Fire Engineering‘s popular Extrication Zone comes to FDIC 2013. This will be the first time an all-encompassing series of instruction will be offered together that covers all aspects of vehicle extrication. Deliberate care was taken to include topics that are normally absent from extrication courses, such as patient handling, incident command, and scene assessment. The subject matter goes far beyond just how to take a vehicle apart.
This four-part, 16-hour course, presented by four experts in their field, will allow students access to the full panel of instructors while avoiding overlapping and contradictory information. Each segment will begin with a short overview of topics along with the distribution of take-home materials. The segments will conclude with a 15-minute roundtable question-and-answer period, allowing time for students to grasp all concepts within the course curriculum. All four instructors will be participating in the discussion to assure continuity between courses.
The Extrication Zone four-part series is designed to be taken together, with information building on the previous course, but each course also works as a stand-alone unit.
The internationally renowned instructor cadre will present specific information within their area of expertise on the following topics:
Segment One:
Extrication Zone: Hybrid/New Vehicle Technology
Monday April 22, 2013 – 0800 – 1200
Matt Stroud, President, MGS Tech
With the rapidly growing popularity of hybrid, electrical vehicle (EV), and other alternative fuel vehicles, this course provides first responders of all levels with the knowledge needed to safely and confidently manage any new technology vehicle incident. Featured are detailed discussions of how the systems function, parts locations, high-voltage hazards, power down procedures, fire and submersion tactics, approach tactics, and SRS systems. ALL LEVELS
“Vehicle technology has evolved rapidly in recent years. With advancements in body structure and safety systems, vehicles have become more complex. Hybrid, electric, and alternative fuel vehicles are now commonplace. Misunderstanding these technologies has led to hesitation and unnecessary delays during vehicle rescue operations.”
“Being able to simplify this process is our mission. Blending our extensive mechanical and electrical knowledge with our extrication training experiences has allowed us to standardize approach tactics and explain these complex vehicle systems (i.e. high-voltage, supplemental restraint systems and other potential hazards) in a simple and easy-to-understand format. When rescue technicians understand the technology, they can confidently remove potential hazards from the equation, leaving the plastic and metal structure. By debunking the myths and eliminating unnecessary drama, responders are able to apply standardized and simplistic approach tactics to mitigate all vehicle incidents and concentrate on patient removal.”
-Matt Stroud
Matt Stroud, President and Owner of MGS Tech, is a 22 year veteran of Toyota Motor Corporation as a Master Diagnostic Technician, certified in numerous vehicle technologies including Hybrid’s. He founded MGS Tech in 2007 with the goal to teach first responders to safely manage new technology vehicle incidents. In addition to his extensive automotive background, Matt has completed multiple extrication courses, giving him a strong knowledge base of fire tactics and terminologies. Currently teaching several versions of the Hybrid/New Vehicle Technology for First Responders course across the country, he also teaches hands-on extrication at several annual Auto-X schools. Matt and his team continue to perform all of their own research to stay on top of ever-changing information, and contribute regularly to Fire Engineering Magazine.
Segment Two:
Extrication Zone: Principles of Extrication
Monday April 22, 2013 – 1330-1730
Les Baker, Charleston (SC) Fire Department
Rescuers’ techniques for extricating victims from a motor vehicle in a collision have been said to be reminiscent of either a butcher or a surgeon! With which one would you want to be compared? Which would the accident victim appreciate more? The focus is on having an in-depth understanding of why the tools react the way they do and how to avoid or take advantage of their movements. This information is as important as the responder’s positioning in relation to extrication tools and the tactics being completed. Among the topics covered are the interaction between the spreader and the cutter operator, specific working principles of various extrication-related tools, and the application of those tools for specific tactics. ALL LEVELS
“Regardless of the degree of vehicle damage and resulting level of entrapment, it is the responsibility of the responders to safely and effectively mitigate these incidents. The foundation for successful mitigation is a solid, strong set of strategies based on the incident conditions. They should center on responder and patient safety, hazard identification and control, gaining access and providing care, conducting disentanglement operations, and transferring the patient and terminating the incident. The strategies should be communicated to the responders and the disentanglement supervisor should determine the most appropriate tactics. Responders must be proactive in their development of initial and secondary disentanglement tactics during an extrication incident. Most incidents can be mitigated with common initial plans, including some form of a side, roof, or tunnel tactic. When those initial plans fail to provide a suitable path of egress, additional and sometimes less frequently used plans should be put into action.”
“Along with the direction and control of the supervisor, the disentanglement group members should have the capability to carry out those tactics in a professional manner. They must have an in-depth understanding of why the tools react the way they do and how to avoid or take advantage of that movement. Understanding why tools react and taking advantage of these reactions can be compared to the application level of learning and provides additional knowledge to complete the tactics. Responders should be well educated in the interaction between the spreader and cutter operator, specific working principles of various supplementary tools, and the application of those tools for certain tactics. This knowledge increases the likelihood of a successful set of extrication tactics that accomplish the overall strategy and ultimately increases patient outcomes and survival rates.”
-Les Baker
LES BAKER, a 12-year veteran of the fire service, is a training instructor with the Charleston (SC) Fire Department. He has an associate degree in fire science from Pikes Peak Community College. He is an adjunct instructor with the South Carolina Fire Academy, a member of the Darlington county Extrication Team, and a contributor to fire service magazines.
