Vehicle Extrication
This looks like the scene of a terrible accident, but fortunately it is only practice. Ed Andrews, a Fire Captain from the City of Redding Fire Department taught this two-day vehicle extrication class through College of the Siskiyous, May 4 and 5.Firefighters and EMTs from Seiad Valley and Happy Camp learned the newest techniques for quickly securing and tearing apart cars at accident scenes. The class, which started at the Happy Camp Fire Department, soon moved to an area near the Lyons Club where Ron Boren had provided vehicles to practice on.
Using chains, jacks, cribbing and come-alongs, they learned to stabilize vehicles effectively in a variety of ways. Extrication of victims from vehicles at accident scenes requires a working knowledge of how vehicles are constructed and how they will react when cut, pounded on and torn apart.
A highlight of the weekend was using the Jaws of Life. Instructor Andrews had good suggestions during the entire weekend. As an experienced firefighter whose job now includes extensive teaching duties throughout California, he was able to demonstrate techniques and skills developed in cities with more demand for emergency services.
Aaron Martin, 12, watched the vehicle extrication class from the hood of a nearby car.