Spc. Park Brooks cuts into the door jamb of
a junk car with the Jaws of Life to practice safe and controlled techniques to
rescue car accident victims at Blue Grass Army Depot, Ky., June 9.
Story by Maj. Gregg Moore
BLUE GRASS
ARMY DEPOT, Ky. – Army Reserve Soldiers of the 163rd Ordnance Company from
Tustin, California, practiced the “third door conversion” using the Jaws of
Life June 9. Firefighters use this technique to make it possible for paramedics
to safely pull car accident victims out of a heavily damaged four-door car. The
Army firefighters learned several other techniques with the Jaws of Life during
their annual training with the Blue Grass Army Depot Fire Department.
“It depends
on the car and the situation, every accident is different. Firefighters need to
have the flexibility to make a decision on the scene of how they will open the
car,” said Brian Snoddy, BGAD firefighter.
Snoddy introduced 163rd Ordnance Company
firefighters to the third door conversion. This technique can be used to open
up an entire side of a four-door car, making room for emergency medical
personnel to stabilize and safely remove injured passengers.
The first step is to assess the situation,
which includes checking for injuries to the passengers and damage to the
vehicle. If the situation warrants the use of the Jaws of Life, the
firefighters next stabilize the vehicles with blocks and let the air out of the
tires to minimize movement. They then cover the patient and remove the windows
and windshield. Modern automotive glass breaks in a way that typically does not
result in sharp and potentially dangerous pieces of glass.
Pfc. Armando Garduno tears open the door
jamb of a junk car with a powerful combination tool demonstrating safe and
controlled techniques used to rescue car accident victims at Blue Grass Army
Depot, Ky., June 9
Once the glass is removed and any other
potential risks are mitigated, such as side-airbags, the firefighters use a
pike tool to gain purchase into a seam of the door jamb. They create enough
space for the Jaws of Life to slide into. The jaws amazing strength can then
spread or crush the metal, in order to rip apart the door’s hinges and joints.
Automobile accidents can result in doors being jammed into the frame, which
cannot be opened by human strength alone. The Jaws of Life and other power
tools give rescuers the ability to quickly tear apart a car in a safe and
controlled manner, saving lives.
The firefighters, using the jaws and other
tools such as axes, hooks, picks and saws, make short work of the car doors and
reinforced beam between the front and back doors. Ultimately, they fold the
entire side of the car down, giving paramedics access to passengers in the
front and back seats.
Further action may be needed to help extricate
the passengers, such as cutting the braces to the roof so it can be folded back
or cutting into the reinforced structure behind the front wheels to roll the
dashboard forward, which may be necessary if the driver’s feet are caught up in
the pedals.
Pfc. Cherokee Garcia cuts into the door jamb
of a junk car with the Jaws of Life to practice safe and controlled techniques
to rescue car accident victims at Blue Grass Army Depot, Ky., June 9.
By practicing the “third door conversion,”
Army Reserve firefighters are more prepared to save lives at home and abroad.
If you are interested in becoming an Army Reserve firefighter, contact your
local recruiter or Army Reserve career counselor.
