Extrication Flashcards
What are the keys to effective response, organization, and management?
Planning and training
What improves the decision making of those in charge?
Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of equipment and personnel
What is the key to successful response plan?
Proper communication
Before conducting rescue operations what should be conducted?
A hazard and risk assessment survey of the response area
Environmental factors that may influence a vehicle incident can include the following : (3)
- Weather
- Time of Day
- Terrain
Every year approximately how many firefighters die on roadways as a result of being struck by vehicle while working in or near moving traffic?
6 to 8
What is imperative to a safe and effective extrication operation?
Proper scene protection with responding apparatus
Safety measure components : (7)
- Training
- Crew resource management
- Medical component
- Rehab station
- Recognizing potential hazards
- Incident Safety Officer
- Personnel accountability
What is an integral part of all emergency operations?
• resource management
Some of the hazards that rescuers may encounter during extrication operations includes : (6)
- Vehicular traffic
- Downed electrical power lines
- Leaking vehicle fluids
- Leaking flammable gas lines
- Unstable terrain
- Release of hazardous materials
What is one of the most important skills for rescue personnel at vehicle incidents?
The ability to recognize existing and potential dangers to themselves and others
To safely and successfully stabilize an incident, rescue should be able to : (3)
- Assess the situation (size-up)
- Make informed decisions about how to stabilize the situation
- Have the ability to devise and implement a plan of action that protects the rescuers and victims from further injury
What helps rescuers determine the proper packaging and handling techniques in a given situation?
Understanding how the inertial forces produced during vehicle crashes result in injuries to occupants
What minimizes trauma and maximizes their chance for survival?
Matching the packaging and handling techniques to the victims potential injuries
From the standpoint of survival, what can be one of the most critical steps in the entire extrication operation?
Assessment
What reduces congestion and confusion around the vehicle incident?
Proper scene management
The incident commander determines the location and establish zone boundaries by using the following criteria : (3)
- Amount of area needed by emergency personnel to work
- Degree of hazard presented by elements involved in the incident
- General topography of the area
What is an important part of safe and effective extrication operations?
Proper placement of apparatus an emergency scenes
Traffic control devices include : (4)
- Signs
- Channeling devices (traffic cones and flares)
- Lighting devices
- Shadow/advance warning vehicles
Who identifies the types of traffic control devices that should be used to establish work areas and identify incident scenes as well as a methods for the deploying these devices?
Manual on uniform traffic control devices (MUTCD)
The types of traffic control devices used in the methods in which they are applied will depend on the following : (4)
- Size of the incident
- Posted speeds on the roadway
- Availability of personnel and equipment
- Amount of time spent mitigating the incident
Common warning signs used during vehicle extrication Operations include : (4)
- Accident/Emergency Ahead
- Right/Left Lane Closed
- Be Prepared to Stop
- The Flagger Symbol
Position signs well in advance of the accident site on the incident side of the road no closer than how far from the road edge?
No closer than 24 inches
How many cones or reflective devices should be used?
A minimum of six cones or reflective devices
What is a key component of any rescue organization?
Safety program
SMART :
- Specific
- Measurable
- Action-oriented
- Realistic
- Time frame
An effective vehicle incident operation can be achieved in parts through what?
Good communication practices
What is the first step toward efficiently organizing a vehicle incident?
Effectively handling the initial response
Required PPE : (6)
- Head, eye, and face protection
- Hearing protection
- Body protection
- Foot protection
- Hand protection
- Respiratory protection
Standard shields are what size?
Which is generally more desirable for extrication personnel? Why?
- 4 and 6 inches
* 6 inch; it covers a larger portion of the face
Air-purifying respirator (APR)
APR’s contain an air purifying filter, canister, or cartridge that removes specific contaminants found an ambient air as the air passes through the air purifying filters
Three different types of APRs :
- Particulate-removing APRs
- Vapor and gas removing APRs
- Combination particulate removing and vapor and gas removing APRs
Canister or cartridge respirators pass the air through what to remove specific contaminants from the air?
Filter, sorbent, catalyst, or combination of these items
How does the air enter the system? 
Either from the external atmosphere through the filter or sorbent or when they users exhalation combines with a catalyst to provide breathable air
Three primary limitations of an APR are :
- Limited life of its filters and canisters
- Need for constant monitoring of the contaminated atmosphere
- Need for a normal oxygen content of the atmosphere before use
Take the following precautions before using APRs or PAPRs : (4)
- Know what chemicals/air contaminants are in the air
- Know how much of the chemical/air contaminants are in the air
- Ensure that the oxygen level is between 19.5 and 23.5%
- Ensure that the atmospheric hazards or not immediately dangerous to life and health conditions
Many vehicle hazards can be grouped into one of two categories :
Hazards from energy sources and hazards from beneficial systems
What should be identified and evaluated at all vehicle incidents?
Potential energy sources
Fuel tanks and systems may contain less than ___ for passenger vehicles, but may contain more than ___ in large buses and heavy trucks.
- 15 gallons
* 500 gallons
What is an alternative fuel?
An alternative fuel is a fuel that is not entirely derived from petroleum products. Alternative fuels can be a mixture of petroleum with another fuel source such as ethanol it may have the same hazards as conventional fuels
Examples of alternative fuels include the following : (6)
- Propane/liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
- Natural gas
- Auxiliary fuel cells
- Alcohol/gasoline blended mixtures
- Biodiesel
- Aircraft fuel
Depending on the type of Hybrid Electric Vehicle, these systems may contain as much as how many volts?
As much as 800 volts of DC current
What are likely a ignition source?
Vehicle electrical system
Magnesium vehicle components that can cause high heat fires : (7)
- valve covers
- steering columns
- mounting brackets on antilock braking systems
- transmission casings
- engine blocks
- frame supports
- exterior body components
For the purpose of this text, beneficial vehicle systems are defined us?
Any system or component of a vehicle that provides benefit to and/or enhances the safety and comfort of the vehicle occupants
Beneficial systems acting as potential hazards include : (3)
- supplemental restraint systems
- suspension systems
- Seat adjustment or positioning controls
The ABC’s of dealing with SRS as follows :
- Always respect the deployment path of any type of air bags, roll over protection (ROPS) systems, or SRS
- Be aware that there is no way to make an undeployed airbag, ROPS, or SRS safe
-  Caution must be paramount and cutting or manipulating any vehicle equipped with airbags, ROPS, or SRS
Types of SRS : (3)
- Seat belt pretensioners
- Airbags
- ROPS
The seat belt pretensioners in most modern vehicles deploy using what?
Where are they usually located?
- Pyrotechnic devices
* Near the bottom of the B-post at base of seat belt
Most modern airbag systems detect the following : (3)
- The occupant’s weight and position
- If the seat belt is buckled
- The vehicle’s speed and area of impact
5-10-12-18-20-inch safe practice guideline
- 5 inches for side impact airbags and knee bolsters
- 10 inches for driver frontal airbags
- 12 to 18 inches for impact curtains that deploy down from the head liner
- 20 inches for passenger frontal airbags
Driver and front passenger airbags can be what type of systems?
- Single stage
- Dual- stage
- Dual depth
Single stage airbags -
Single stage airbags deploy at a standard rate every time they deploy
Dual-stage airbags -
Dual stage airbags utilize sensors that will detect the rate of speed, impact, and weight of the occupant.
Dual depth airbags -
Dual death systems work the same as duel stage systems, but have two airbags. One airbag is the normal size while the other one is smaller and located inside the larger bag
Front impact airbags deploy this fast w/inflating force of ?
Side impact airbags?
- 0.05 seconds at speeds in excess of 200mph with an inflating force of over 3,000psi
- Even higher rates than front impact airbags
The sound of airbag deployment is loud, in what decibel range for how long?
165 to 175 decibels for 0.1 second
Electrically activated airbags continue to be armed even after vehicles batteries been disconnected till the reserve power has drained the amount of time needed for the reserve power to drain varies from ? Average time?
- One second to thirty minutes depending upon the make and model of the vehicle involved
- Less than 5 minutes
Some systems employ gases such as ? to fill and deploy airbags.
Passenger frontal inflators contain what chemical that reach what temperature?
• Nitrogen or argon
- Sodium azide
- Excess of 1,200°F
In the chemical reaction that deploys an airbag, the sodium Azide converts to what?
