Presents

Air BagsAnd

New

Technology

Part #3Part #3

Passenger Frontal Air Passenger Frontal Air BagsBags

Passenger Frontal Air Passenger Frontal Air BagsBags

The Biggest Controversy

In The Automotive

Industry

The Controversy

The debate over the safety of passenger air bags, has been an ongoing thing since the mid ‘60s.

This one debate has generated most all of the new technology we face today.

The passenger air bag poses more dangers than all the others put together.

Especially for Rescuers !

Why The Increased Danger?

Because of the larger space between the dash and occupant, the bag must be bigger.

To fill the larger bag, we must have a larger gas capacity.

In order to supply larger amounts of gas, we must add outside sources, such as compressed gas cylinders.

Because of the dangers we have seen to children, we’ve added cut off switches.

To make them safer for the occupant, they added weight sensors, seat position sensors, seat belt sensors, out of position sensors, and on and on.

To control injury risk, they added

one, two, and three stage igniters. To make them reliable, they added

internal capacitors, in case of battery failure.

Let’s Start With The Basics

The earlier passenger air bags worked basically the same as the drivers’ that we just studied.

They received an impulse from the control module to the igniter, that set off the gas cylinder, that ignited the azide, that made nitrogen gas to fill the bag.

But manufactures soon learned the larger bag needed a different source, so they added the Compressed Gas Cylinder.

Compressed Gas Cylinder

High Pressure Gas Is Stored, Until The Impulse To Deploy Is Sent. At That Time A Disc Inside Bursts And Allows The Gas To Escape, To Inflate The Air Bag.

Rescuer’s Beware!

These cylinders contain about 3000 psi of compressed gas. (a few as much as 4000)

They are being used more and more each year.

We will get into a section on these later.

Passenger Air Bag Cut AwayWith Hybrid Inflator

Squib

Bag

COMPRESSED GAS INFLATED Passenger Air Bag

Look and Sound Simple Enough?

Then why all the controversy over the Passenger air bag?

We will begin to see why we had the history class in section one.

Remember the 24 pigs in 1975, all but three were injured or killed.

Look at the statistics, Confirmed deaths 66 children, 5 adult passengers. ( FEAR )

But, on the other hand

Look back at 1976, the records show that air bags would save 12,000 lives per year.

Look at Joan Claybrook’s statement NHTSA, “The trade-off in terms of saving thousands of lives clearly out weighs these infrequent risks.”

So manufactures were forced to keep the air bag, but develop a solution to these risk.

The Solution

Passenger Air Bag Cut Off Switches

Passenger Air Bag Cut OffPassenger Air Bag Cut Off SwitchSwitch

Early 1990’s

Manufactures and after market companies began to install these cut off switches to protect children and small adults.

To maximize safety NHTSA stepped in and regulated the use of the switch. By setting groups who met certain qualifications, these persons could apply for a permit to obtain a switch in their vehicle.

May 1995

NHTSA allows automakers to install on-off switches on new cars and light trucks that have no rear seats or rear seats that are too small to properly accommodate a child seat.

To give you an idea ( the latest stats. I could find). April 2001 there was 3.2 million of these on the road, in 219 different models, plus after markets.

How do they work ?

Most switches must have a key to turn them off and on.

When turned off, a light on the dash indicates that it is in the off position, and that air bag never receives a signal from the control module to deploy.

This is all accomplished by means of

the Cut off switch module.

Though some are highly unlikely

I want us to look at the many possibilities we will face on scene.

The idea is to make you think.

.

Many firefighters especially Vol. work other jobs.

In the body shop industry, they are In the body shop industry, they are taught to unplug the control module taught to unplug the control module when working on the systems under when working on the systems under the dash.the dash.

So let’s say we are on scene, we have So let’s say we are on scene, we have one pat. on the drivers side. Drivers one pat. on the drivers side. Drivers air bag is deployed, passenger air air bag is deployed, passenger air bag switch is in the off position and bag switch is in the off position and bag is not deployed. The pat. is bag is not deployed. The pat. is submarined under the dash.submarined under the dash.

Your partner, the body man, tells the EMT not to get in front of the undeployed air bag until he unplugs it under the dash.

