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Posted: Aug 1, 2016
By Alan M. Petrillo
Most fire departments around the country respond to vehicle crash calls where occupants often need to be extricated using hydraulic rescue tools.
While human-powered tools are available on rescues, trucks, and pumpers, it’s most often the hosed hydraulic and battery-operated tools that are used to perform the extraction. In response to vehicles made with higher strength materials, and with an aim toward making rescue tools more ergonomic and easier to use, hydraulic tool manufacturers have come up with new and improved designs to aid firefighters.
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| 1 The Hurst Jaws of Life Generation 2 eDRAULIC SP310E2 spreader, left, and S700E2 cutter use improved battery technology that gets 40 percent more amp hours than previously from the same size battery. (Photo courtesy of Hurst Jaws of Life.) |
Power, Speed, and Weight
Chris Jaques, president of IDEX Rescue, says that most of the innovation for Hurst Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tools has been driven by the need for power and speed. “Cars have challenged the tools of 20 years ago, so we have to stay ahead of them, which means the power to cut and spread the latest in high-strength steels,” Jaques says. “In terms of speed, it’s how fast the tool runs but also with our eDRAULIC battery-operated hydraulic tools how fast they can be deployed.”
The preference for hosed or battery-operated hydraulic rescue tools is dependent on the fire department, Jacques says. “Some very traditional departments are very happy with hose-bound tools, while others prefer to use battery-operated tools. However, the trend is toward the battery-operated tools.”
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| 2 The S700E2 cutter made by Hurst Jaws of Life weighs 48.1 pounds, is 36.2 inches long, and is 11.7 inches wide. (Photo courtesy of Hurst Jaws of Life.) |
The most popular grouping of hydraulic tools is a cutter, spreader, and ram, Jacques points out, although if budget is an issue, a department might choose a combi tool to get started and then add other tools as budgeting permits.
Hurst is launching two new spreader tools, Jaques says, the SP333, a 24-inch spreader, and the SP555, a 28-inch model. These complement the company’s eDRAULIC line of the SP310E2 spreader; the S700E2 and S311E2 cutters; the SC357E2 and SC250E2 combi tools; and the newly released StrongArm™, a tool designed with interchangeable tips for tactical rescue, breaching, or rapid intervention.
Fran Dunigan, marketing manager for Holmatro Inc., says his company’s biggest innovations recently have been in its spreaders, “where we have drastically cut the weight of our entire line of spreaders, developing a new 5000 series.” Dunigan points out that Holmatro is reducing the weight of its cutter line too, “with a more efficient application of power, greater ergonomics, and less weight.”
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Posted: Aug 1, 2016
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Richard Marinucci |
The automobile has come a long way since it was first manufactured on the assembly line pioneered by Henry Ford. It was a very basic machine and had relatively few parts.
There were no options, and even the color, black, was the only one available. In fact, Henry Ford is credited with the statement that buyers could have any color they wanted, as long as they chose black! Today, vehicles have many options and are regulated by the government to provide better mileage as well as safety components. Both have an effect on extrication should there be a crash, requiring extra effort.
Fuel Types
Early autos ran on gasoline. Now there are vehicles that use diesel fuel, battery power, natural gas, and gas/battery hybrids. There are also cars being developed that operate on hydrogen gas. Each of these can present a challenge to firefighters and create varying obstacles during extrication operations. Just this aspect of automobiles presents more information that firefighters must know to be successful and safe with their operations. Fortunately, there are many resources available to fire departments, and access through the Internet allows each organization to gain the information it needs. What are not provided are the time and plans to use this information in a quality training program. Those are left up to departments to figure out.
The fuel a vehicle uses will affect responders’ decision-making processes. Generally speaking, there needs to be an initial assessment to determine if the fuel type will affect the operation and safety. In most cases, if the vehicle is powered by a liquid or gas and there is no leak, then extrication can proceed without immediate concern. Responders should constantly monitor and note any changes in conditions. If the vehicle is powered by electricity, there should be more consideration so that responders note any potential electrical issues that could cause harm to responders and the victims in the vehicle. Regarding this, organizations and their personnel should routinely review the challenges presented by electric and hybrid vehicles during extrication. These vehicles are not large in number compared to gasoline engines, so the frequency of events is low. This makes training more important than ever.
Safety Features
Automobile makers have added many safety features that have improved the survivability rate and lowered the injury rate of those involved in crashes. This is good but challenges the fire service to be even more competent in its skill level for extrication. To have a positive outcome, minimal extrication time is necessary so the injured can receive treatment as quickly as possible. Anything that contributes to a delay must be addressed to provide the best possible service. Vehicle construction knowledge is essential, and continual changes in the industry present new and unique challenges.
Vehicles have built-in safety features designed to restrain passengers and also keep the vehicle from collapsing, caving, or basically falling apart. The vehicles are constructed with better materials. The steel used is high strength, making cutting the steel more difficult. There must be better tools to address this and also better knowledge on the part of the firefighters so they know when they are likely to encounter these circumstances. They also need to explore training opportunities with cars of this vintage or at least consider practicing with scrap metal so they appreciate what they likely will face.
If you
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Posted: Aug 1, 2016
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Richard Marinucci |
The automobile has come a long way since it was first manufactured on the assembly line pioneered by Henry Ford. It was a very basic machine and had relatively few parts.
There were no options, and even the color, black, was the only one available. In fact, Henry Ford is credited with the statement that buyers could have any color they wanted, as long as they chose black! Today, vehicles have many options and are regulated by the government to provide better mileage as well as safety components. Both have an effect on extrication should there be a crash, requiring extra effort.
Fuel Types
Early autos ran on gasoline. Now there are vehicles that use diesel fuel, battery power, natural gas, and gas/battery hybrids. There are also cars being developed that operate on hydrogen gas. Each of these can present a challenge to firefighters and create varying obstacles during extrication operations. Just this aspect of automobiles presents more information that firefighters must know to be successful and safe with their operations. Fortunately, there are many resources available to fire departments, and access through the Internet allows each organization to gain the information it needs. What are not provided are the time and plans to use this information in a quality training program. Those are left up to departments to figure out.
The fuel a vehicle uses will affect responders’ decision-making processes. Generally speaking, there needs to be an initial assessment to determine if the fuel type will affect the operation and safety. In most cases, if the vehicle is powered by a liquid or gas and there is no leak, then extrication can proceed without immediate concern. Responders should constantly monitor and note any changes in conditions. If the vehicle is powered by electricity, there should be more consideration so that responders note any potential electrical issues that could cause harm to responders and the victims in the vehicle. Regarding this, organizations and their personnel should routinely review the challenges presented by electric and hybrid vehicles during extrication. These vehicles are not large in number compared to gasoline engines, so the frequency of events is low. This makes training more important than ever.
Safety Features
Automobile makers have added many safety features that have improved the survivability rate and lowered the injury rate of those involved in crashes. This is good but challenges the fire service to be even more competent in its skill level for extrication. To have a positive outcome, minimal extrication time is necessary so the injured can receive treatment as quickly as possible. Anything that contributes to a delay must be addressed to provide the best possible service. Vehicle construction knowledge is essential, and continual changes in the industry present new and unique challenges.
Vehicles have built-in safety features designed to restrain passengers and also keep the vehicle from collapsing, caving, or basically falling apart. The vehicles are constructed with better materials. The steel used is high strength, making cutting the steel more difficult. There must be better tools to address this and also better knowledge on the part of the firefighters so they know when they are likely to encounter these circumstances. They also need to explore training opportunities with cars of this vintage or at least consider practicing with scrap metal so they appreciate what they likely will face.
If you
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