Sodium hydroxide, a highly alkaline powder that becomes ordinary lye when wet
Head protection systems (HPS) use what type of inflators?
What psi?
Where are they usually located?
- Compressed gas inflators; inert gases, such as argon or helium, are used as a propellant and stored in steel or aluminum cylinders
- Pressures of 2500 to 4500 psi or higher
- Usually in the A post, roof rail, and C post
Rollover protection system (ROPS) activated and extends up behind the passengers when the vehicle exceeds ___ degrees from the horizontal, a lateral angle limit of ___ degrees, or a longitudinal angle of ___ degrees. Additionally, these systems can deploy if the vehicle experiences a ___ acceleration force or becomes weightless for at least ____.
- 23 degrees
- 62 degrees
- 72 degrees
- 3G
- 80 milliseconds
Primary hazard at most vehicle incidents?
Potential for fire from many different varieties of fuel sources that are used in todays modern vehicles
Examples of flammable and combustible fuels include :
- Conventional fuels
- Propane/liquefied petroleum gas
- Natural gas
- Auxiliary fuel cells
Possible ignition sources at vehicle accident : (3)
- Downed power lines
- Vehicle batteries and electrical systems
- Static energy sources
Explosion hazards :
- shocks and struts
* fuels in a container
If what type of cylinders are on fire, do not extinguish them until the containers are cooled and the valves and fuel source can be turned off?
Natural gas or propane cylinders
Alternative vehicle fuels : (6)
- Alcohol/gasoline blend
- Natural gas
- Propane
- Hydrogen
- Biodiesel
- Hybrid and electric
Alcohol/gasoline blended fuel fire?
Natural gas ?
LNG ?
CNG?
- Alcohol/gasoline fuels are water soluble. Use AR-AFFF to extinguish
- Allow the fire to burn off all the fuel as long as no lives or exposures are threatened
- Do not spray water directly on an LNG fire; when water is applied it warms a liquid increasing the amount of vapor production therefore increasing the intensity of the fire. Control an LNG fire by using purple K dry chemical agent or high expansion foam on the surface of the fire
- Use water or foam to extinguish a CNG fire. Use a fog stream to disperse vapor clouds
What is the third most common vehicle fuel type? After what two?
- Propane
* Gasoline and diesel
Propane Fuel Fires :
What does LPG contain?
Extinguishment?
- LPG contains about 90% propane, with small concentrations of ethane, butane, propylene, and other gases.
- foam and water
- direct streams at top of rank to provide adequate cooling
Hydrogen : Self ignition temp - Flammability range - Use what to see flame? Hydrogen fires in vehicles?
- Colorless, odorless, nontoxic, and energy efficient
- 550°F
- 4-75%
- TIC
- Do not extinguish. Protect exposures and allow fuel to burn off
Biodiesel is heavier or lighter than water?
Combustion of biodiesel fuel produces?
Flashpoint?
Extinguishment?
- Slightly lighter
- Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide along with thick smoke
- 320°F
- Use dry chemical, foam, carbon dioxide, or water spray (foam) 
Extinguishing agents for specific battery types :
Lead acid batteries -
Nickel metal hydride batteries -
Lithium-ion batteries -
- Use carbon dioxide, foam, or dry chemical
- Use a class D extinguisher (Metal-X)
- Use dry sand, sodium chloride powder, graphite powder, or copper powder
What is one of the most important parts of a scene size up of a vehicle incident?
Identify any potential hazardous materials (HazMat) threats involved
Among the most common hazardous materials found at passenger vehicle incidents are ?
The fuels that propel the vehicles
Placard colors : Orange - Yellow - Red - White - Blue - Green -
- Orange - explosive
- Yellow - oxidizer/reactive
- Red - flammable
- White - health hazard (poison, corrosive)
- Blue - water reactive
- Green - nonflammable gas
When responding to a collision involving trucks, one of the most critical size up factors is what?
Locating the driver/operator of the truck. If driver/operator not conscious, locate bill of lading (cargo manifest) which is usually carried in pocket on drivers door
Scene assessment variables : (7)
- Weather
- Day of the week
- Time of day
- Vehicular traffic
- Pedestrians
- Vehicles involved
- Hazards
In order to safely and efficiently operate a vehicle incident, personnel should be familiar with the following :
- Operational procedures
- Communication
- Incident support operations and resources
- Transferring scene control
On larger, more complex incidents, the IC should appoint what?
Operations Section Chief
The responsibilities of the extrication group vary, how?
With the type, magnitude, and complexity of the situation
The IC should formulate an IAP that reflects the following incident priorities: (4)
- Provide for extrication personnel safety and survival
- Prevent others from becoming victims
- Rescue those who can be saved
- Recover the remains of those beyond saving 
What is the IAP based on?
Information gathered during the incident size up
The IC develops and implement the initial written IAP with assistance from who when needed?
Operations Section Chief
Light rescue vehicles can be built on ___ chassis.
1-ton or 1 1/2 ton
Some of the most common Rescue Vehicle Features and Equipment : (7)
- All-wheel drive
- Rescue vehicle electrical equipment
- Vehicle mounted winches
- Gin poles and A-frames
- Hydraulic cranes
- Stabilizers
- Air supply systems
Inverters convert the vehicles ?
DC into AC
What are the most common power source used in emergency vehicles?
How are they powered?
- Generators
* Gasoline, diesel, or propane engines or by hydraulic or power take off systems
Apparatus engine -
- Aka “power plants” generally have 110- and 220-volt capabilities with capacities up to 50 kilowatts and occasionally greater
- Diesel or gasoline engine that powers the apparatus drive train and associated fire equipment
Winch danger zone -
A circle around the winch with a radius equal to the length of cable or chain from the winch to the load
Gin poles and A-frames - some of these devices have lifting capabilities in excess of?
Three tons
Some cranes have lifting capabilities of up to ?
Eighteen tons or more
Hydraulic cranes attached to heavy rescue units have three disadvantages:
Two types of stabilizers?
- Initial cost of the cranes
- Additional maintenance required
- Loss of space for other tools because of the cranes size
- Hydraulic; set using lever controls
- Manual; screw-type jack set by hand
According to the US Army Core of Engineers, the maximum height of a box crib is ? 
Three times the shortest width of the box crib
Wooden wedges -
- 4 x 4 x 18 inch
* 2 x 4 x 12 inch
Wooden step chocks -
Each step is approx. how many inches shorter than the one beneath?
Total length of steps is limited by?
Best way to construct?
- 2 x 6 inch base and approx. 30 inches in length
- 6 inches
- Length of the base
- Laminating the pieces together with wood glue and screws
Use only what type of chain in vehicle extrication?
Best chain for rescue work?
Min. chain size generally used for extrication operations?
What is NOT suitable for use in vehicle extrication?
- Alloy steel chains (strong, highly resistant to abrasion and chemical degradation)
- Grade 8 or Grade T
- 3/8 inch
- Proof coil chain, also known as common or hardware chain
Two main types of webbing construction?
Tubular webbing is woven in what two ways?
Which is stronger?
- Flat and tubular
- Spiral and chain
- Spiral; stronger and more resistant to abrasion
Ratchet strap hooks can be of what three types?
- Flat safety hooks
- Wire hooks
- Grade 80 grab hooks
Most common hand tool?
When used correctly, what tools are safer than striking tools and why?
- Striking tools
* Prying tools are safer; because of the absence of ballistic movement
What type of tools are the most diversified of the tool groups?
Cutting tools
Four distinct groups of manual cutting tools :
- Chopping tools
- Snipping tools
- Hand saws
- Knives
What are the most common types of metal cutters?
Bolt cutters and insulated wire cutters, sometimes called hot wire cutters
When should you use a handsaw?
Handsaws commonly used for extrication?
- On objects that require a controlled cut but do not fit into the jaws of a manual opposing jaw cutter
- Hacksaws and windshield cutters
What are the most specialized saws?
Windshield cutter and the glass saw
 with the exception of pneumatic lifting bags and cushions, what is the primary lifting tool used in vehicle extrication?
The types most often used are? 
- Non-hydraulic jacks
* Various screw jacks and ratchet lever jacks
Easiest jacks to operate?
