Extricating Victims from Large Trucks

[ccc530]

I am interrested in hearing how your department handles a large truck on it's side or roof with entrapment? Trucks are not cut as easily as cars. The A and B posts are much thicker. Relief cuts in the roof are more difficult to cut, do to the length and thickness of the metal. When it's on it's side, it is difficult to reach the posts that are 6-8 feet up in the air. I just had my fourth truck on it's side, in a year. We cut the A posts, then used the spreaders and ram to widen the windshield opening. (The windshield had popped out already). The victim was in a sitting position; his back against the ceiling, legs under the dash and pedals, and his butt was through the open window, resting on the ground. "High index" by mechanism, "trama alert" by length of time to extricate him, we cut the steering wheel off, then used our airbags to raise the victims' butt through the window (he was very big and heavy). The rest was pretty standard.
I know every situation is different, but what were your experiences?

[This message has been edited by ccc530 (edited March 13, 1999).]

[Jeff]

Big rigs pose addtional problems than cars as you are well aware. The first thing I teach in this situation, is to get the roof off. Use your cutters yes, but a recip saw can take the roof off in no time. Remember to watch for those air conditioner lines. Follow the rivet lines, that's where the supports are and where you can cut along and remove the roof. I recommend saws over air chisels because the saw can cut thru both walls of the truck instead of one. Also, a good step ladder works wonders on a wreck such as this or a school bus. Email me and we'll talk more.

Jeff Hinshaw, PAC, EMTP, ERT-I
Winston Salem Rescue Squad
Winston Salem NC
jhinshaw@wfubmc.edu

[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited March 15, 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited March 15, 1999).]

[BC White]

ccc530,
Sounds like you did a great job on your extrication. Just getting a large person with chest pains out of a cab can be tough, let alone extricating one.
As mentioned, ladders are a must, and an A-frame ladder comes in handy. We have used ours many times on trucks. We have even special called a flat bed wrecker to the scene to use as a work platform.

For roof flapping, I have used the ram in the center of the window frame and pushing the roof after relief cuts were made, A-posts cut, and a chisel cut across the top connecting the relief cuts. Then rigging chains in a "Y" and pulling and securing the roof when the ram was fully extended with a come-a-long.
Not the best tactic, but it worked. If there are not too many items in the sleeper that will be in the way of the blade (like riders, TV's, microwaves, and so on), the saw-zall is the best choice.
If the truck is on it's wheels, flapping and securing the roof is just about the safest for all.
I have even seen a large rotating boom crane wrecker secure the roof of a large truck, and the roof removed after rescuers made the proper cuts. A different approach, but it kept the heavy roof from hitting anyone, and the roof was placed out of the immediate action area.
I hope others share their experience with us on this topic.

[ccc530]

Great Ideas. Please keep them coming. Thanks.
P.S. Any comments, Mr. Moore?

[nbfd131]

Earlier this year, we got called to the scene of a fatal semi truck rollover. The semi missed making a corner and ended up in a field on it's roof. The steamshovel the truck was carrying did a barrel roll and ended up on its tracks. The tractor ended up crushed with about 1 foot of side window on one side and about to seat level on the driver side. The driver was dead when we arrived, about 10 minutes after accident occured so there wasn't anything we could do for him. What we ended up doing was taking hydraulic rams and placing them on steel hurst plates and pushing up on the rear of the tractor frame near the coupler assembly is. This was enough to lift the chassisup and forwards to give us clearance to safely work. After stabilizing the vehicle with wood braces and the aforementioned steamshovel, we piece by piece cut the body away from the victim with a sawzall and a demolition blade. The saw was used to aslo remove the Drivers door, the air seat cylinder, and the seat itself. This allowed us to remove the victim who was crushed between the seat and the roof and the rear window openning and the ground. It's amazing what low tech tools can do, especially in a delicate situation like that was.

[billy]

Heavy trucks are not as big and bad as they seem. Obviously larger than autos, removal of victims from an upright cab presents a challenge. I've practiced and taught a quick and safe method for removal from the sitting position in an upright cab called the "sliding board". Four rescuers are required, along with two spine boards and an elevating stretcher. The victim is packaged ordinarilly, and the stretcher brought perpendicular to the truck door. One board is placed on the stretcher, the other at an angle (resembling a sliding board). The victim is rotated in the seat and slid down the board. A strap or rope is passed thriugh the handholds of the KED(or other). An interior rescuer controls the descent from inside. Other rescuers support the victim. No overhead lifting, safe for rescuers and victim. Seems to work very well. I welcome any comments or questions regarding heavy truck rescue.

[e33]

Heres one for you... Have a rollback wrecker back up to the truck you are opening up. It makes a nice big platform to work on and gets up high enough to work easily and get the patient out. Also little giant ladders and a frame type ladders work well. If you are lifting the patient..remember that a KED is not rated for ANY type of lifting. Its a splint!! Use an LSP halfback or similar style immobilization device if you plan on doing any odd maneuvering or patient lifting.

[This message has been edited by e33 (edited April 16, 1999).]

[resqtek3]

we began using a roll back or flat bed wrecker about three years ago and have benn quite efficent with it. get with the local wrecker services and see what they can do for u.