On occasion vehicles are involved in a motor vehicle collision and come to rest upside down in ditches of varying sizes. Rescuers may be able to utilize frequently used tactics including side removals and tunnel operations. However depending on factors such as ditch size, vehicle construction, vehicle damage, etc., side and trunk access may not be practical. Just short of manipulating the patient and potentially causing further injury this leaves rescuers with one solution which involves the vertical lifting of the vehicle with heavy recovery vehicles or lifting equipment.
Given our geographical area and exposure to this type of incident the Darlington County Extrication Team strived to develop and refine a tactic that provides a suitable path of egress when there are no other alternatives for a vehicle that has come to rest upside down. We wanted to accomplish this with limited equipment normally carried on rescue vehicles.
After hours of brainstorming and research, the solution involved the application of the basic components of a Res-Q-Jack system, 2 X-Struts®, a 15 foot Grade 80 chain, 1 ratchet strap, and 1 cluster. With this equipment rescuers have perfected raising vehicles from side to side and end to end. It took a redevelopment of these principles applied to a vehicle where the attachment points were several feet below the head of the strut.
These pictures depict the setup of the equipment along with potential tactics. Although it looks complex it is relatively easy and adaptable to almost any style of below grade situation. Rescuers who are familiar with the tactic can begin pitching the car within five minutes while other rescuers stage equipment for further disentanglement procedures. In a matter of 10 – 15 minutes a path of egress can be made with tactics including a clam maneuver, side removal, dash displacement, and/or tunnel operation.
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