Screw jacks
Two most common types of screw jacks?
- Bar screw jacks; excellent tool for stabilizing loads but impractical for lifting
- Folding screw jack aka scissor jack; not always stable under load and considered safe only for light loads
Portable lights generally range from?
The code of federal regulations require that all such cord to be equipped with what?
- 300 to 1,000 watts
* Ground fault circuit interrupters
Electrical cables or extension cords are necessary to conduct electric power to portable equipment. What is the most common size cable?
12 gauge, 3-wire type
Signaling devices are most commonly used at the scene of an incident are?
Usually audio or visual in nature
Carbide tipped chains (chainsaw) cost how much more than standard chains?
Four times
Portable band saws advantages over reciprocating saws, grinders, and hydraulic cutters : (4)
- They undergo minimal vibrations since their blades spin in one direction
- They give off minimal heat
- They rarely spark
- They will not cause an object to fracture
Following resources can power hydraulic pumps : (6)
First powered hydraulic tool available for vehicle extrication?
- Compressed air
- Pressurized water
- Power-take-offs (PTO)
- Electric motors
- Diesel or gasoline engines
- Battery
• Spreaders
Spreaders :
Psi -
Inches -
- Depending on the brand and model, some tools can produce more than 100,000 psi of force
- The tips of some large tours may spread more than 40 inches
Rams :
Largest of the rams can extend -
With extensions -
Closing force -
- Closed length of 36 inches to an extended length of more than 60 inches
- Up to 75 inches
- One-half of the opening force
Telescoping rams -
 from a retracted length of his little is 12 inches some telescoping Rams will extend to more than 60 inches. Cannot be used for pulling. Two and three stage. After the first stage the pushing force decreases by half for each additional stage. 
Two manual hydraulic tools most frequently used in vehicle extrication?
Hydraulic jack and the porta power system
Hydraulic jacks are available in what capacities?
Up to 20 tons or larger
What is a Porta-Power tool system?
An autobody shop tool used for vehicle extrication. It operates by transmitting hydraulic pressure from my hand operated pump through a hose to a tool assembly
Most commonly used pneumatic tools in vehicle extrication include : (4)
- Pneumatic chisels and hammers
- Pneumatic wrenches
- Pneumatic saws
- Pneumatic lifting bags and cushions
Most pneumatic powered chisels are designed to operate at air pressures between what? Others operate up to what?
Effective for cutting?
- 90-150 psi
- 300 psi
• Through the roof, roof support posts or doorjambs, seat bolts, and door lock assemblies. Medium to heavy gauge sheet metal and for popping rivets and bolts.
The pneumatic whizzer weighs ?
RPM -
Blade size -
Cuts ?
- About 2 pounds; one-tenth as much as the circular saw
- 20,000 RPM
- 3-inch carborundum blade
- Case hardened locks and steel up to 3/4 inch in thickness
Avoid exposure pneumatic bags and cushions to materials hotter than?
Hotter than 220°F
High pressure lifting bags constructed of ?
The range of inflation pressure of the bags is about ?
Largest bags may inflate to a height of ?
Largest bags can lift approx how much?
• Neoprene or butyl rubber reinforced with either steel wire or Kevlar aramid fiber. Rough, pebble grained surface to improve grip
- 116-150psi
- 20 inches
- 90 tons
Maximum lifting capacities determined by what? (Airbags)
Amount of surface area of the lifting bag that is in contact with the object being lifted multiplied by the pressure of the system 
Low and medium pressure lifting cushions :
Low psi -
Medium psi -
Primary advantage over high pressure lifting bags?
Height? 
- 7 to 10 psi
- 12 to 15 psi
- they have a much greater lifting height range
- Upwards of 6 ft
Griphoist : TU-32 rated - Personnel hoisting - Size wire rope - Min. breaking strength-
TU-28 rated -
Personnel hoisting -
Size wire rope -
Min. breaking strength-
- 8,000 pounds
- 6,000 pounds
- 5/8 inch
- 40,000 pounds
- 4,000 pounds
- 3,000 pounds
- 7/16 inch
- 20,000 pounds
Most common sizes or ratings of come alongs are?
1 to 10 tons
Mechanical advantage systems :
One of the most commonly used in low angle vehicle rescue is what system? What is it used for that what grade of degrees?
Three-to-one system used to deploy resources in equipment down a slight grade of 15 to 40° and then bring victims and rescuer safely back up the slope
Avoid exposing acetylene cylinders to ambient air temps exceeding what degrees?
130°F
Acetylene flammability range -
2.5 to 81.0 percent by volume in air
Do not open acetylene cycle see valves more than?
Do not use acetylene at pressures greater than what psi?
Do not exceed a withdrawal rate of how much of the cylinder capacity per hour?
- three quarters of one turn
- 15 psi
- one-seventh
What are exothermic cutting devices used for? Also known as?
Temps -
Size -
Length -
- Ultra high temperature burning tools capable of cutting through virtually any metallic, non-metallic, or composite material. They cut through materials such as concrete or brick that cannot be cut with an oxyacetylene torch. They also cut through heavy gauge metals much faster than oxyacetylene torch. A.k.a. burning bars
- In excess of 8,000°F
- 1/4 to 3/4 inch in diameter
- 22 to 36 inches in length
Exothermic cutting device - Arcair : Specs - Temps - Time -
- hollow magnesium rod fit it into a handle that allows oxygen to flow through the road. The rod is ignited by an electric striker and burns as the oxygen is increased.
- 6,000°F to 10,000°F
- 15 and 30 seconds
Cutting flares :
Temps -
Time -
- cuts metal and concrete (exothermic cutting flares. Approx. size and shape of highway flares)
- 6,800°F
- 15 seconds to two minutes, depending on length and diameter of the flare
Plasma-Arc Cutters :
Temps -
Amps -
Types of gases used -
- Ultra high temp metal cutting devices
- electric arc through a gas that is passing through a restricted opening
- Up to 50,000°F
- 200 amperes
- Air, nitrogen, and argon
- Air is most common has used for plasma cutters used in fire service
Oxyacetylene cutting torches :
Temps -
Cuts through -
• Cuts by burning
• preheating metal, 4,200°F
Pure oxygen added, over 5,700°F
• molten metal, iron, and steel
The organization should train members of the organization to implement appropriate components of local, state/provincial, or federal/national response plans. In the US, these plans would include ?
- National Search and Rescue Plan
- Federal Response Plan
- National Incident Management System (NIMS)
In order to safely and effectively operate at a vehicle and/or machinery incident, personnel should be familiar with the following :
- Operational procedures
- Communication
- Incident support operations and resources
What is the basis for the development of an IAP?
Tactical worksheet
Isolate and manage fuel systems in vehicles by doing what four things?
• Secure the vehicle by placing wheel chocks in front and behind the tires to prevent unexpected movement • Apply emergency brake • If vehicle has automatic transmission - Place gear selector in park - Turn off ignition - Remove the key • Manual transmission - Turn off ignition - Remove the key - Place gear shift in lowest gear • Eliminate any ignition sources
Most desirable method for disabling a hybrid electric vehicle ?
Shut down the vehicle with the switch and key system
Mechanically activated airbags and supplemental restraint systems respond to ?
Shock or pressure
Oxygasoline cutting torches :
Temps -
- delivers gas to torch in liquid form
- range of 2,800°F
- with special equipment, can cut under water
When transferring care of patients to EMS providers, rescuers should be effective and thorough in their communication. Rescuers should relay patient info such as:
- Type of collision
- Known injuries
- Duration of incident
- Level of consciousness
- Vital signs
- Other pertinent info
When does the “Golden Hour” begin?
What is the “Platinum Ten Minutes”?
- Begins at moment of crisis or impact
* Max. on scene time goal
The NHTSA defines the most common types of passenger vehicles as the following :
- Passenger cars
- Vans
- Sport utility vehicles (SUV)
- Pickup trucks
Mini compact cars:
Length -
Volume -
Wheelbase -
- less than 10ft
- less than 85 cubic feet
- less than 86 inches
Subcompact cars:
Wheelbase -
Body construction-
- less than 100 inches
* unibody; may have third door or hatchback
Compact cars:
Wheelbase -
Body construction -
- 100-104 inches
* unibody; may have 4 doors/trunk
Midsize cars:
Wheelbase -
Body construction -
- 105-109 inches
* unibody; may have three to five doors and may or may not have rigid frame
Large (full size) cars:
Wheelbase -
Body construction -
- 110 to 114 inches
- many are built on rigid frames, others have space frame or unibody
- “luxury automobiles”
Station wagons:
Passenger capacity -
Categorized based on ?