Segment Three:
Extrication Zone: Large Truck and Trailer Incident Response
Tuesday April 23, 2013 – 0800-1200
Firefighter Randy Schmitz, Calgary (Alberta, Canada) Fire Department
All you need to know about responding to incidents involving large trucks and trailers. Topics range from truck anatomy to setup procedures to patient care to interior operations to truck classifications to case studies. Among some of the additional
topics covered are hazard control; stabilization; patient access and removal; overcoming height; side wall openings; roof operations; scene termination considerations; truck doors, roofs, electrical system, fuel system, and brake system; vehicle upright, vehicle on side; windows; high-tension cable barrier systems; and bus extrication. ADVANCED
“The intent of this course is to survey the range of actions that are likely to occur during motor vehicle collisions and for emergency personnel to be equipped at the hectic scene of an accident. We do not attempt to provide a definitive and programmed answer to inherent problems you will experience, but deal with more of educating yourselves to make cognizant decisions that pertain to the best possible outcome of your patients. As such, the subject-matter experts assembled in this room will bring four distinct components of modern rescue to the table. The method of instruction being presented is skillfully distributed into sections that relate to the stream of information required for a positive outcome and the convenience of this teaching method. The examples and discussions presented will be supported by PowerPoint presentations, personal accounts of actual incidents, physical props, and new relevant technical information to give you the best first-hand information available under one roof.”
“This (my section) of the instruction is but one activity in the system and extrication is but one aspect of the activity. Each one builds on those that precede it and leads into those that follow, therefore this course is paramount in the levels of learning accurately, safely, and systematically. If rescuers are to perform competently at an incident, they must understand the modern theories, practices and evolutions of each segment in this system of processes. First responders maybe well versed in extrication or disentanglement procedures and tool knowledge, but they may be less experienced in emergency care measures that can have a direct outcome of the patient. In my portion of the instruction, I will introduce the basic components such as large vehicle anatomy, dispatch, arrival, inner outer surveys, hazard control, stabilization, patient egress options, extrication, sustained stabilization, incident termination. We will then continue on to discuss livestock trailer rollover incident response, high-tension cable barrier protocols, and touch base on bus accident response.”
– Randy Schmitz
RANDY SCHMITZ has been involved in the extrication field for 20 years and is a firefighter/extrication instructor with the Calgary (AB, Canada) Fire Department. He has competed in regional, international, and worldwide extrication competitions/challenges. He is Educational Chairman for the Transport Emergency Rescue Committee in Canada and the Alberta Vehicle Extrication Association. He is a T.E.R.C International extrication judge for Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He filmed “Hybrid Extrication” for Discovery Channel Network, chaired the 2010 North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge, and developed and taught the course for the Big Rig H.O.T. symposium.
Segment Four:
Extrication Zone: EMS Aspects
Tuesday April 23, 2013 – 1330-1730
Lieutenant Rommie Duckworth, Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department
Good vehicular extrication demands a unique collaboration between rescue and emergency medical personnel. To save a victim, you need command, coordination, communication, and care. This program connects core principles of extrication with a foundation of field trauma care. Among topics covered are patient size-up, incorporation of medical considerations in the extrication approach, detection and management of life threats, basic and advanced assessment, and concerns for special patient populations including geriatrics, pediatrics, and expectant mothers. ALL LEVELS
“The same vehicle systems that are designed to better protect occupants present an ever-growing challenge to rescuers. Today’s vehicle extrication demands a unique collaboration across different specialties in emergency services. Task-focused individuals working within their discipline must understand and synchronize with other specialists under a coordinating command structure. While this does not mean that every firefighter must be a paramedic to perform extrication, it does mean that it is crucial for non-EMS specialist firefighters, rescue technicians, and fire officers to understand how to rapidly assess the condition, life threats, and needs of their patients (or communicate with those who do) to coordinate an efficient and effective automotive extrication.”
“With the rapid evolution of extrication tools and techniques necessary to keep up with the automotive industry, today’s vehicle extrication education is becoming more and more task-focused, often at the expense of the scene management and patient assessment practices that are crucial to selection of the best tools, tricks, and techniques. What sets this program apart is a focus on the multidisciplinarycoordinationthat is essential for any effective vehicle rescue operation in 2013. In this unique program, top fire, rescue, EMS, and industry expert educators work together to provide you with not only the latest extrication techniques, but the big picture and best practices of an efficient, coordinated, and collaborative rescue effort to keep you and your crew at the top of your game.”
“In the patient assessment and care portion of the program, Fire Lieutenant and paramedic EMS Coordinator Rom Duckworthdiscusses how patient assessment must be performed as part of incident size-up, and how this can be accomplished by firefighters of all levels of EMS certification or experience even under difficult access conditions. Emphasis is placed on performing patient assessment and care in close coordination with and providing feedback to the rescuers working with ‘tools in hand.’ Presented in a way that everyone can understand, this program addresses patient size-up, incorporation of medical considerations in the extrication approach, detection and management of life threats, basic and advanced assessment,and concerns for special patient situations including pediatrics, geriatrics, bariatrics and pregnant patients.”
-Rom Duckworth, 2012
A dedicated emergency responder and award-winning educator Rom Duckworth has more than twenty years of experience working in career and volunteer fire departments, public and private emergency services and hospital based healthcare systems. Rom is a frequent speaker at national conferences and a regular contributor to research programs, magazines, textbooks and new media on topics of field operations, leadership, andeducationin emergency services.
Founder of the New England Center for Rescue and Emergency Medicine, Rom is a past volunteer Assistant Chief and is currently a career Fire Lieutenant andParamedicEMS Coordinator. Using his background in local, regional and national emergency response to bring his classes to life. Rom’s energetic style blends humor, hands-on experience and the latest research for programs you won’t soon forget.
Register soon at https://www.fdic.com for your opportunity to attend this groundbreaking approach to vehicle extrication education and bring home the knowledge and expertise you department needs to help improve the chances of survival of the people in your community.
