Course Library

Vehicle Extrication

Vehicle Extrication

Information Covered:

1. Safe Vehicle Extrication
   1. Role of EMS in Vehicle Extrication
      1. Provide patient care
      2. Perform simple extrication
   2. Personal  Safety
      1. First priority for all EMS personnel
      2. Appropriate personal protective equipment for conditions
      3. Scene size-up
   3. Patient Safety
      1. Keep them informed of your actions
      2. Protect from further harm
   4. Situational Safety
      1. Control traffic flow
         1. Proper positioning of emergency vehicles
            1. upwind/uphill
            2. protect scene
         2. Use of lights and other warning devices
         3. Setting up protective barrier
         4. Designate a traffic control person
      2. 360-degree assessment
         1. Downed electrical lines
         2. Leaking fuels or fluids
         3. Smoke or fire
         4. Broken glass
         5. Trapped or ejected patients
         6. Mechanism of injury
      3. Vehicle stabilization
         1. Put vehicle in “park” or in gear
         2. Set parking brake
         3. Turn off vehicle ignition
         4. Cribbing/Chocking
         5. Move seats back and roll down windows
         6. Disconnect battery or power source
         7. Identify and avoid hazardous vehicle safety components
            1. seat belt pretensioners
            2. undeployed air bags
            3. other
      4. Unique hazards
         1. Alternative-fuel vehicles
         2. Undeployed vehicle safety devices
         3. HAZMAT
      5. Evaluate the need for additional resources
         1. Extrication equipment
         2. Fire suppression
         3. Law enforcement
         4. HAZMAT
         5. Utility companies
         6. Air medical
         7. Others
      6. Extrication considerations
         1. Disentanglement of vehicle from patient
         2. Multi-step process
         3. Rescuer-intensive
         4. Equipment-intensive
         5. Time-intensive
         6. Access to patient
            1. simple
               1. try to open doors
               2. ask patient to unlock doors
               3. ask patient to lower windows
            2. complex
            3. tools
               1. hand
               2. pneumatic
               3. hydraulic
               4. other
   5. Determine Number of Patients (implement local multiple casualty incident protocols if necessary)
2. Use of Simple Hand Tools
   1. Hammer
   2. Center Punch
   3. Pry Bar
   4. Hack Saw
   5. Come-Along
3. Special Considerations for Patient Care
   1. Removing Patient
      1. Maintain manual cervical spine stabilization
      2. Complete primary assessment
      3. Provide critical interventions
   2. Assist With Rapid Extrication
   3. Move Patient, Not Device
   4. Use Sufficient Personnel
   5. Use Path of Least Resistance

Content Creator: Chris Hunt

CAPCE Course Number: 16-EMTP-F3-4302

Total CE Hours: 1.25

Level: Basic

EMT-CE uses the NEMSES guidelines as the foundation for every course outline.