- 2-9 passengers
* total amount of passengers and cargo volume
Limousines:
Wheelbase -
Body construction-
- more than 114 inches
* rigid frames
Vans passenger count?
Up to 15 passengers
Minivans GVWR ?
Less than 8,500 pounds
Full size vans:
Refers to a full frame based commercial vehicle with an integrated passenger/compartment similar to that of a station wagon
Pickup trucks:
Body construction -
Carrying capacity -
- full rigid frames
* 1/2 to 1 ton
Monocoque -
Construction technique in which an object’s external skin supports the structural load of the object
A vehicle’s structural integrity is determined by what?
The remaining strength of the vehicle’s chassis after a collision
What is the dominant automobile construction technique?
Spot-welded unibody construction
Enhanced protective glass (EPG) -
Similar to laminate, but typically thinner, lighter, and stronger.
Audi, Volvo, Mercedes
Polycarbonate -
Window glazing over side and rear windows. Greater scratch resistance, reduced weight, and wider variety of window shapes. Disadvantages, cost and difficulty involved in penetrating it
Transparent armor or ballistic glass and plastic -
Commonly made of sheets of polycarbonate material sandwiched between sheets of glass
Due to changes in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 214 and 216, what is common in passenger vehicles manufactured since 2012?
Ultra high strength steels, such as boron and martensite
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) -
Powered how?
Volts?
- Conventional hybrid vehicles are powered by propulsion systems which have internal combustion engines and electric motors
- Can not be plugged in or recharged; they utilize regenerative braking to collect kinetic energy and convert that energy into electricity, which is stored in the hybrid vehicle’s batteries
- As much as 650v DC; batteries house in trunk
Vehicle voltage :
High voltage volts and color ?
Medium ?
Low ?
- > 60 volt; orange
- 30-60 volt; blue
- <30 volt; any color
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) :
• Powered by conventional or alternative fuels as well as electric stored battery. Can be charged by pluggin in, internal combustion engine, or by regenerative braking
• Can run on only electricity, up to
40 miles, when fully charged
Electric Vehicles (EV) :
- Run exclusively on electricity from onboard batteries
- No fuel
- Generally travel 60-80 miles per charge, some can travel over 200 miles
- Approx. 650lb 400 volt lithium battery
Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREV) :
- Uses an internal combustion engine to power an electric generator that charges the battery system in a linear process
- Engine -> generator -> battery
- Only electric powers the wheels; internal combustion engine only charges batteries
- Range about 40 miles
- Can be plugged in and recharged
- 400lb 350 volt lithium battery
Alternative fuels :
- Propane and liquefied natural gas (LNG)
- Auxiliary fuel cells
- Alcohol/gasoline blended mixtures
- Hydrogen
- Biodiesel
- Jet propellant-8
Auxiliary fuel cells :
In essence, fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices that produce electricity how?
While converting hydrogen and oxygen into water
Alcohol/gasoline blended mixture E-85 make up?
85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
Problems associated with using hydrogen as a fuel?
- Limitations in hydrogen production and storage
- Flammability
- High pressure compresses gas storage
Biodiesel is a fuel similar to diesel and derived from?
Flash point?
- Animal fats or vegetable oils such as corn and soy
* 320°F
Historically, vehicle fuel tanks were constructed of what?
Aluminum or terne coated
A typical vehicle electrical system is composed of ?
• Battery (stores electricity) • Alternator (produces electricity) • Wiring • Fuses • Ancillary equipment - lights - fans - air conditioning - stereo - power windows and seats
High-intensity discharge (HID) headlights :
- Use an inert and highly pressurized xenon gas to produce a slightly bluish looking light
- Xenon is odorless, colorless, nontoxic, and a chemically inert gas
- 3x brighter than common halogen
- 12v DC -> 25,000v AC -> 80v AC
Automobile batteries used in ignition systems are generally of what type?
Lead acid
Battery packs used in power electrical or hybrid vehicles include :
- Lead acid
- Absorbed glass mat
- Nickel cadmium (NiCad)
- Nickel metal hydride (NiMH)
- Zinc-air
- Lithium ion (Li-ion)
- Lithium ion polymer (Li-poly)
Vehicles that have more than one battery :
- Diesel trucks
- Diesel passenger trucks
- Hybrid vehicles
- Mercedes C and E class vehicles
Exhaust systems consist of ?
Exhaust piping -> catalytic converters -> mufflers
Each catalytic converter is composed of a thin layer of catalytic material and ?
Platinum, Rhodium, and palladium, arranged over inert supports
Power train components include :
- Engine/motor
- Transmission
- Drive shafts
- Differential
- Drive wheels or tracks
What is the purpose of the suspension system?
- Provide maximum friction between the tires and the road surface
- Help with steering stability
- To improve vehicle handling
- To increase comfort of the passengers
What is the component of the suspension system that provides ride comfort?
Springs
What are the springs in a suspension system?
What do the springs do?
Three commonly used spring types?
• Springs are the compressible link between the frame and the body
- Bear the weight
- Maintain vehicle ride height
- Absorb the energy resulting from bumps on road surface
- Coil spring
- Leaf spring
- Torsion bar
How do the shock absorbers operate?
Combination of oil and a series of internal valves
Where are struts mounted?
Mounted to the chassis of the vehicle, usually attached to a coil spring, and designed to be an integral and structural part of the suspension system
Tires have a direct impact on the safe handling and ride quality of the vehicle based on what?
- Tire size
- Construction
- Inflation pressures
Forward looking collision avoidance systems typically use what to detect and warn the driver of potential danger?
Typical systems scans how far or more forward?
- Radar or laser sensors
* 330ft or more
Side sensing collision avoidance systems, generally how far?
6.5 to 30 feet
Rear looking collision avoidance systems, how far?
20 feet or less
What means deploy airbags?
What inflates the airbags?
- Mechanical or electronic means
* chemical or stored gas
Driver frontal systems use what to inflate airbags?
Most side impact airbags use?
- Chemical inflators, currently used in all driver frontal restraint systems and many passenger frontal restraint systems use sodium azide (enhanced with potassium nitrate) to create nitrogen gas, which inflates the airbag
- Most side impact airbags, curtains, tubes, and some frontal airbags use stored gas inflators, usually filled with inert gases to inflate airbags
Children of what age should not ride in the front seat of vehicles with an armed passenger frontal airbag?
Children under 12
How are electronically operated restraint systems designed to activate?
Through a system of mechanical or inertia switches located forward of the passenger compartment and by microelectronic controls that may be located under the front seats or console between front seats
Two types of head protection systems (HPS)?
- Window curtains; deflate shortly after deployment
* Inflatable tubes; remain inflated after deployment
Seatbelt airbags inflate how many times their original size?
3x
Where do center mounted airbags deploy from?
Right side of the drivers seat
The first most prevalent design for energy absorbing features was ?
Crushable bumpers
Energy absorbing features :
- Crushable bumpers
- Bumper struts
- Steering column
- Collision beams
- Crumple zones
Types of energy absorbing steering columns?
- Compression cylinder
* Collapsible column
Early designs of collision beams consisted of?
Newer design two major changes?
• Several layers of ordinary mild steel formed into a corrugated beam about
7 inches wide and 2 inches thick
• Construction of door beams and addition of a dashboard support beam
Newer design of side impact protection incorporate stronger materials such as?
• High strength low alloy steel (HSLA) 40,000-70,000 psi • Micro-alloy steel (MA) 110,000-225,000 psi • Ultra high strength steel (UHSS) Up to 442,000 psi
What do crumple zones do?
Lengthen the time it takes a vehicle to come to a complete stop during an accident, thus reducing the deceleration upon the passengers
All other passenger vehicles are now required to have roof supports, commonly called roll cages, that will withstand how much force?
In near future it will require?
- Equal to 2.5 times the weight of the vehicle
* 3x
Pop up style roll bar system activated and rapidly extends up behind the passengers when ?