Is your EMT safe? Let’s see what your body man

unplugged.

2002 Ford: one is control module and one is on/off

switch module

How about Russian Rolette?

Same car, same patient, his foot is hung between the peddles. Your partner is going to spread them to get him loose.

The dash wiring harness runs over the peddle support. As he spreads, the support mashes the wires. Is the bare yellow wire on the control module side of the cut off switch or the air bag side?

Ok, you listened good, now you say, “I already

disconnected the battery.”

What about the static elect. we talked about.

What about the .5 volts it takes

to set off an air bag.

Mr. New Technology awaits your decision !

You Have

6 millionths of a second

To Make That DecisionAnd Act On It

My point is this.My point is this.

We do not need to be finding ways We do not need to be finding ways to work around these systems, we to work around these systems, we need to learn to work need to learn to work WithWith these these systems. systems.

As we seen in part #2 by moving the As we seen in part #2 by moving the seat we changed the control module, seat we changed the control module, here by unplugging the wrong here by unplugging the wrong module we are in danger, that we module we are in danger, that we thought we had done away with.thought we had done away with.

With so many new sensors and With so many new sensors and systems intertwining together. If we systems intertwining together. If we make one change, it may change make one change, it may change many systems.many systems.

But, by knowingBut, by knowing What is out there.

What it’s purpose How it works. What makes it work. Where these components are located.

All these systems become constants that we can learn to work With.

Back to our switchBack to our switch

With the cut off switch now With the cut off switch now installed in so many cars and pick-installed in so many cars and pick-ups, it soon became a new ups, it soon became a new problem, people forgot to turn problem, people forgot to turn them back on, or mom forgot to them back on, or mom forgot to turn it off with the baby in the turn it off with the baby in the seat. Defeating the whole purpose.seat. Defeating the whole purpose.

So manufactures had to come up So manufactures had to come up with a new strategy. with a new strategy.

Smart Air BagsSmart Air Bags

The The Federal Motor Vehicle Federal Motor Vehicle Safety StandardSafety Standard 208,208, states that states that 35 % of all vehicles sold in the 35 % of all vehicles sold in the United States, United States, mustmust be equipped be equipped with smart air bags, by the 2004 with smart air bags, by the 2004 model year, and 100 % by 2007.model year, and 100 % by 2007.

What are they ?What are they ?

Dual StageDual Stage

Passenger Frontal Passenger Frontal Air BagsAir Bags

With control systemsWith control systems

Dual Stage PyrotechnicDual Stage Pyrotechnic InflatedInflated

Dual Stage Pyrotechnic Dual Stage Pyrotechnic InflatedInflated

Dual Stage Compressed Gas Dual Stage Compressed Gas InflatedInflated

Dual Stage Pyrotechnic Dual Stage Pyrotechnic InflatorInflator

High Side

Low Side

Compressed Gas Cylinder

High Pressure Gas Is Stored, Until The Impulse To Deploy Is Sent. At That Time A Disc Inside Bursts And Allows The Gas To Escape, To Inflate The Air Bag.

Deploying the bag

This is were the danger to rescuers starts to get worse.

There are so many new factors involved in deploying this air bag.

With 66 confirmed deaths, the first thing was to protect children.

So the air bag must know if there is a child or adult in the seat.

Weight Sensors

The earliest systems that came out in 1999 and 2000 models simply measured weight.

That weight was put into three categories, 45 pounds or less was relayed as a baby, 45-108 pounds small adult, and 109 up a full size adult.

Then the control module did, or did not, deploy the bag accordingly

How do you put a scales in a car seat?

Delphi Corp. used a silicon jell felled bladder in the cushion of the seat, combined with a pressure sensitive electronic device to measure the weight mashing into the bladder.

This works much like checking blood pressure, it measured the pressure the jell applied on the walls of the bladder.

Delphi

Bladder

This was to be the solution This was to be the solution to the problems with the to the problems with the

on/off switch.on/off switch. This would stop the air bag from

injuring a baby, or small adult, but still allow the bag to deploy for a full size adult, without worrying about someone forgeting to turn the switch on or off, or making the mistake of putting a baby in the front seat.

