Hidden Hazards Inside of a Vehicle

FirefighterNation Webcast
Hidden Hazards Inside of a Vehicle
Thursday, April 4, 2013
In the past 10 years, the automotive industry has made many changes to the way vehicles are made-and these changes are, in turn, changing the way first responders approach motor vehicle accidents. Air bags are found throughout the vehicle, pretensioners are used in second- and third-row seats, and the seats are starting to resemble those of a jet fighter, with multiple technological enhancements packed into a small package. Automakers are also increasingly using advanced steels like boron to add strength to their body structure, to meet the latest government crash requirements and to reduce weight to improve fuel economy.
Although these developments create a safer vehicle for drivers and passengers, they also create new challenges for firefighters. Fortunately, hydraulic tool makers have stepped up to the plate to produce tools that can cut and spread their way through the strongest body structure on the road today. But rescuers must continue to hone their techniques to use these new tools, while also maintaining awareness of vehicle hazards from bumper to bumper.
This webcast will provide an in-depth look at inner-circle extrication operations on new vehicles. You'll learn:
Common battery locations, disconnection options, airbag precautions, advanced steel locations, and techniques to work around and manage these hazards
How to identify and mitigate high-voltage batteries and cables
Techniques for managing all the vehicle hazards during an extensive extrication
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Speakers
ABOUT MIKE SMITH
Mike Smith is a firefighter/EMT for the Wixom (Mich.) Fire Department near Detroit. He is also an 18-year veteran of the automotive industry in Detroit and is a senior product designer for Lear Corporation. He has designed and engineered structural steel components, interior safety systems and complete seat structures. Smith operates the extrication-focused website Boron Extrication (boronextricatio...), where he blends his automotive and fire service experience. He has taught extrication courses in Michigan, Ohio and California, emphasizing current and emerging vehicle technologies.
See more at: www.firefighter...