Vehicle exceeds - • 23° horizontal • 62° lateral • 73° longitudinal • 3G acceleration • weightless 80 milliseconds
When most passenger vehicles are empty, where is the center of gravity?
Slightly forward of the front door in the center of the vehicle
What determines the stability of any movable and untouched object?
- Structural integrity
- Balance point
- Shape
- Resting position as related to slope and grade
Class I lever is most efficient to use for moving objects how?
Class II?
Class III?
- Class I - vertically
- Class II - horizontally
- Class III - sacrifices force for distance
When using a Class I lever, consider the stability and strength of the surface upon which the fulcrum rests. Both the fulcrum and the foundation on which it rests must be capable of holding ?
Twice the weight of the load to be lifted
What is a hitch?
Consists of a sling, regardless of type, attached to a load
What is strongest type of material used for slings?
Wire rope, such as plow steel cable
Wire rope construction forms include :
- Braided wire rope
- Cable laid rope
- Strand laid rope
What type of wire rope termination is the most reliable and efficient termination and must be done in a shop?
Next most reliable?
• Least reliable
- Flemish eye
- Wedge socket
- Fold back eye; do not use for rescue work
The wedge socket termination reduces capacity by how much?
10-20%
Cable clips reduce capacity by how much?
About 20%
Synthetic slings, if made from nylon or polyester, are unable to resists what temperatures?
Greater than 200°F
Rescuers should inspect synthetic slings on both sides and in good light how often?
Every 30 days and after each incident
Round sling -
Aka endless sling; made from a continuous loop of yarn and covered with a jacket. The yarn bundles are twisted into multiple, but separate continuous strands
What determines the strength of a round sling?
The number of strands in the sling
Web slings -
Commonly available include endless, standard eye, and twisted eye
Standard eye sling -
Web sling; consists of a single piece of webbing sewn with an eye at either end in the same plane as the sling body
Twisted eye sling -
- Consists of a single piece of webbing with the eye at either end, seen at 90 degrees to the plane (tapered or full width) of the sling.
- The twisting allows for better rigging of choker slings
How is rigging defined?
Length of rope/chain/webbing attached to a load for the purpose of stabilizing, lifting, pulling, or moving objects
Wire rope tighteners -
For lifting light loads or as tightening cable tie backs and other rigging
What are load binders most commonly used with?
Most reliable type?
Ratio and take up?
- most commonly used with chain assemblies
- ratchet type of load binder is more reliable; responders should wire tie handle for safety
- 50:1 ratchet action, 8 inch take up
Chain hoist can lift ?
Take up?
Clearance?
- Can lift up to 6 tons with 100lbs of force
- up to 10 ft take up
- some require 12 inch clearance
What do you use turnbuckles for?
Take up?
Other important specs?
- used to do final tightening of tie backs
- max. take up varies 8 to 24 inches
- hook ends of turnbuckles are only 2/3 as strong as the eye or jaw ends
What makes up the basic components for rigging?
Hooks, shackles, and eyes
What should rescuers use when loads are too heavy for hooks to handle?
Shackles
Rescuers use three common methods to stabilize a side resting vehicle w/ struts :
- Same side, opposing force system
- Opposite side, opposing force system (tensioned buttress)
- Opposite side, independent system
When a vehicle has come to rest on a sloping, sandy, or other unstable surface, rescuers may need what to stabilize the vehicle?
Webbing/rope
Several factors influence the final location of the victim within the wreckage :
- Collision damage
- Speed
- Vehicle construction
- Vehicle orientation (wheel resting, side resting, roof resting)
What will dictate the level and severity of entrapment a collision will most likely produce?
Point, direction, and speed of impact
What type of collisions produce some of the worst injuries to vehicle occupants?
Front impact collisions
Generally, occupants in rotational collisions experience the kinds of injuries associated with what types of impacts?
Front, rear, and side impacts
When sizing up MVIs, rescuers should first ask :
Is there anything in the situation that would put rescue personnel or others at greater risk than any other vehicle incident? If so, rescuers should call the needed resources immediately
Rescuers will typically extricate victims using four basic methods :
- Manipulative extrication
- Disassembly
- Cutting
- Forcing
Rescuers can use the following hand tools to remove or cut laminated glass :
- Reciprocating saw
- Commercial glass removal tools
- Air chisel
- Axe
- Long-handled hook
What is the fastest and most common way to force open or remove a door?
Use spreaders and/or cutters
Rescuers can implement a number of methods to force open or remove a door :
- use spreaders/cutters
- total sidewall removal or side out
- remove the bolts on the door’s hinges using power ratchets, power impact wrenches, or manual socket sets
- third door conversion
- fourth door conversion
On vehicles with pressed metal hinges, what is quicker method?
Cut the hinges as opposed to spreading them
Roof removal - what should rescuers do before removing the roof?
Where should the cuts be made?
- place a step chock or other support under the B-post of unibody vehicles
- cuts should be made just behind the A post. Rescuers can then cut the remaining door posts and lift the entire roof off as a unit
Rescuers should avoid cutting what when performing kick panel removal?
Fuse box panel
When is dropping the floor pan a particularly effective method?
Incidents involving front and side impact collisions
What should rescuers identify before beginning the “dropping a floor pan” technique?
Vehicle power cables (hybrid vehicles), brake lines, fuel lines, and other cables that extend along the inner side of the rocker panel under the vehicle
Displacing the B-post or interior
spreading -
Positions the spreaders behind the victim, usually from the rear floorboard to the lower B post
The US defines medium trucks as weighing ?
Between 13,000 and 33,000 pounds
Heavy trucks are defined in the US as weighing ?
More than 33,000 pounds
Medium and heavy trucks include :
- Straight trucks
- Truck and semitrailer combinations
- Specialty trucks
Most common of all truck types?
Straight truck
Straight trucks :
How many axles?
GVWR?
Characteristics?
- Two or three axles, all attached to one frame
- GVWR between 10,000 and 40,000 pounds
- Large, boxy bodies
- May be local delivery vans
- May have flatbeds or large box bodies mounted on their frame
Common type of straight truck?
Dump truck
Entire truck and semitrailer combination may weigh?
May have either two or three axles and May weigh?
May carry almost any commodity, including how much hazardous materials?
- up to 140,000 pounds
- up to 18,000 pounds
- 440 pounds
Two most common types of cabs ? (Medium and heavy truck anatomy)
Conventional and cab-over units
Cab over units are generally attached to the chassis at three points, ?
In the center behind the cab (latch point) and by a hinge at the front of each frame rail
Most common trailers seen on the highways ?
- huge box trailers hauling anything that will fit inside the box. These box trailers may be insulated
- flatbed trailers hauling cargo that can be secured to the bed
- trailers with bottom-dumping capability hauling sand, gravel, grain, and other dry products
- long, cylindrical tankers whose styles vary depending upon their cargo
- trailers with spherical tanks for carrying cryogenic materials
Most box trailers have how many inches of vertical clearance inside, from front to rear?
110 inches
Tanker trailers have capacities that range from ?
Tanker trailers have capacities that range from 200 to 14,000 gallons
Lowboy trailers -
- Aka heavy duty trailers; designed to carry heavy loads up to several hundred tons
- Two or three rear axles with two wheels per side. May have additional sections with multiple axles
- Loads may be over 175 feet long and/or width over 8 feet
- Air brakes, hydraulically operated
Dump trailers :
In the US, DOT limits their GVWR to?
80,000 pounds
Car carrier/hauler trailers :
Can carry as many as how many vehicles?
Enclosed car carrier/haulers may be more than how long?
- Eight vehicles
* more than 50 feet in length
Medium and heavy trucks have either what type of electrical system?
- 12 volt or 24 volt
* 24 volt systems normally have four 6 volt batteries in series, with a negative ground
Flashpoint of diesel?
240°F
Capacity of saddle tanks?
50-300 gallons
Example of mechanical power?
Specs?
- Power-take off; transfers power from the tractor to any implement or attachment
- PTO shafts can rotate at more than 1,000rpm
Medium and heavy trucks are equipped with what type of brakes?
Hydraulic, air, or a combination of the two
Drum brakes
Both trucks and tractor/trailer combinations with air brakes have ?
How do they work?