And also it could be instilled in all cars, rather than just pickups and sports cars, without a permit.

But it did nothing to stop injuries to out of position

occupants Such as a passenger leaning

forward, falling asleep and leaning against the door, or turning side ways in the seat.

So many companies, like Siemens Automotive, came up with an other sensor that went a little farther and still did the same job.

The Sensor Mat

Siemens is applying force-sensing resistor techniques and silicon strain-gauge sensors to their respective OEMs. They are applying 100 resistive pressure-point sensors to create a sensor mat, which is placed under the seat cushion. This force-sensing resistor array generates an image, or footprint, of the passenger, or an object, sitting on this sensor mat. This technique evaluates the footprint to determine the size of the occupant.

Siemens Sensor MatSiemens Sensor Mat

But still didn’t give a good account of the occupants

position By comparing the size of the

pattern, setting on the mat, compared to the weight, it can give the control module a more accurate size of the occupant.

It does give some account of the position, but only that there is more weight on one side of the pattern than on the other. Indicating the occupant is leaning that direction.

July 5, 2004 Bosch introduced their Intelligent

Bolt or iBolt System.

iBolt

The "iBolt" system measures the forces operating on the four anchor points of the seat frame. From that measurement, the weight on the passenger seat and how the weight is distributed are calculated electronically. This data is then used by the control module to determine the best way of deploying the passenger airbag.

Remember we are still trying to set off a passenger

air bag.

Our control module must receive an impulse from one of these systems.

Let’s start with the bladder system and see how these affect us as rescuers.

Let’s say the bladder indicated that the weight was less than 45 pounds and did not deploy the air bag.

Scenario

The driver is pined in, and in bad need of medical help, the best way to reach him is through the passenger door, your new EMT in excitement runs to help, the bladder indicated less than 45 pounds in the seat, the battery is not yet disconnected. Will his weight change the control module data ?

YES

The data process continues as long as there is electrical

supply Will the air bag deploy ? Probably not because the data was

not there at the time the rest of the impulses were.

But YOUR DECISION will it deploy when the crew cuts the cables and one accidentally arcs ?

Guess who awaits your answer.Mr. New Technology

The answer is. It Is Highly Possible

Why ? Because his weight has now opened the circuit to that air bag, where as the 45 pounds before had it cut off.

Keep in mind, New Technology is just what it says, NEW.

It don’t always work like it is supposed to.

NHTSA Campaign ID:  04V103000

Component:  Air Bags: Frontal: Sensor/Control ModuleManufacturer:  Nissan North America, Inc.Year: 2004 Nissan Model:Quest Recall Date: 02/24/2004Potential Number of Units Affected: 13,757Manufactured: Defect Summary: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the advanced air bag requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." For the front passenger seating position, the automatic suppression feature option was chosen. The front passenger seat is equipped with a seat cushion bladder and sensors that are used for occupant detection under the standard. When the AC06 child dummy was placed in the required positions, automatic suppression may not occur.

Why must we make the best Why must we make the best decision for the situation decision for the situation

we are facing ?we are facing ? Not only are we dealing with

hazards. We are dealing with unperfected

systems that may not always do what they are designed to do.

And we are dealing with them in a mangled, wrecked state.

Let’s Look At The iBolt System

If the passenger was leaning to one side, at the time of the crash, only the low side of the inflator would have ignited, leaving the high side still loaded.

So let’s put our crew to work . (deployed air bag).

They are a little smarter now, they know about dual

stage air bags So the firefighter jumps in the back

seat and straightens the patient’s spine alignment .

With the battery still connected or the bleed down time still in progress, will this bag go off again?

As with the bladder, probably not, because the impulse was not there at the time of the crash.

But !

What did this do to our system? Can the bag re-inflate, if we short a

wire or battery cable?

You decide

Yes Because, remember the control

module makes continual changes as long as there is currant, and we have now opened the circuit to this inflator

Our EMT was smarter this time, he didn’t get in front

of the air bag. But our patient may have just

got hit in the face, by the man him self.

