Isaac Frazier's Blog (75)

It isn't uncommon for entrapments in my response area to involve guardrails. This common occurrence was covered in Extrication "Quick Tip'' #23. Cable barriers are not common to my part of the country. However, there are many misconceptions to the emergency response to entrapments involving them. Here is some great information from Minnesota DOT covering the emergency…

(Yellow symbolizes the backside of the A post, Red is showing the sever from the additional (deep) cut)

One of the most common complaints I hear about completing dash displacements is the lack of actual "lift" or the feeling of resistance during the lift. This can be caused by a…

This week’s “quick tip” seems basic; however, it is incredible how often this quick step is being overlooked. We must get into a habit of turning off the ignition and removing the key on motor vehicle crashes. It is a quick, easy, and often overlooked step. Typically, this will secure roughly 90% of the systems on any…

LEAP-FROGGIN'

In my opinion, success at an extrication scene is based off efficiency, tactics, and teamwork. One of my…

Do a quick internet search on vehicles vs. guardrails and your photo results will be…

On many extended extrications access to the patient is obviously very limited. One often-overlooked method is using the seatback to facilitate much needed access to the patient. This technique is completed via the seat controls-electric/manual or by cutting the seatback…

Today’s quick tip is covering a challenging problem that may arise in extrications with very heavy…

Many times extrication training consists of popping a door or completing a dash lift on non-damaged vehicles. One method that has really added to the consistency of our success on "real world" entrapments is…

One of the most challenging skills in extrication is the displacement of the various objects that may be "trapping" our patients. If we practice moving these objects (steering wheel in this example) in various directions, it greatly improves our "options" when the entrapment is not typical. Here we are moving a steering wheel/column towards the…

This is a quick tip showing an alternative push base for a Hydraulic Ram. Spreaders pinched on the rocker panel may or may not be recommended depending on your individual hydraulic manufactures recommendations. This is just a quick option to keep the ram base from "running" down the rocker panel. Drive the halligan spike into the rocker with a axe,…

This weeks "Quick Tip" is covering a quick method to mitigate fuel line issues. Some methods such as tunneling and  "through the…

In extrication you will find thousands of names for each individual method. Many times I think we get consumed with the "cool" names and start lose focus on the goal/purpose of the given method. I challenge you to research your choice methods…

Many times there are situations in which the "chosen ones"-the spreader and cutter are not the best option for freeing a heavily trapped patient. When faced with heavy side intrusion, we need to consider cross ramming. It is incredibly beneficial when the side causing entrapment is against an object or when extremities are pinned in an…

Many years ago I got into a habit of using a stopwatch to time fire and extrication evolutions. At first many thought it was to show how "fast" we were compared to trucks or to test my crew. But after doing it for a while firefighters realized that it wasn't a test at all, but a method we could use to evaluate and speed up if…

On April 14^th 1912, a screeching sound awakened many on an “unsinkable” ship. This couldn’t be happening! They’d said it was impossible; that the ship was unsinkable. When I think of training, I consistently relate it in many ways to the events leading up to the Titanic’s tragic night.  The source…

In vehicle extrication, many…

If you follow Tactical Advantage Training, you have seen me post, “Wolves don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.” For the modern fire service, I believe this motto is incredibly fitting.  So…

This weeks quick tip refers to what I call "Fast Shears". While working on extrication scenes we all know there is a long list of objects that will need to be cut (seatbelts, various plastic, wiring, wiring boots, weather stripping, patients clothing, etc). Many times they are small and "annoying" objects that don't warrant the psi and time taken using hydraulic cutters. Everyone claims to carry trauma shears or a cutting device, however more often…

While speed during extrication is often critical, it comes at a high price without efficiency.  We must first learn the tools, develop skills, learn the how’s and why’s, practice teamwork, train, become efficient, with the result being speed of the operation.  Speed is the rate of one’s activity, in this case extrication skills.  Whether at a fire, during an extrication, or on special operations, it takes efficiency and training to foster speed. In referencing the…

I am a firm believer in the phrase "Never say never, never say always". Just remember each technique you are currently using was more than likely created from firemen trying something new. Extrication Quick Tip #11 is showing a directional pull of a steering wheel using hydraulic speaders, chain, and an A post. This technique is quick and easy to set up with limited…