- Air brake chambers mounted under each axle
- Double chambers (called piggyback chambers) under the rear axles contain large compressed springs. These springs apply the brakes mechanically for parking or if there is a loss of air pressure
- The parts of each double chamber are held together with a metal clamp
Most medium and heavy trucks have what type of suspension?
Conventional heavy duty suspension
leaf and/or coil springs
Air suspension systems; how many bags on each axle?
Psi?
Two on each axle; as high as 120 psi
Auxiliary axles :
Location and type?
• in front (pusher axle) or behind (tag axle) the drive axle on the truck, mounted directly to the frame; designed to operate in an air down/air up or air down/spring up manner
- stingers; located only behind the drive axles, operate in a fold down manner
- pneumatic or hydraulic
- assembled with much heavier construction than the tag or pusher axle
- commonly found on cement mixers or dump trucks
Auxiliary lift axles -
Specs -
Weight -
- used to carry and distribute weight
- raise and lower when needed
- some are steerable and all have air brake chambers for braking
- they can weigh between 6,000 and 10,000 pounds
Straight trucks with auxiliary axles can exceed how much weight?
120,000 pounds
Major concerns for rescuers include which axles, in rear type of collisions?
Rear lift axles, specifically stinger type
Modern trucks may have one or more on-board safety systems (OBSS) such as?
- lane departure warning (LDW)
- roll stability control (RSC)
- forward collision warning (FCW)
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration more than how many fatalities in large trucks involve a roll over?
More than half
A school bus is defined as ?
A passenger motor vehicles designed to carry more than ten passengers and is used to transport students to or from schools or school related events
School buses; Type A : Passenger count - Entry/exit location - A-1 GVWR - A-2 GVWR -
- up to 36 passengers
- entry/exit located behind front wheels
- A-1 GVWR - 10,000lbs or less
- A-2 GVWR - 10,000lbs or more
School bus Type B :
Passenger count -
Entry/exit location -
GVWR -
- up to 36 passengers
- entry/exit located aft (in front of) front wheels
- more than 10,000lbs
School bus Type C : Passenger count - Chassis - Entry/exit location - GVWR - Average weight -
- up to 78 passengers
- flat back cowl chassis
- aft of the front fender (no driver door)
- more than 10,000lbs
- 20,000-30,000lbs
School bus Type D : Passenger count - Entry/exit location - GVWR - Weight -
- up to 90 passengers
- entry/exit forward of front wheels
- more than 10,000lbs
- more than 30,000lbs
It is impractical to design a single chassis over how many feet ?
40 feet
Commercial buses aka motor coaches are designed to transport how many people?
Up to 50 passengers
When open, school bus front doors typically have a horizontal opening of ?
Minimum vertical opening ?
- horizontal : 22-24 inches
* vertical : 68-72 inches
Which type of bus does not have a rear exit door?
Rear engine Type D
Nearly all transit bus doors are of what type?
What type of emergency exits?
- two-piece and center opening
* window exits
Commercial buses have what type of door?
- Single passenger side door at the front. One piece, single hinges door with hinges located on the forward edge of the door
- Few models have a two piece center opening door, or a folding door. It has a hinge along one edge and in the center allowing it to fold to one side. Door folds toward front of the bus instead of swinging like a one piece door
Commercial buses :
Interior emergency release -
Exterior emergency releases -
• located near top of the door
- in the right front wheel well
- under or to the left of the door on the outside of the vehicle
- directly below the center of the windshield
Typical school bus windows size -
Approx. 9 x 22 inches
One half total size of window area
Commercial bus windows :
How to remove emergency window?
Emergency window size?
- lift the horizontal bar located across the bottom of the window frame, push out bottom of the window
- 20 x 48 inches
Aisle size of suburban type buses - Aisle size in van conversion buses - Full size school buses - Wheelchair equipped vehicles - Transit (based on seat layout) - Commercial buses -
- as narrow as 10 inches
- approx. 12 inches
- 12-15 inches
- 30 inches
- 20 inches to 5 feet
- 13-18 inches
Ceiling height in commercial bus aisles?
75-78 inches
School bus skeletal system :
Finish panels interior and exterior size?
- exterior - 20 gauge steel
* interior - 22 gauge steel
School bus skeletal system :
Formed rub rail size?
Rub rail location indications?
- 16 gauge steel; runs full length of the sidewalls
- one rub rail will indicate seat cushion level
- second rail will identify floor level
School bus skeletal system :
Roof bows size?
Girders?
How many stringers may be in the roof skeleton?
- 11-14 gauge steel frame members
- 14-16 gauge girders
- as many as three
Emergency roof hatch opening size?
At least 11 x 14 inches
In most full size buses, what is construction of flooring?
Heavy duty vinyl or rubber floor covers plywood decking and 14 gauge metal flooring panels
Structural members, acting as floor joists, may be spaced as close as ?
9 inches
The undercarriage of a typical school bus is substantially reinforced with ?
- 8 gauge angle bar
- 12 gauge channel stock
- 14 gauge sheet metal
In general, transit buses are of what type of body construction?
Integral
What are carline supports?
Gussets that strengthen the sidewall of a bus at the level most likely to be struck by a vehicle
Most common material used for transit bus floor decking?
Three fourth inch (19mm) plywood
Majority of commercial bus frame is constructed of ?
- Low carbon, square tubing 1 to 2 inches in diameter
- Aluminum or stainless steel sheeting
- Front and rear modules fiberglass
- Integral unit
School bus batteries location :
Type A and some B -
Most Type B, C, and D -
• located in engine compartment
- separate compartment on drivers side of vehicle
- or under the hood
Transit bus batteries location :
- Compartment in driver’s side of vehicle, just forward of the rear wheels
- most equipped with battery shutoff switch in battery compartment
Commercial bus batteries :
- Just aft of the front wheel on passenger side of the bus
* electrical disconnect switch just above or below the batteries
Fuel tank location :
Type A and B -
Type C, D, transit and commercial -
Gallons -
• in rear of vehicle
- midship portion of the bus or slightly ahead of midship, just behind front wheels
- Fuel filler is usually located on passenger side, just behind front wheels, although some may have one on both sides
• 180 gallons
Each hydrogen fuel cell contains how many volts of DC current with most vehicles having enough cells to generate approx. how many volts if DC electricity?
Each tank stores the hydrogen at what psi?
Pressure regulators reduce highly pressurized hydrogen down to for use by the fuel cell?
- 0.7 volts; 600 volts DC
- 5,000 psi
- 80-100 psi
Hybrid electric buses can store up to how many volts of DC electricity?
Two primary hybrid propulsion systems?
- 800 volts
* series and parallel
Electric buses :
Level I system -
Level II system -
Level III system -
- 120 volt AC charging port on exterior of the vehicle and can take many hours to recharge system
- 240 volt AC and take much less time to recharge
- utilizes two types of inductive charging mechanisms strategically located at stop points along the route. Overhead drop down charging mechanism or comes to stop on top of charging mats or charging plates
Bus air suspension; how many bags on each axle?
Two or four on each axle
Rescuers can estimate how many pounds per drive axle?
Weight of steering axle with thin/slim profile tires?
Steering axle with “balloon,” wide profile tires?
- drive axle - 20,000 lbs
- thin/slim tire steering axle - 10,000 lbs
- wide/balloon steering axle - 25,000 lbs
Spring brakes lock at what psi?
20-40 psi
How do you disconnect the glad hands?
Turn the connection approx. 90 degrees and pull the connections apart
To stabilize a side resting truck, where should rescuers install cribbing?
At the cab’s door posts
When deciding how to stabilize a truck that rests in an unusual position, what should rescue personnel consider?
The vehicle’s center of gravity, mass, cargo, as well as the capabilities of their equipment
Stabilizing a wheel resting bus should prevent it from moving in the most likely directions -
Horizontally and vertically
If an air bag suspension loses pressure because of damage to the bag or it’s associated piping, the chassis of the bud can suddenly drop ?
3 to 3 1/2 inches
What types of buses do not have rigid frame?
What do they have specifically designed for use as contact points for cribbing or jacks?
Where are they located?
- transit and commercial
- jack plates
- transit - slightly behind each axle
- commercial - under the body between the two rear axles and in back of front axle
If rescuers use hydraulic jacks to lift the bus, they should use jacks of at least what capacity?
