoyer, and others in the political arena will make our voices heard within the federal government and the Department of Transportation specifically.

At this time, I need a "brain trust" of interested fire service people to support this plan and recommend changes and additions to the VSDS concept presented. Through a grass-roots fire service effort, we can make VSDS placards a reality on new vehicles. See you online at firehouse.com.