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Home  In The News Autumn 2002 - Rescue Asia Pacific Magazine
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Autumn 2002 - Rescue Asia Pacific Magazine |
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Multi-Purpose Vehicle Stabilization Equipment
 By now, we should all know that vehicle stabilization is important for a number of reasons. However, are we aware of all the various equipment and various methods out there for accomplishing vehicle stabilization? All are not created equal. If patient friendliness, firefighter friendliness, setup speed, cost, and versatility are among your criteria for equipment selection, you need to closely compare what’s out there.
Vehicle stabilization is an operation at a rescue scene which should be, in most cases, a present yet unnoticed operation from the patient’s viewpoint. In other words, this operation offers no direct relief for the patient, and should therefor consume very little precious time. It may prevent the patient from further injury, but it does nothing to ease there pain.
Passenger vehicle stabilization is not the same as building collapse stabilization. Building collapse typically dictates the use of bulky equipment with time consuming setups. Passenger vehicles are relatively lightweight and allow for the use of lighter components with quicker setup times. Considering the fact that the number of incidents requiring passenger vehicle stabilization far outnumber the incidents requiring building collapse stabilization, a rescue team should think about equipping themselves with the right tools for passenger vehicle stabilization and then possibly consider the more costly, less often required building collapse equipment.
Within the field of passenger vehicle stabilization equipment, there are many choices. There are a number of things to look for to determine what is best for you:
1. Firefighter Friendliness: Is the equipment understandable and easy to use. How do the adjustment pins work. Is it clear how the parts fit together. Will the rescue team put it to use?
2. Patient Friendliness: How quickly can the equipment be set up? It should take no more than approximately 2 minutes to set up solid stabilization on a side-resting or roof-resting passenger vehicle.
3. Adaptability/Flexibility: How easily is the equipment adapted or set up to meet the demands of a less than ordinary situation?
4. Versatility: How else might this equipment be used to justify a purchase?
5. Base Options: Can you strap the bases? How many straps can you use? Are there any pre-attached straps? Can you stake the base? Can you remove the base and replace with an end fitting?
6. End Fitting Options: Are the end fittings removable? What other end fittings are available? Will the manufacturer build custom fittings?
7. Adjustment options: How easily are the stands adjusted? Can you adjust stand length under load with a built in jack? Is the jack smooth acting?
The Res-Q-Jack™ equipment is a system available on the market today which satisfies all of the above concerns. The unique feature built into the Res-Q-Jack™ jack stand is the side-wind jack unit. This jack is a powerful jack with a 12" (0.3 meters) travel and a lift capacity of 4,000 lbs. (17.8 kN). The jack offers the ability to adjust the length of the stand under load. The jack moves very smoothly with infinitesimal adjustment ability and no "jumping".
Adjustable telescopic steel tubing offers quick coarse adjustment. Easy to use tablock pins allow firefighters to make adjustments while keeping their gloves on.
Interchangeable end fittings which simply plug into the stands are available in a variety of configurations. You can select from a channel head, inverted angle, chisel point, locking chain grab, beam plate, combination head, or join three stands with a tripod head. Certain vehicle components may demand a particular end fitting.
The base of this system offers many options for restraint. The "first out" restraint could be two pre-attached quick-acting cambuckle straps. If greater restraint is needed, a heavier duty strap or chain may be used and attached to auxiliary hook points. If straps are not suitable in the given situation or further security is required, the bases may be staked to the ground.
The applications for this equipment are numerous. The Res-Q-Jack™ design described above allows for use in many different passenger vehicle accident scenarios. Unique methods have been developed for different situations including side-resting, roof-resting, or car-on-car stabilization. The application of this equipment, however is not limited to motor vehicle stabilization applications. Other areas include: light structural stabilization, light aircraft stabilization, displacements, and various confined space applications. For more information you may contact Cepco Tool Company, PO Box 700, Spencer, NY 14883 USA. You may also visit their web site at www.res-q-jack.com.
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