8 ton capacity
Because of their height, medium and heavy trucks may necessitate working from platforms. Door locks, hinges, and victims can be up to how many feet above ground level?
12 feet
If the door has a piano style hinge, the rescuer may need to do what?
Remove the retaining bolt instead of attempting to cut the hinge off
Heaviest beams in bus construction are located ?
On the floor, where the seats bolt to the walls, and above and below the windows
Pneumatic chisels, during periods of normal consumption, will use how many cubic ft. of air per minute?
4 to 5 cubic ft. per minute
Bus roof hatch size ?
2 sq. ft.
Quickest method of freeing the victim (steering wheel on a bus) ?
Cut away the bottom half of the steering ring
Best rescue device suited to remove a person trapped under a bus?
Pneumatic lifting bags
Hanging vehicles - operations :
When devising a plan to stabilize the vehicle rescuers must consider :
- Type and weight of vehicle involved
- Height above the surface
- Likelihood of the vehicle falling
Most RVs are constructed ?
On a chassis with a rigid frame
Two broad classes of off-road tractors?
Wheeled tractors and tracked vehicles
Typical wheeled tractors have large rear wheels, and smaller front wheels, what sizes?
- rear - normally up to 50”
* front - up to 38”
All wheel drive tractors are also referred to as ?
Manual front wheel drive (MFWD)
Front and rear tires on all wheel drive tractors have heavy traction treads. Relatively light weight and often used to pull heavy loads, what do they do to the wheels or tires to improve traction?
Large cast iron weights are sometimes bolted to the wheels and/or the tires are filled to approx. 90 percent with a solution of calcium chloride or ethylene glycol and water to improve traction
Individual wheeled tractors narrow track ?
Horizontal distance from 60 to 100 inches between wheels on same axle
To reduce the possibility of a tractor flipping over backwards, what did manufacturers equip some tractors with?
Up to 1,400 pounds of cast iron weights attached to the front of their chassis
What are some of the most versatile single purpose vehicle?
Booms
Vehicle mounted booms can telescope how high?
Can lift?
Type of steering/drive?
- up to 40 feet
- 7,000 - 10,000 pounds
- all wheel steering and drive
OSHA regulations refer to forklifts as ?
Most forklifts can lift ?
Some forklifts operate on what type and volt batteries?
Others operate on what types of fuels?
• Powered industrial trucks; aka lift trucks or fork lifts
• 2,000 to 80,000 pounds
• rechargeable lead acid 24, 36, or 48 volt
• gasoline, diesel, LPG
• some have dual fuel systems,
gasoline and LPG
Forklifts : Operators can deflect the mast how many degrees? Type of mast and height range? Chassis? Weight? Tire size?
- 5°-7° from vertical
- four stage telescoper up to 30 ft
- cast iron and steel
- 2,000 - 36,000 lbs
- 12 to 21 inch wheels
It is common practice to do what to improve the traction of drive wheels with large pneumatic tires?
Fill the tires to about ninety percent with water or some other inert fluid such as antifreeze and then inflate the tires to their normal operating pressure with air
Cushion tires -
Solid rubber tires -
- cushion - no valve stem
* solid rubber - generally smaller in diameter and no treads
Most common articulating vehicles?
Large earthmovers and large tractors
Where are the brakes typically mounted on industrial and agricultural vehicles?
Inside the rear axle
most do not have front brakes
Power take off (PTO) incidents :
Two speeds commonly used with PTOs?
How many wraps of rope in a min each?
How many wraps of a persons extremity per min?
• 540 and 1,000 RPM • 540 RPM - 424ft of rope per min; 9 extremity wraps per min. • 1,000 RPM - 785ft of rope per min; 16 extremity wraps per min.
Freight trains are composed of ?
Passenger trains ?
- freight - one or more locomotives and a string of freight cars
- passenger - one or more locomotive, baggage cars, and passenger cars
In the US, what is a consist?
A document that identifies a group of railcars that make up a train
Most common types of locomotives?
- diesel and diesel/electric locomotive
- electric locomotive
- steam locomotive
Most of the locomotives in North America use what for power?
Combination diesel and electric power; Diesel engines operate onboard generators that power electric motors on each axle to drive the wheels
Diesel/electric locomotive : Weight - HP - Fuel gallons - Top speed - Electricity -
- 130 to 175 tons
- 4,250 HP
- 1,800 to 2,200 gallons
- up to 125 mph
- two electric drive motors; both high and low voltage AC and DC
Electric locomotives : Electricity - Weight - HP - Top speed - Third rail -
• 12,000 volt AC to 25,000 AC catenary system • 100 tons • 7,000 HP • 150 mph • 600 volt DC
Train passenger car passenger count?
Located where in the consist?
Sleeper cars are located where in the train?
- 44 to 85 passengers
- last in the consist
- toward the front or rear of the train
Where is the baggage car located in the consist?
Normally located directly behind the locomotive at the front of the consist
What are material handling cars for?
Where are they located in the consist?
What type of doors?
- standard boxcars used for carrying baggage and mail
- usually located directly behind the locomotive or at the end of the consist
- side doors only, they also have plug doors that operators must pull outward before sliding laterally
Where are lounge/food service cars found in the consist?
Center of the consist
Rail car doors location/type :
Passenger cars -
- passenger - end doors; swing inward or slide sideways to open. Most sliding are power assisted, either electrically or electro-pneumatically. In case of power failure, they easily slide open manually
- not locked during training operation and function normally while train is in motion
- some may have side entry doors located at each end of each car (sliding) or in the center (swinging). Closed and automatically locked during train operation.
Railcar windows :
Window pane materials?
Each car usually has how many window exits? How many panes?
- Lexan plastic and tempered glass
- Four, two on each side
- These windows have double panes, outer pane either Lexan or tempered glass
- Inner pane is always Lexan
Trucks, also called railroad trucks, are the assemblies to which a rail car’s wheel axles are attached. Trucks are constructed of what and weigh ?
What are these assemblies made up of?
- Cast steel and weigh up to 7 tons
* wheels, suspensions, braking system
Railcar brakes :
Braking systems are operated by air pressure up to ?
140 psi
All rail cars are equipped with how many volt electrical circuits charged by power from the locomotive, commonly called ?
What may supply the power?
- 480 volts
- head-end power
- overhead catenary
- diesel onboard generator
- third rail
Catenary systems : Volts - Hz - Pole size/weight - Height of pole -
• 12,000 volts to 25,000 volts AC • 25 Hz • catenary poles 14 inch square steel H-sections weighing 84 pounds per foot • 70 to 170 feet height
Substations on the catenary system are located how far apart?
8 to 10 miles
Do not permit any metallic object within how many feet of the 12,000 volt catenary system or the 6,900 volt signal power?
3 feet
Do not permit any metallic objects within how many feet of the 138,000 volt transmission lines?
8 feet
Third rail electrical power distribution systems generally distribute how many volts of what current?
600 volts of DC current
Diesel/electric locomotives can carry up to how many gallons of diesel?
Fuel shutoff devices are located where and how are they indicated?
How do you shut off the fuel supply to the engine?
- 2,200 gallons; located inside the locomotive or underneath it
- on each side of the locomotive body side rails and on the firewall of the cab behind the engineer (clearly marked FUEL SHUT OFF)
- push and hold the emergency fuel shutoff device for 8 to 10 seconds. The engine will stop running within about one minute
In areas not controlled with signals or dispatchers, the IC should place flare flashers how far away on either side of the incident? (Railcar incident)
Up to 2 miles away on either side of the incident
Railcar access :
Doors -> windows -> openings cut in walls or roof
Locomotive entry :
Doors -
Windshield size -
Roof -
- most locomotives have two doors each side, some have additional in nose; turn the door latch and push inward, not locked
- over one half inch thick and held in place by heavy frame system
- one eighth inch steel
Breaching the walls of a railroad passenger car will almost certainly require?
