August 5, 2010
Yuma Fire Department
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 Several city of Yuma firefighters received some hands-on training
Thursday morning on new rescue jack/stabilization equipment they will be
using when reponding to serious motor vehicle accidents and other
similar emergencies.
“It should be quick to set up and be safer
for the responders and patients,” said Capt. Jeff Green. “With practice
and familiarization, you can stabilize a vehicle in just a few minutes.”
The
training, which was held at Dick's 25 Hour Towing, covered the proper
set-up and techniques for using Res-Q-Jack stabilization equipment at
the scene of a serious motor vehicle accident.
Green said the
recently purchased equipment helps stabilize vehicles when people are
trapped or pinned and need to be extricated from the vehicle.
“A
car on its side on level ground is fairly stable, but on uneven terrain
it would be very unstable and could roll over onto someone,” Green said.
“Without a system like this, you wouldn't be able to cut the roof off a
car to get to the patient.”
In addition to stabilizing a
vehicle, Green said the equipment can also be used to lift vehicles that
have overturned and are upside down.
 During the training,
performed on vehicles in Dick's back lot, firefighters set up the
equipment on three different vehicles, two that were on their sides and
one that was overturned and resting on its roof.
In addition to
stabilizing and lifting vehicles, Green said the equipment can also be
used to shore up building collapses and other tactical rescue
operations. He added the equipment is designed to be versitile, and all
the various pieces – bases, ends and extensions – are interchangeable,
adjustable or removable.
Green said the fire department purchased
the Res-Q-Jack equipment last month for just over $5,000, using money
from a grant it received from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Thursday
morning's training session was to teach several firefighters how to
correctly use the equipment. Those firefighters will then in turn teach
others at their stations.
Although the YFD only has one
Res-Q-Jack system so far, Green said the plan is to have it available on
an engine truck later this year and available for use.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun or 539-6854.
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