Mr. New Technology

Let’s be sure we understand, what we

did to make a change. Remember the Dual Stages was to

lessen the impact injury on out of position victims

The victim being leaned over at the time of the crash, prompted the control module to set off the low side of the inflator.

But the firefighter aliening the spine set the victim up in the proper position, which opens the control module to set off the full charge.

To really understand thisTo really understand this

Make a trip to your local Make a trip to your local dealership, I personally tried it dealership, I personally tried it with the 2005 Jeep, turn the key with the 2005 Jeep, turn the key on, and set down in the pass. on, and set down in the pass. seat, you well see an indicator seat, you well see an indicator light come on, on the dash. Then light come on, on the dash. Then raise up or lean over and watch raise up or lean over and watch the light change with your the light change with your movement. movement.

Let’s go back to our crash.

Let’s say the occupant was sitting in the proper position. And he is a full size adult.

The occupant position sensor would tell the control module to set off the full charge because he is setting up straight and he is above 109 pounds.

But we need to look at another problem.

What is the goal of an air bag system?

Remember

The idea is for the air bag to be deployed, so fast that it is full before your body is thrown forward, there should never be contact with the deploying bag, then you fall into the bag, as it has already started to deflate, the bag then lowers you down at a slower speed and cushions you.

How do air bags work ?

Go back to our occupant.

He is sitting straight in the seat Say his weight is over 180 pounds Let’s say he is short A short person over 180 pounds is

probably pretty thick, and being short legged they probably moved the seat forward.

So what is going to happen when the bag deploys? He is going to get hit.

Which takes us to another New Technology

The Seat Position Sensor

CTS Multi- Turn Position Sensor

Hall Effect Position Sensor

Jaguar's Adaptive Restraint Jaguar's Adaptive Restraint Technology SystemTechnology System

Ultra Sound

Technology

These are just three of the many types of seat position

sensors. As you can see there is a wide

range of technology in this area. For our part, they all do the

same thing, they measure the distance between the occupant and the air bag.

Most of these measurements are divided into four deployment zones.

What do we mean by deployment zones ?

The first zone is the nearest to the air bag. In this zone, the control module may or may not deploy the air bag. (depending on all other information ).

Zone two, the control module will deploy the low powered inflator. Because the occupant is too close, and the bag could cause injury its self.

Zone three, the occupant being at a safe distance, but the weight sensor reporting less weight, the control module may deploy the high powered inflator.

Zone four, with the seat at its farthest distance from the air bag, the control will probably ignite both inflators at the same time for maximum protection. ( what we referred to earlier as the three stage inflator)

Let’s put our crew back to work,

This time go back to our old way. With the air bag hanging down, We

have been taught there is no danger. So the EMT opens the door, and doing his ABC’s, notices the seat belt is too tight on the victim, so he moves the seat back, so he can reach over to release it . (no fear of the air bag it’s already deployed).

Firefighter #1 is in the back seat holding C-spine.

Firefighter #2 as been taught to always disconnect the battery, but he is not mechanically inclined, if he pulls the positive first, it is going to arc.

Our EMT is reaching over the victim to unbuckle the seat belt.

By moving the seat back to zone four, we have opened the path to the high side inflator.

Guess Who is waiting ?

To take out An EMT

and A Patient

Let’s look, non-deployed air bag.

For years we have taught that if the air bag is not deployed, move the seat back as far as possible to protect the victim from accidental deployment.

Let’s face reality, the firefighter jumps off the truck, goes for tools to cut the battery cables, at the same time the EMT jumps off the truck and goes straight to the victim

Seeing the air bag is not deployed he moves the seat back.

Another firefighter seeing the air bag is not deployed, (as he was taught, do not get between the airbag and the victim) jumps in the back seat to hold C-spine.

The idea is to make you think !

Let’s say, some thing was wrong with the tracks, and the EMT moved the seat into the zone three position. (remember as long as we have currant the control module is constantly reevaluating).

By now, firefighter #1 has got his tools and the hood up, if he shorts out the cable is the bag going to deploy?

As before Probably not because the impulse was not there at the same time

as the other data. Again, Highly possibly, because by

moving the seat, we opened the path to the high side inflator. (and like a gambler we stacked one more odd against us).

