University of Extrication Ron Moore's University of Extrication is the online home for training tips, news and information pertaining to vehicle extrication and rescue.
Here’s an interesting challenge to present to your rescue crews next time you are conducting your next extrication training. Position an acquired vehicle with one closed and locked front door near enough to a fixed object so that it is too close for the door to actually be opened normally. In our example, we’re using a power pole in the parking lot next to the fire station where the training will take place and have the side of the door just a few inches from the wood pole.
Explain to the crew that the door is simulated as jammed. Tell them that they must gain access to the interior of the vehicle from that side of the vehicle and that they have two choices. As a trainer, you can either have the crew remove the simulated jammed door by forcing the latch and then removing the entire door at the hinges. If you really want to make it challenging, however, assign them to the second tactic. Have the crew leave the door closed and latched and require that the team remove the ‘guts’ of the door itself; actually going through the door itself.
This assignment requires vehicle stabilization, electrical system shutdown, door glass removal, and then either total door removal or removal of most of the designated door by breeching.
