One term that is relevant to rescue personnel is "body-in-white", which is essentially this is the structural skeleton of the vehicle with body panels, hood, doors, roof, and trunk added.
Topic: Defining the "Body-in-White"
Automakers have different terminology for things that we as responders call by much simpler terms. For example, during many of my conversations with representatives of the major automakers, the term OEM comes up. That term is an abbreviation for Original Equipment Manufacturer. It means that the component being referred to was made by a supplier approved by automaker themselves.
One term that is relevant to rescue personnel is "body-in-white". The image provided courtesy of Mercedes-Benz shows one of their vehicles as a body-in-white. Essentially this is the structural skeleton of the vehicle with body panels, hood, doors, roof, and trunk added. The body-in-whilte does not include interior components or any of the chassis or power train systems.
Looking at a body-in-white image of a vehicle gives responders a great opportunity to see how the structure of that vehicle is put together.
Crash Course Teaching Point:
When it comes right down to it, a lot of our rescue and extrication is actually done as we deal with the body-in-white structure of a vehicle. This is typically what we must force open, move, spread, remove or cut off to free a trapped occupant.
Be Informed...Be Ready...Beware!
