What is YOUR biggest concern with vehicles today?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Daley on May 17, 2008 at 6:56pm

Hey Double D -

What bothers me recently is the odd ball stuff that we do not see all the time.

In our town, with seven densely populated retirement communities, we have a ton of personal mobility vehicles. Each of these presents a true challenge, including stabilization issues, vehicle controls that are modified by aftermarket companies, and rigidity and reinforcement of passenger compartments.

There are also issues with cars that are modified to hug lower to the ground, and get aftermarket reinforcements that are not expected. Case in point: we were doing an extrication class at the academy I work at, and we had an Acura that was tricked out to be a ground hugger (We call these cars "angry cuisinarts" because they sound like blenders on steroids going down the road). As we were cutting a third door, we discovered an aftermarket cross brace under the rear seat, that was installed in the passenger compartment, since all of the bracing under the car was removed to facilitate lowering the vehicle.

So, rescuer beware of what you DO NOT SEE - people are doing some really wierd stuff to their vehicles....

Stay Safe

DIESEL

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bryce Tracy on May 17, 2008 at 9:20pm

I have to say its the variations of stuctural materials used. I have been teaching VE for a munber of years now and i am finding that unless the FD's have newer (less than 5 years old tools) we have a vey hard time cutting and spreading the materials in question. So we have to consistantly improvise and adapt our regular VE tactics. I also have to mention the "Jet Lag" theroy....we are still cutting on 1980's and 90"s cars that dont have all of the New Vehicle Technologies in them......We have to really be creative and on the ball when teaching and providing refresher training.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Dalrymple on May 22, 2008 at 4:11am

Diesel-
Yes I agree with you about "oddities" so to speak. The whole personal mobility vehicle is a concern all to itself. Your article on those was great and on target.
However the concern about "tuner" cars has a bunch of layers to it. Besides various structures and construction changes (even roll cages can be found) but battery relocation and additional batteries to fit the demands of high powered sound systems and even susp. systems. Add into this fuel additives such as NOS and even carbon fiber body materials - WOW!
DD

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Daley on May 22, 2008 at 4:15am

DD-

Is there any standard you know of that these guys follow when working up these "tuner" cars? (I like my term better) There are a few places locally here that seem to make it up as they go.

DIESEL

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Dalrymple on May 22, 2008 at 5:11am

Bryce-
I have to agree with you 120% on vehicle construction and materials. However most people havent yet focused in onto this concern or given it it's due. Safety systems are not going away however other than refining existing systems and maybe broading some additional systems they will remain pretty much at the level of today (i.e. 6 to 8 airbags plus pretensioners). Motive power will make more inroads especially in the realm of hybrids over the next 36 months. Some of those changes will impact upon us operationally. Still power isolation done on a consistant basis will make both of these issues less threatening.
But vehicle construction and the materials they are made of will increasingly frustrait us operationally. Even now how many of us have run into a vehicle that has frustraited tool evolutions that worked well in the past or even ran into something we couldnt sever? As OEMs design vehicles to improve occupant protection and structural strength while saving on weigh and size we will have to give more attention to alternative methodology to create space and facilitate a path to disentangle occupants. We might even need to "create" interior space just to work on our patients on a regular basis. While spreaders will always have their place on scene I believe the tool of the future will be the power hydraulic cutter since I believe we will be forced to cut more often and more components. Even the power hydraulic ram will find new "life" as we will need to "cross-ram" to re-porportion the vehicle interior more often. Our friend the recip saw, while a great tool all itt's own, will need new blades to handle the materials OEMs are placing into vehicles even now.
Ok time to step off the soapbox....
DD

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Dalrymple on May 22, 2008 at 5:34pm

Diesel-
Nope not really - it depends upon what they want to do with the car!
DD

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richard Michitsch on June 23, 2008 at 9:53am

I have many of the concerns that you have as well, including:
-Battery operated vehicles that unless you know how to turn them off may be running while you are performing your operations.
-The high voltage that the vehicles carry and the varying colors used by the manufacturers to designate the high voltage lines. And where those batteries are placed and where the wires run throughout the vehicle.
-The Contractor vehicle that is carrying class 2 HazMats (propane tanks, acetylene, etc), Class 3 HazMats (thinners, fuel, etc), Class 8 HazMats (caustic/acidic stripping agents, etc)
-Tuner cars carrying Nitrous Oxide bottles, Fire Extinguishers, extra batteries.
-Diesel Tuner Trucks with Propane injected systems.
-The various types of Class 4 Flammable metals that vehicles are made of.
To name a few.
DON’T be the next one, BE safe!
Richard

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patrick DiTullio on August 9, 2008 at 2:59pm

Vehicles today are being made out of many different materials, with many different features. None of which are designed with us in mind. Advances in automotive technology are somewhat comprable to that of the construction industry. Both cars and buildings are being made as cheap as possible, being stuffed with synthetic materials, and modified in numerous ways. Todays vehicles have countless safety features that are good for passengers, but make us do things different than we use to. Just like building construction it's important for us to educate ourselves on the latest trends, and learn how to do things safely. I think the biggest problems that we are faced with are SRS, and vehicle construction materials. I think the cutter is becoming the primary choice, but the most important tool we have for extrication is our brains.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Todd McKee on August 11, 2008 at 10:28am

Dave- Being a Firefighter and a Huge HazMat guy, the biggest concern that I have with vehicle on the road to day is that there are more advanced fuels in them. It is not Just gasoline or diesel fuel.

We currently have biodiesel, used cooking oil, electricity and so on... You really never know what your going to get into with a car fire or a crash with a leak in a stream and etc.....

Todd McKee

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Dalrymple on August 11, 2008 at 10:48am

Rich-
ALL vehicles even hybrids should be secured and power isolated today. Two step process:
1- shut the ignition off and remove the keys from the vehicle and place them in your apparatus. Remember that proximity ignition has become a large percertage today so you might have to find the key. And proximity keys have a certain range that they work so a god rule of thumb is 15' away from the vehicle
2- find the primary 12v battery and disconnect/cut the cables both + & - ..... This shuts ALL hybrids down at the high volyage battery.

Key thing- where is the battery today? Over 40% are outside the engine bay....
And all the things you mentioned too are good, valid points- dont forget carbon fiber body materials too

Dave

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Dalrymple on August 11, 2008 at 10:53am

Pat-
Yes and as time moves along even more types of materials, construction methodology and such will play even larger role. And I agree 120% about the power hydraulic cutter, not only will more and more cutting force will be needed but changes in blade shapes wil play into that. Recip saw blade mfg. need better stronger toothed blades to keep pace now.........
Knowledge is power and more options you have- the better off the rescuer will be. But also we need to take a look at what other places are doing tool evolution wise and step out of the box per say.... re-think some of what we do..
Dave

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Dalrymple on August 11, 2008 at 10:57am

Todd-
One of the engineers from Toyota that was with us at our FDIC HOT class said we will experience over the next 36 months a dramatic shift in vehicle's motive power. I think we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg per say...
Dave

▶ Reply to This

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last