Vehicle Extrication

Vehicle Extrication is the systematic removal of the parts of a vehicle that has been involved in a crash from around the driver and occupants. It has been developed into a process or system over they years to ensure the safety of the rescuers and victims, and to improve the chances of victim survival. The basic steps to vehicle extrication are scene size up, vehicle stabilization, glass removal, gain access, disentanglement, victim removal, and breakdown/cleanup.

The first step is scene size up. Rescuers start to assess the scene as they arrive at the accident. They are looking at how many vehicles are involved, how many victims are in those vehicles, the extent of damage to the vehicles, and how badly are the victims trapped in the cars. At this point the person that is in charge will form an action plan, laying out the steps that will be taken to free the victims from the vehicle. The rescuers will then start stabilizing the vehicle. This job can be done very quickly...