FIREFIGHTERS. How do you determine when to cut a cars battery cable?
daryl schleppe
How do you determine yes or no, and why is it neccessary to cut them?
Mark Grow
answer until about 6mo ago.
We were dispatched to a low velocity TC inwhich moderate
front-end damage had occured. My Engineer inquired as to
cutting the battrey cable [access to battery poor].I
elected to leave it connected...bad mistake.
After the victims had been extricated the entire main
harness ignited. What was probably $2000.00 in damage was
now doubled....
My personal prefrence is to de-energize all "non-operable"
vehicles..
Capt M Grow
Lakeside Fire Protection District
San Diego County CA
Gord Ferguson
incident, however it's been my experience to cut the negative cable first
(then the positive - to avoid sparking) OR disconnect the battery with
appropriate tools when there is ANY chance that electrical wires have been
damaged, pinched or shorted in the accident. A wire that has been damaged
can short-out or spark in the worst of times. Especially just after you
have put away or rolled up attack or safety hoselines. I've had instances
which in the process of the wrecker picking up the vehicle, something on
the vehicle shorts out, causing some embarassing moments. The benefit of
disconnecting as opposed to cutting, is in the event that power windows,
seats or sun roofs must be opened or closed to affect rescue or vehicle
security after the incident.
Besides if you have extra crew members standing around, the task can fool
the public into thinking you know what you're doing <grin>.
Gord Ferguson,
Captain,
Pickering Fire Dept.
Tony Sutorius
>If the car is not drivable, are the cables automatically cut.
>How do you determine yes or no, and why is it neccessary to cut them?
We cut cables in circumstances when fire seems a risk, ie. in the event of
fuel spillage or gas leak. It is important to note that when cutting battery
cables to prevent sparking the EARTH (in New Zealand usually negative) lead
must be cut first.
Cheers.
Tony
=======================================Have=You=Killed=A=Sig=Today?==
Tony Sutorius Aspiring Groover to...@central.co.nz
9 Gordon Road Phone 64 4 233 9090
Plimmerton, New Zealand Mobile (NZ) 025 479 683
=====================================================================
"And above all, eschew obfuscation!"
kevin a. johnson
2. If the battery or cables have been compromised by the fire.
3. Most importantly, if extrication is to be performed it is imperative to
de-activate the capacitor responsible for activation the air-bag
system.
4. If it is in your Standard Operating Procedures or you think you will get
your butt chewed for not cutting them (we cut negative
cable only).
My two cents worth.
Kevin Johnson
Thomas C Maszerowski
In my department we disconnect (or cut) the battery cable at every MVA as
a matter of policy. You'd be surprised at the number of times we've found
ignitions still on (and headlights, horns, alarms, etc.).
--
Tom
tcm...@cs.rit.edu
Geoff Smith
>
>
> 3. Most importantly, if extrication is to be performed it is imperative to
> de-activate the capacitor responsible for activation the air-bag
> system.
As I am lead to understand that disconnecting the battery will not
deactivatec the air bag as some capacitors can retain their charge for
up to One hour.
Also we do not disconnect the battery until we are sure that we do
not require to move eletric seats, windows or anything else which may
assist in extrication.
Were possible we will disconnected the battery with the
appropriate
tools compared to cutting as apart from being safer it looks more
professional.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Geoff Smith EMail Ge...@gjsmith.demon.co.uk |
| Firefighter A.E.M.T.
Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Director of Capital Ambulance & Paramedic Service |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shawn C. Robak
> In my department we disconnect (or cut) the battery cable at every MVA as
> a matter of policy. You'd be surprised at the number of times we've found
> ignitions still on (and headlights, horns, alarms, etc.).
>
> --
> Tom
> tcm...@cs.rit.edu
Ditto that here...
Even if it is only a scrape, first thing we do is kill any juice in the vehicles.
---
|\ _,,,--,,_ ,) Shawn C. Robak - NCS Systems Inc.
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|,4- ) )-,_ ) /\ roba...@acm.msu.edu
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What do you mean, sro...@chop.isca.uiowa.edu
"Formatted the cat"?!?!? kawa...@nebula.org kawa...@armory.com
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(517)228-2921 (page) (517)351-2024 (home)
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mallard
> If the car is not drivable, are the cables automatically cut.
> How do you determine yes or no, and why is it neccessary to cut them?
>
>>>>
Daryl,
Why cut them! Use battery pliers and disconnect when in doubt. Keeps damage to a minimum.
Bill
Martin Cohn
>
> If the car is not drivable, are the cables automatically cut.
> How do you determine yes or no, and why is it neccessary to cut them?
I think there has been plenty of reasons given as to the "why", so I'll
through in my 2 cents into the how...
We try to always dicsonnect BOTH the neg. and pos. is vehicles with front end
damage or hazmat. Note disconnect vs. cut. It can be handy to be able to
reconnect the battery to operate elec. windows /seats etc. Also why do more
damage than is ness. for the situation. We will cut if there are access
problems or time critical situations.
Later m
--
Martin Cohn
Oak Hill Fire Dept.
Austin, Texas USA
Mar...@eden.com
dhowland
potential for fire (as determined by the company officer). Otherwise we
leave the cables intact.
Jim Howland FF/EMT-D
Dighton Fire Dept.
Dighton, MA