Now look at firefighter #2 what difference can he make? (We are still working with 4 IBolt strain gages)

Remember, zone three worked in conjunction with the weight sensor, and told the control module that this was a small person.

So if the firefighter holding C-spine rest his elbows on the head rest of the seat, what have we changed (He put more weight on the back two gauges)

We may have told the control module that this is a full size adult, in the proper position.

This would now have opened the path for a second or even third stage inflation. (more odds against us).

Again the idea is to make you think.

Will any of these things happen ? Probably not. Can they happen ? Everyone of them.

Are you seeing any problems that we can not safely work around ?

As you see every little thing we change, changes another system.

Part #4Part #4

Working With the Working With the systemssystems

Looking back over all we have studied, to this point, we should start

to pick up some patterns

The one important pattern, we all should have already picked up on, is, we need to get the battery cables as soon as possible, (Get the bleed down time started.)

With the battery disconnected we

would never have changed anything through out this whole class.

How Important is this ?

Let’s see

We didn’t think it was We didn’t think it was necessary necessary

Another, we are starting to see is.

The importance of an IC. Notice in every scenario the EMT runs to

the victim, not knowing what he is facing. The firefighter goes to work on the car,

one didn’t know which cable to pull, but ran to do the job, and arced the cable.

Remember the video, We didn’t think it was necessary at the time.

Another, we are starting to see is.

Most of the dangers are hidden, in seats, and panels, inflators that are imposable to tell how many stages have ignited, Etc. Remember

If we disconnect the battery these systems become constants, (unchangeable)

We need to develop constants in our approach, (a set of unbreakable rules)

Our ConstantsOur Constants

First we need one person making First we need one person making the initial decisions, the initial decisions, ICIC it is a it is a must.must.

His His firstfirst decision with all the decision with all the other new technologies of today, other new technologies of today, such as Hybrid Cars, should be such as Hybrid Cars, should be one person chocking the wheels, one person chocking the wheels, and another person cutting the and another person cutting the battery cables. ( battery cables. ( NEG.NEG. first ) first )

Why ?Why ?

Hybrid cars look just like other Hybrid cars look just like other cars, except for an emblem on cars, except for an emblem on the back, it could be in sleep the back, it could be in sleep mode, chock the wheels before mode, chock the wheels before the battery man gets in front of the battery man gets in front of the vehicle. the vehicle. (30 sec.)(30 sec.)

Battery man can now disconnect Battery man can now disconnect battery safely. battery safely. (30-45 sec.)(30-45 sec.)

Why is it so important to cut the Why is it so important to cut the cables first ?cables first ?

This is the inside of the control module

These are capacitors, they store electricity

This one has four, some have six, these store electrical charges that can set off the air bags in case the battery is destroyed in the crash. After a period of time they will loose their charge. If disconnected from the battery.

This is called the Bleed Down Time.

Bleed down TimeBleed down Time

Depending on were you are from, Bleed Depending on were you are from, Bleed down time, Drain time, Capacitor down time, Drain time, Capacitor discharge time. It is the time that it discharge time. It is the time that it takes for these to loose their charge, takes for these to loose their charge, after the battery is disconnected. As after the battery is disconnected. As long as there is any charge left in one long as there is any charge left in one of these it can set off an air bag.of these it can set off an air bag.

Every manufactures’ time is Every manufactures’ time is different.different.

How do we know the time How do we know the time ??

Every vehicle has a different bleed Every vehicle has a different bleed down time, some are only 30 down time, some are only 30 seconds, some are 10 minutes. seconds, some are 10 minutes. The The average time is 5 min.average time is 5 min.

The safest way is to have the The safest way is to have the manufactures list. You can buy a manufactures list. You can buy a book that has all of these listed . Our book that has all of these listed . Our thanks to Todd Hoffman (Scenethanks to Todd Hoffman (Scene Of Of The Accident, Inc) you can download The Accident, Inc) you can download it free from his web site.it free from his web site. http://www.sceneoftheaccident.org/http://www.sceneoftheaccident.org/

Print a copy for each of Print a copy for each of your trucksyour trucks

This list can save a lot of time, This list can save a lot of time, trouble, and maybe a crew.trouble, and maybe a crew.

