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Four Holmatro whisper pumps, four stroke.
One set Holmatro NCT, (New Car Technology) dedicated cutters.
One set Holmatro General Purpose cutters.
Two sets Holmatro Spreaders, one large, one small.
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The NCT cutters at the top of the image are from Holmatro NL. They are the latest in rescue tools designed primarily for extrication of casualties from modern vehicles with added strength and safety measures. The shape of the blades allows for the workload to be drawn into the inner part of the cutting surface. Physics then takes over and the force applied amounts to around 60 tonnes. The old cutters carried on Fire Rescue Units although dedicated had a limit of 30 tonnes. On visual inspection of the tool tips we can see they are substantially thicker and wider to allow for the forces than could be applied. SIPS or side impact protection systems are often not just bars added to doors as seen in advertisments but folds in the cars structure. Sometimes three or four folds can be added to a door for example, this would greatly increase the cutting force of rescue equipment required to gain access to the vehicle. Car manufacturers dont advertise the actual structure for fear of being copied. |
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Crews from Euston's FRU are seen here using the General Purpose cutters. These are a dedicated cutting tool and can handle most car pillars, whilst using these on other parts of the car their limitations have become obvious. The tool tips are much longer and have a larger mouth opening to accept wider work surfaces(often the C post). As the tips close they draw the surface into the blades and the main cut commences. Due to their longer length the lever action at a maximum working pressure of 720 bar decreases as a result, the cutting capability is lower than the NCT cutters. Whilst using the GP cutters at incidents it has often been found that they are underpowered for many modern cars. The skill of the tool operator depends on them listening to the engine note of the pump, looking at the cutting surface and feeling the operation through the handle, how well the cut is going. Experience plays a vital part of rescue operations as blindly cutting away and thinking to the tool will do anything can result in unpredicted reactions.
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The rescuer needs to be aware of his/her surroundings. A well known video from the U.S., 'Tunnel Vision', taught us all to take a second look at what we are doing. Before cutting have a look at what might be affected as a result of our actions. Often the cars we train and practice on are in fairly good condition they are in a safe environment, the drill yard, no body is injured inside, its not dark, wet, cold, so we can become complacent. Nowadays we are fewer on the fireground, so backing up a tool operator has often become second place. Our FRU crews were taught at training that when using tools we have someone looking over our shoulder all the time, watching for what we cant see. In reality this is a gift, so before we do anything, take a look around, where is my pump, how much hose do I have, is everyone aware im about to start work, if I make a cut what will happen to the remainder of the vehicle, is what im cutting actually safe to cut? The most used solution is to have an FRU qualified person overlooking all rescuers, they can give guidence to all at the scene. Telling other rescuers about the work being carried out as well as acting as a safety operative. Having someone looking over the scene of operations from a few metres away can prevent injuries. |
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When casulaties are trapped we often imagind the vehicle to be practicaly wrapped around them. this can be the case as the forces applied to a car at say 60 mph hitting a tree side on will result in certain injury to the occupants. A two tonne car at 60 mph hitting an immovable object places a load of unimaginable kilonewtons. In order to remove the casualty we have to replicate that force in the opposite direction. Quite a task for any rescuer, but more often than not just a couple of inches can make the difference. The FRU crews often use Holmatro Spreaders in order to make that space. They have a capabilty to move about 8 tonnes. More often than not, the metal fabric of the car will tear before the tools reaches it full working capacity. The long spreaders have tips less than a centemetre apart but will open up to around 70 centremetres. Its important to remember that much of this space will be taken up with the spongelike absorbancy of an impacted vehicle. When the pressure from the tools is released some retraction will occur, so it is important to place the tool in a position that means it will not be in the way should the casualty need to be removed through that space.
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The telescopic ram is of value in areas of confined space. With a capabilty to extend three times its length and sixteen tonnes pressure it has many various uses. Couple this with an scope for adding extension poles then it excells in many situations.
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Here we can see a dashbaord lift but the tool is locked in place from the side of the vehicle. It would be safe to remove th hydraulic cable to enable paramedic crews to work with the casulaty without tripping up on the stiff hose. If we imagine the casulalty has had a frontal impact and suffered what is known as submarine effect, ie: their legs and feet have been squashed into the driver or passenger footwell and therfore suffered broken lower limbs. By using the long spreaders we have created about six inches of space as the tool appears to be at near full working height. With the door and roof removed it may be enough for a safe extrication with limited impact on time and further distress. The image below show the same space made but with Holmatro Rams. The small 16 Tonne Telescopic Ram has twice the power of the long spreaders and about the same spread width. They also come with an assorted variety of extension poles that can be used in case of larger spaces.
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