AIRBAG rule
As a memory aid , the AIRBAG rule summarizes the most important rules of conduct for fire brigades in patient-friendly rescue after traffic accidents that are related to airbag systems that have not been triggered . It was developed in 2001 by Jörg Heck and Hubert Springer in response to the significant increase in the number of airbag variants installed in new vehicles.
background
Vehicles today are equipped with various airbags, sometimes ten or more airbags of different types are installed. The critical components also include seat belt tensioners and automatic roll bars in convertibles. Safety systems that have been triggered in an accident are rather uncritical for fire service operations. Airbags that have not been triggered, however, can pose a risk to the emergency services, as they could be unintentionally triggered during rescue work with heavy rescue equipment such as the hydraulic rescue kit. The AIRBAG rule helps to recognize these dangers and to avoid them.
The principles of the AIRBAG rule are:
- A opening gap hold
- I explore nnenraum
- R ettungskräfte warn
- B atterymanagement
- A BMake the inner lining
- G efahren on the components of the safety devices
In the following, the individual points will be discussed in more detail.
A - keep your distance
The effective area of non-deployed airbags is the main danger area, so care must be taken to keep a sufficient distance from these devices. As a rule of thumb, the 30-60-90 rule has proven itself in practice. The distance to be observed is accordingly
- 30 cm for side, head and knee airbags,
- 60 cm for the driver airbag and
- 90 cm for the front passenger airbag.
The distance applies to both the staff and the equipment used, e.g. B. the hydraulic rescue kit. It is also important that there are no objects on the safety components or between the airbag and the accident victim, as these could otherwise become dangerous projectiles in the event of subsequent triggering. The same applies to automatic roll bars, here too the trigger area must be kept clear of personnel, devices and other objects.
The dangers that could arise from automatic seat belt tensioners can be eliminated relatively safely by cutting the seat belts early .
I - explore the interior
By carefully exploring the interior, the group leader / operations leader or squad leader must find out which components are present in the vehicle. Airbags can be recognized by the corresponding markings on the dashboard or vehicle pillars. Triggered airbags can also indicate the presence and location of additional safety components. Depending on the results of this investigation, the further deployment tactics are then determined.
R - warn rescue workers
In the event of traffic accidents, in addition to the fire brigades, the rescue service , medical staff , the police , the towing service and, if necessary, other auxiliary workers are involved in the rescue. The fire brigade, especially the group leader / operations leader, is required to warn the other forces of the dangers of untriggered safety components and, if necessary, to ensure that these people behave correctly. It is important that there are only as many people in the vehicle as absolutely necessary, that full protective equipment is worn and that no cell phones and walkie-talkies are used in the immediate vicinity, as these could also trigger airbags.
B - battery management
Modern vehicles today have a large number of electronically controlled systems (electronic window lifters, seat adjustment, etc.). For this reason, it is important to use all of these devices for the benefit of the rescuer before the vehicle battery is disconnected. The hazard warning lights are switched on to indicate that the vehicle still has a power supply. Only after the electrical systems have been used will an attempt be made to disconnect all vehicle batteries. This basically avoids the risk of airbags, seat belt tensioners and roll bars being triggered in an uncontrolled manner.However, the components may have a certain deactivation time in which they remain functional even without electricity, or, in older vehicle models, are triggered mechanically. The problem here is that vehicles can be equipped with several batteries and that the batteries can be located in a wide variety of locations in the vehicle. The batteries are also not always accessible, for example if a vehicle is severely deformed. If all the batteries have been disconnected, the hazard warning lights go out, which, unlike other consumers, can be fed from any battery installed in the vehicle. It is essential to ensure that the vehicle key is not removed in order to prevent possible injuries due to memory functions.
A - Removing the interior trim
The purpose of this measure is to be able to clearly recognize the installation locations of the airbag and belt tensioner components. The critical parts are z. B. in the A-, B- and C-pillars. In gas cartridges and hybrid gas generators of head or side airbags, z. B. are not cut into it, otherwise the airbag may be triggered, gas may escape or the component may even pop .
G - Danger to the components
In the case of airbags, the possibility of unintentional deployment must be taken into account. Airbags that have been deployed also harbor a certain potential for danger, for example a second ignition stage can be present, and the area around the gas generator is also hot after deployment. On the other hand, there is no danger from the airbag bag, it is neither hot nor harmful to health (combustion residues after unfolding) and can, if necessary, simply be cut off. Intersection points on the vehicle must be selected so that, if possible, there is no need to cut into airbag components. The same applies to the parts of seat belt tensioners and roll bars.
Shortened version
In new vehicles, a wide variety of installation locations are used for the batteries (sometimes even several batteries), which after an accident can no longer necessarily be disconnected because the vehicle is lying on the roof, for example. Removing the interior trim is also very time-consuming in severely deformed vehicles. For these reasons, the IBA points can be dispensed with, depending on the situation, but this means that the ARG points must be observed more carefully.
literature
- J. Südmersen (Ed.), "Technical assistance with car accidents", textbook series "Einsatzpraxis", ecomed SICHERHEIT, 2nd edition 2008, pages 284ff
- BRANDSchutz - Deutsche Feuerwehr-Zeitung, "The fire brigade textbook / Basics - Technology - Use", W. Kohlhammer, 1st edition 2012, page 768, ISSN 0006-9094
- Fire Brigade Magazine , special issue: "Technical assistance after car accidents", Ebner Verlag, 1st edition 2010, page 25
- Feuerwehr-Magazin, special issue: “Technical assistance after truck accidents”, Ebner Verlag, 1st edition 2012, page 61f
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jörg Heck and Hubert Springer, ub-feuerwehr (independent fire protection magazine), issue 6/2001
- ↑ AIRBAG rule - rule of thumb for more safety www.unfallrettung.com