CFA rescue crews inspected the latest in car safety technology at the Holden Proving Ground at Lang Lang last weekend (15-16 October).
About 80 rescue operators inspected several of Holden’s pre-release car models to find out how the latest features could be worked around if a person needed to be rescued from a vehicle.
Crews worked through three scenarios, each day – a car with rear impact damage in an upright position; a car on its side; and a car on its roof.
CFA Rescue Association President Kevin Chisholm watched on as members from CFA’s rescue brigades worked alongside members from MFB, SES and Echuca & Moama Search & Rescue Squad to dismantle the cars to gain access to the trapped patient.
“This sort of training is crucial to ensure our members know how to perform a rescue on all sorts of cars – old, new and in between as many of our patients can be time critical,” Mr Chisholm said.
“With car technology advancing rapidly, we quite often find we have to reassess how we use certain equipment or perform particular extrication methods to ensure safety to the rescue operator and the patient.
“This time around for example, we found was there was less hydraulic cutting involved when crews were lifting up the dashboard to simulate removing a patient from the car.
“These sorts of findings are invaluable for both car manufacturers and emergency service personnel because both sides gain confidence that it’s possible to get people out of a new car involved in an accident.”
Crews also got the chance to carry out some training with the cars, after the inspection and evaluation sessions.
“We welcome any chance to practice rescue operations with modern cars for similar reasons to why it’s important to inspect new cars – so we keep up to date with the latest technology, and the support from Holden over the years is invaluable and greatly appreciated by all the rescue operators involved” Mr Chisholm said.
“I’d like to thank Loch and Nar Nar Goon Fire brigades in making their vehicles available and Narre Warren Fire Brigade Catering Unit to make this event a great success.”
Author: CFA Media