Buffalo Grove police and fire were dispatched for a woman pinned under a car this morning (7/17/20) in the Chase Plaza shopping center at Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights roads. The woman’s leg was caught underneath her car which apparently was in neutral instead of park when she exited the vehicle. Patrons of the nearby stores were able to shift the car into park before police officers and firefighters arrived. The car was raised with airbags to facilitate the victim’s release. She was then transported to an area hospital.
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
#1 by Bill Post on July 21, 2020 - 2:16 PM
As you can see from the interesting photos, Buffalo Grove carries quite a bit of extrication equipment on their truck which includes airbags, and cribbing in addition to hydraulic and spreaders and cutters. The reason why I mention this is that quite a fire departments both large and small carry a full extrication package on their truck companies so they don’t have to rely on heavy rescue squads to do complicated extrications.
While all of the Chicago’s truck companies have been equipped with Hurst tools since 2003, to this day only the squads have with airbags. The problem is that as there are only four squads in Chicago if you include Squad 7 at O’Hare, and it can be a long wait if airbags or certain other extrication tools are needed. The wait can be even longer if the squad is tied up at a fire.
I am suggesting that Chicago designate about 15 to 20 truck companies which would carry airbags and some other tools that currently are only on the squads. Those trucks would be located around the periphery of the city which are the furthest distances from most of the squads. That way companies wouldn’t always have to rely on and wait for a squad to show up on the scene of complicated extrications.
The idea makes perfect sense as fire departments such as New York City, Los Angeles City, Houston, Phoenix, and Milwaukee either have designated extrication truck companies or their entire fleet of trucks are equipped with airbags, cribbing and more then just spreaders for extrications.
#2 by Andy on July 19, 2020 - 10:20 AM
That is a caribeaner attached to the airbag and webbing. Allows us to easily carry the bags.
#3 by MABAS 21 on July 18, 2020 - 6:04 PM
Thanks Mike. Yes I’m very familiar with the cribbing, just never seen this setup on airbags. I’ll have to “borrow” this idea like the rest of the fire service does and bring it to my department.
#4 by Mike on July 18, 2020 - 11:36 AM
That’s correct. That’s for carrying and then removing it so you don’t have to stick you hand anywhere near the vehicle. Cribbing is the same with webbing on the end
#5 by MABAS 21 on July 18, 2020 - 8:55 AM
On the last pic, is that a caribeaner with webbing attached onto the air bag? Anyone from BG have details?