University of Extrication: Pickup Truck & SUV Skills Refresher—Part 1

June 1, 2018
Ron Moore looks at new airbag technologies in late-model pickup trucks and explains how first responders need to adapt their rescue techniques accordingly.

Topic: Pickup truck & SUV skills refresher

Objective: Pickup truck airbag system update

Task: Given a late-model pickup truck to review and inspect, the rescue team will determine what new airbag technologies exists and how to adapt their rescue techniques accordingly.

This University of Extrication column launches a multi-part series designed to update a rescuer’s extrication knowledge about pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Our focus begins with a look at airbag supplemental restraint systems that may be found in a late-model pickup trucks.

Responders assume that there is a frontal airbag for the driver and front passenger with any late-model pickup truck. There is also a high probability that there will be seat-mounted airbags in the outboard edges of the driver and front passenger seats. The most common indicator that airbags are present is the “shirt tag-style” airbag ID found sewn into a seam of the seat upholstery. This is something responders definitely need to check for and be aware of at accident scenes. 

The rescuer may also see airbag IDs along the interior roofline trim above the B-pillar or C-pillar. They must remember that these IDs are only indicators that a roof airbag system is present; they are not indicators of where the stored-gas inflator are actually located. Also, there are NO airbag stored-gas inflators on the B-pillar of a pickup truck, although that is the most common location for the roof airbag ID.

When a side-impact or a rollover crash occurs with a late-model pickup, the roof airbags will deploy to protect the front and second-row seat occupants. On the newest pickups, anti-ejection roof airbags are designed to hold pressure and stay inflated for a much longer duration than what responders have previously experienced with older roof airbag designs.

This new-style deployed roof airbag will be in the way when making contact with patients inside the vehicle. If the long roof airbag is still firm, a responder can cut into any of the fat “bubble” sections of the airbag and the entire nylon airbag will instantly deflate.

In Part 2, we will take a close-up look at a Center Seat Airbag System found in several SUVs.

SIDEBAR:

New Technology Tour & Inspection: Late-model Pickup Truck

  1. Frontal airbag supplemental restraint systems
  2. Side-impact seat airbag IDs
  3. Roof airbag IDs on pillars
  4. Roof airbag design and deployment

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