Challenges facing RTC responders

Published: 01 September, 2008

Colin Davies, Training Instructor – Specialist Operations Group, Fire Service College (UK), talks about some of the challenges facing RTC responders.

"Currently, 11 per cent of all road related incidents involve a heavy vehicle in one form or another. The main differences between light vehicles and heavy vehicles are obvious and range from the increase in working height at which rescuers have to carry out their role, to the increase in weight of vehicle parts, For example, a door on a modern passenger car can weigh between 20 and 35kg, whereas a truck door can weigh in excess of 80kg.

“In order to combat some of the issues described the UK fire and rescue service currently utilise working platforms and – if not already in use – are considering the introduction of heavy vehicle rescue units.

“The biggest issue faced is vehicle stabilisation. There are several areas that need to be considered, ranging from unsprung and sprung weights to the vehicle cab and internal seating arrangement. Do we carry adequate equipment ensuring that stabilisation is carried out effectively and efficiently? Specialist equipment is available ranging from power shoring equipment to high and low pressure airbags, but this equipment can prove to be costly. In conjunction with what many services already carry on their rescue pumps and maybe the addition of timber (which is cheap and reasonably accessible) stabilisation can be carried out to an effective and efficient standard.

“Other areas for consideration are fuel, vehicle safety systems, and vehicle load – to mention just a few. We as an emergency service can only do so much when it comes to incidents involving heavy vehicles and partnership working with a specialist heavy vehicle recovery service will increase the working capabilities of the rescue team whilst speeding up the release of the patient.

“I would advise that the familiarisation of heavy vehicles that is carried out at a local maintenance yard or haulage yard include “no damage” sessions, for example in stabilisation. Structured sessions would maximise learning with a vehicle acquired for space creation techniques, without wasting a now expensive and in many cases rare resource."

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