It list all bleed down times, each It list all bleed down times, each air bag that car is equipped with, air bag that car is equipped with, the battery location, Gas strut the battery location, Gas strut locations, and more.locations, and more.

Well worth the time !Well worth the time !

Back to ourBack to our IC IC

His third concern should be stabilize His third concern should be stabilize the vehicle. the vehicle. (average(average time 2-4 min.)time 2-4 min.)

Never enter a vehicle until it is Never enter a vehicle until it is stable, or you can become our stable, or you can become our second victim. second victim.

His fourth concern he made his His fourth concern he made his scene size-up while approaching the scene size-up while approaching the vehicle, now it is time to size-up the vehicle, now it is time to size-up the vehicle itself.vehicle itself.

We use a method called We use a method called ScanningScanning

By scanning you can make a fast By scanning you can make a fast accurate account of how many accurate account of how many air bags you have in the car, how air bags you have in the car, how many are deployed, and how many are deployed, and how many are not. many are not. (30 sec.)(30 sec.)

Scanning PatternScanning Pattern

The main thing we need to be sure of is that we always use the same pattern every time. By changing we will miss some.

There are many patterns that different people use.

What are we looking What are we looking for ?for ?

Passenger Frontal air Passenger Frontal air bagbag

Side of SeatsSide of Seats

Front SeatsFront Seats

Knee Boasters or Air Knee Boasters or Air BagsBags

Rear SeatRear Seat

A PostA Post

Front and Rear DoorsFront and Rear Doors

Roof RailRoof Rail

Roll BarsRoll Bars

Looks like a lot to look Looks like a lot to look for !for !

Let’s say we approach the drivers’ Let’s say we approach the drivers’ door.door.

Look at the door. If this one has an air Look at the door. If this one has an air bag, we know the other side has one. bag, we know the other side has one. Is oneIs one deployed ? deployed ? If so we pretty well If so we pretty well know the other is not, because the side know the other is not, because the side impact sensor must be hit at the right impact sensor must be hit at the right angle.angle.

If there is none,If there is none, Look at the side Look at the side and back of the seat. If there is one and back of the seat. If there is one here, there is one on the other side. here, there is one on the other side. Now we have covered the front side Now we have covered the front side impact air bags. impact air bags. ( 2 sec )( 2 sec )

We see Drivers’ Frontal air bag, and We see Drivers’ Frontal air bag, and Pass Frontal air bag. Pass Frontal air bag. Are they Are they deployed ? ( 1 sec )deployed ? ( 1 sec )

Look at 1 A post. Is it marked ? Look at 1 A post. Is it marked ? If If so weso we already know there is one on already know there is one on the other side. the other side. Is one deployed ? Is one deployed ? If If so we know the otherso we know the other side is not,side is not, because the side crash sensor must because the side crash sensor must be hit from the right angle. be hit from the right angle. ( 1 sec )( 1 sec )

Look at the knee boaster, Look at the knee boaster, This This one you mustone you must look at both sides, look at both sides, because some only havebecause some only have drivers’ drivers’ side. side. ( 2 sec )( 2 sec )

Now we have covered every thing Now we have covered every thing in the dash, windshield area.in the dash, windshield area.

Let’s say there was no markings Let’s say there was no markings on the A post, on the A post, Then Look along Then Look along the roof rail. the roof rail. If there is one there, If there is one there, again we know there is one on the again we know there is one on the other side. If one is deployed the other side. If one is deployed the other should not be. other should not be. (1 sec)(1 sec)

Look at the rear door,Look at the rear door, Is there an air Is there an air bag ? If so there is one on the other bag ? If so there is one on the other side. If one is deployed the other side. If one is deployed the other should not be. should not be. If there is none, If there is none, Look at the back of Look at the back of the seat,the seat, same thing, if one is same thing, if one is deployed the other should not be. deployed the other should not be. ( 2 ( 2 sec )sec )

If it is a convertible, Look for ROPS If it is a convertible, Look for ROPS (pop-up roll bars.(pop-up roll bars. ( 1 sec ) ( 1 sec ) ((Caution ! Caution ! somesome convertibles have removable convertibles have removable hard tops, don’t let it fool you into not hard tops, don’t let it fool you into not looking.)looking.)