Oxyacetylene cutting torches and/or exothermic cutting devices
Sleeping car intercommunicating door latches :
Slide bar #1 -
Slide bar #2 -
Slide bar #3 -
- # 1 - use the standard railroad car coach key
- # 2 - use the slide mechanism on one side of the bedroom divide
- # 3 - use the slide mechanism on the other side of the bedroom divider
Pushing or rolling dashboard :
- Remove front door
- Make relief cuts behind the strut mounts to eliminate movement of the front end of the vehicle
- Cut the upper portion of the A-post if roof is still intact
- Cut the bottom portion of the A-post, below the bottom door hinge if possible
- Place cribbing between the rocker panel and the surface beneath
- Position ram between base of the
B-post and on an area just above the top hinge on the A-post - Extend the ram to move the dash until sufficient clearance is achieved
Displace a dashboard :
Jacking or lifting with spreaders -
- Remove the door
- Make relief cuts behind the strut mounts to eliminate movement of the front end of the vehicle
- Cut the upper portion of the A-post if the roof is intact
- Create a purchase point in the lower portion of the A-post large enough to accommodate the spreader tips to desired depth. Create purchase point between hinges, if possible
- Place cribbing between the base of the A-post and the surface beneath
- Insert spreader tips into the purchase point on the A-post
- Open spreaders to lift the dash until sufficient clearance is achieved while maintaining capture
- Monitor and maintain the integrity of the cribbing
Displace a dashboard :
Jacking or lifting with alternative tools -
- Remove the front door
- Make relief cuts behind the strut mounts to eliminate movement of the front end of the vehicle
- Cut the upper portion of the A-post if the roof is intact
- Make one cut to the bottom of the
A-post, as deep as possible - Place cribbing between the base of the A-post and the surface beneath
- Position jacking or lifting device base on the rocker panel, supported by the cribbing
- Place the working end of the jacking or lifting device on the remaining section of the A-post
- Operate the tool until sufficient clearance is achieved
- Monitor and maintain the integrity of the cribbing
Displace or remove a front seat in a vehicle :
Front seat displacement with spreaders-
- Place a piece of cribbing between the spreader tip and post to prevent the post from buckling
- Position one spreader tip on the seat’s lower frame, directly above the seat runner. Place the other tip against the A-post at a point higher than the seat frame
- Open the spreader arms to move the seat toward the rear of the vehicle
Create an access opening in the floor of a side resting bus :
- Identify the two adjacent main supporting beams between which the opening will be made
- Make two cuts in the end of each of the non-supporting beams that lie between the main supporting beam
A. Make the first cut at the end of each beam
B. Make the second cut at least 3 inches inside the first cut - Knock out the section of beam between the cuts
- Create a purchase point in the floor of the bus
- Insert the saw blade into the purchase point and cut the floor on three sides
- Fold back the flap of flooring
What is needed in any operation that requires rescuers or rescue crews to enter a hazard zone - especially a zone in which the rescuers are not visible from the ICP?
Personnel accountability system
What should be performed before any rescue activities and remain an on-going process throughout the incident?
Risk-benefit analysis
Similar to conventional shock absorbers, these sealed units (bumper struts) contain?
Hydraulic fluid and compressed gas
Liquefied compressed gas (LPG) - gas that under the charging pressure is partially liquid at __°F
70°F
Most appropriate form of fire protection at vehicle incidents?
A pre-connected hoseline, preferably foam capable
Water may be used for ?
- flash protection
- controlling passenger compartment fires
- cool ignition sources
- suppress vapors from leaking or ruptured natural gas and propane cylinders to keep the atmosphere below flammable range
- cool containers involved in fire
AFFF is used for?
Extinguishing hydrocarbon fuel fires
One key difference in hybrid and electric vehicle fires?
Extinguishing agent to be used if the fire is confined to the battery packs or battery system
What should be a major concern in accidents involving commercial transportation such as medium and heavy trucks?
Hazardous materials
Cascade system - three or more large, interconnected air cylinders, from which smaller SCBA cylinders are recharged; the larger cylinders have what capacity?
300 cubic feet
Plastic cribbing is how many times more strong than wood?
Twice as strong
The distance between the two pieces (box cribbing) is determined by?
- size of cribbing
- intended height of box crib
- local SOPs
Handsaws commonly used for extrication?
Hacksaws and windshield cutters
Increase the cutting efficiency of any saw by periodically spraying the surface of the material being cut with what to reduce friction between the material and the saw blade?
- bee’s wax
- water based cutting fluid
- soapy water
Store and use acetylene cylinders in an upright position to prevent loss of ?
Acetone
What type of glue holds some laminated windshields in place? Characterized by black shading around perimeter
Polyurethane
What is propane a byproduct of?
Petroleum refining and natural gas production
How is liquefied natural gas produced?
From oil and natural gas fields around the world
The foremost components of a passenger vehicles suspension systems are?
- springs
- shock absorbers
- suspension struts
- tires
Electronically operated restraint systems receive their energy from the vehicle’s battery. They are designed to activate through a system of what type of switches located where?
Mechanical or inertia switches located forward of the passenger compartment and by microelectronic controls that may be located under the front seats or in the console between the front seats
To calculate the potential mechanical advantage of a lever, measure the distance between :
- The load and the fulcrum (load side)
2. The fulcrum and the point of applied force (force side)
Four common types of slings :
- chain
- wire rope
- synthetic round
- synthetic web
Braided wire rope -
Wire rope formed by plaiting component wire ropes
Cable wire rope -
Wire rope composed of six wire ropes wrapped around a fiber or wire rope core
Strand laid rope -
Wire rope made with strands (usually six or eight) wrapped around a fiber core, wire strand core, or independent wire rope core
What enables rescuers to make rapid chain to hook connections? (Rigging fittings)
Clevis and eye-types
What can rescuers use to mouse hooks?
- Rope yarn
- Seizing wire
- Shackles
What is the point of entrapment?
Also called?
The exact location in which the metal or other object prevents or limits the victim from movement; disentanglement point
The windshields and rear windows of medium and heavy trucks are made of ?
Set in with what?
Side windows?
- Laminated safety glass; center bead rubber gaskets
* tempered glass that is heavier than that used in automobiles and light trucks
Where is the most easily penetrated area of on box trailer?
The roof; material covering is the thinnest and fewest structural members
Diesel flash point?
126° - 204°F
Features such as RollTek system have been installed in many commercial trucks. This system includes sensors that detect imminent rollover and do what?
Deploy a three phases protection system which activates the airbags, seat belt pretensioners, and also pulls down the suspension seat to its lowest position
Type A school bus -
Standard SUV or van conversion built on a heavy duty, van type front section chassis
What type of school bus may have roof hatches toward the front and back of the bus?
Type D
Emergency release for motor coaches?
Knob or latch located directly under the center of the windshield on front of the bus
Transit bus windshields are held in place by?
Simple locking rubber filler strips
If rows of rivets are more than how far apart, there is likely a rafter between them?
2 feet
Alternative fuels - most larger transit vehicles are powered by ?
While more smaller buses may use?
- larger - CNG
* smaller - LPG or LNG
How must LNG be stored?
CNG?
- double-walled, vacuum-insulated pressure vessel
* gaseous state at high pressure (approx 3,600 psi)
To stabilize a side resting truck, where should rescuers install cribbing?
At the cab’s door posts
Cranes have what type of tires?
Large pneumatic tires
Forklifts intended for outdoor use generally have what type of tires?
Pneumatic or cushion tires
Most passenger Railcar floors are composed of ?
Ply-metal (plywood and metal, usually aluminum) panels that are usually attached to the framework
Most rail cars have an exterior skin made of ? Wall construction?
- 3/32 inch stainless steel
* steel framing members and plywood sandwiched between two sheets of stainless steel or aluminum
Locomotive walls are made of ?
Roof ?
- 3/8 inch thick steel
* 1/8 inch steel
Hand brakes on freight cars - air pressure up to?
140 psi
All rail cars are equipped with ___volt electrical circuits charged by power from the locomotive, commonly called ?
480 volt; head power
Only trained passenger rail system crew members can safely perform the following actions :
- de-energize head-end power
- lower locomotive pantographs
- disengage third rail shoes
- ground electrical equipment when required
- remove or install power cables
Locomotive windshields -
Single pane, laminated safer glass; others Lexan
Passenger coaches have relatively small side windows measuring ?
Talgo coaches have larger windows ?
- 29 1/2 inches wide by 16 1/2 inches high
* 63 inches wide by 39 inches high