We have completed our We have completed our scan.scan.

Now we know what we are facing, we Now we know what we are facing, we know were our danger zones are, we know were our danger zones are, we know which air bags we do not have to know which air bags we do not have to worry about, because all side air bags worry about, because all side air bags can only deploy one time, we have a can only deploy one time, we have a good idea of our mechanism of injury, good idea of our mechanism of injury, and looking back we did it in and looking back we did it in

( 10 seconds )( 10 seconds )

For safety sake let’s four times that (40 sec)For safety sake let’s four times that (40 sec)

Now let’s go back to our Now let’s go back to our ICIC

He has the car stabilized , he has He has the car stabilized , he has the battery disconnected, he has the battery disconnected, he has the bleed time elapsing he knows the bleed time elapsing he knows the dangers we will be facing, he the dangers we will be facing, he has a good idea of the has a good idea of the mechanism of injury. mechanism of injury.

We are showing he is We are showing he is 4 min. 30 4 min. 30 sec.sec. into the scene. into the scene.

Mean while the rescuers Mean while the rescuers have set up their toolshave set up their tools

Lay out the tarp, set up the pump, hook up Lay out the tarp, set up the pump, hook up the hoses. the hoses. (avg. time 4 min)(avg. time 4 min)

Look at the car, and decide a plan of Look at the car, and decide a plan of attack attack (30 sec).(30 sec).

IC informs rescuers of his findingsIC informs rescuers of his findings (30 (30 sec)sec)

Our avg.Our avg. Bleed Down Time Bleed Down Time is is over.over.

WorkingWorking With With the the SystemsSystems

Now as we enter the vehicle, all Now as we enter the vehicle, all systems are systems are ConstantConstant, we can , we can move the victim and not change move the victim and not change any system. We know what we are any system. We know what we are working with. working with.

Now it’s time to learn to Now it’s time to learn to deal with thedeal with the Constants.Constants.

What are the Constants ?What are the Constants ?

The first and most important The first and most important constant is; constant is;

Expect the Expect the UnexpectedUnexpected

14.614.6 VOLTS WITH VOLTS WITH

BATTERY DISCONNECTEDBATTERY DISCONNECTED

14.614.6 VOLTS WITH VOLTS WITH

BATTERY DISCONNECTEDBATTERY DISCONNECTED

Capacitors for after market accessories

Electronics with their own Electronics with their own batteries and capacitors feeding batteries and capacitors feeding

back.back. Cell Phone

Todd Hoffman uses his to deploy air bags in class

As vol. how many have these ?

They have capacitors in them

Cutting WiresCutting Wires

With loose or mashed wires from the wreck or our work, there is potential for shorting.

Also it takes only .5 volts to set off an air bag.The static electricity from an EMT sliding across the seat can arc through one of these wires setting it off.

How can we workHow can we work With With these ?these ?

20”

10”

Stay out of inflation Stay out of inflation zoneszones

5”

5” thick but 12-18” from

roof to door

Seat or Door mountedTorso or Head/Torso

This doesn’t seem to leave us This doesn’t seem to leave us much room to work.much room to work.

If side impact or curtain air bags are deployed, they are no longer a danger, unlike Frontal air bags they can not refill.

Trauma sheers will easily cut them out of the way.

We can see what happens if we We can see what happens if we do not work with these do not work with these

systems.systems.

Thanks to Thanks to Scene Of The Scene Of The Accident, Inc.Accident, Inc.

Frontal Air BagsFrontal Air Bags

Seat Air BagSeat Air Bag

Curtain Air BagCurtain Air Bag

Notice this is a life size dummy. His neck is 8” long Figure the leverage force it took to lift his feet off the floor like that

Never lean through a Never lean through a window if it may put you in window if it may put you in

an inflation zonean inflation zoneRemember therecould have also been a curtain air bag also.Or there could have been a victims’ head you clash with