Rescue platform
The rescue platform is a working platform (made of aluminum or plastic) which is adjustable in height and usually has a load capacity of up to 400 kg. Thanks to the separately extendable feet, it can also be used safely on uneven terrain. It is primarily intended to enable the emergency services ( fire brigade , ambulance service , etc.) to have safe access to elevated locations for technical assistance.
The main areas of application of the rescue platform are rescuing a trapped truck driver from his elevated cabin, using heavy hydraulic rescue equipment on a car lying on its side or accessing the windows of a railroad car. With the now extensive range of accessories, these can be extended to mobile scaffolding or adapted to the special local conditions.
Different designs
Rescue platforms come in a wide variety of designs, but all have the same height-adjustable work platform, which is additionally provided with a safety bar (which can be folded away in some versions) as security for the emergency services standing on it, which protects against falling backwards. So that the platforms can be easily transported and loaded onto the vehicles, they are made of either plastic or aluminum and can be folded together compactly. A special variant consists only of the work platform and is only assembled together with 4 ladder parts (standard loading on the fire service vehicles) to form the finished platform.
Setting up the platform
The correct setup at the place of use is extremely important for the effective course of the operation so as not to lose valuable time by constantly changing the platform. In addition to the correct choice of location, the height adjustment of the work platform is also important. It should always be ensured that the rescue platform does not hinder the work by z. B. prevents the removal of body parts, or does not leave enough space to attach the cutter and spreader.
For this reason, the platform should always be placed just below the cab sill when used on the truck in order to achieve a comfortable working height and to be able to open the door without any problems, as well as to make relief cuts in the sill. In the case of a car on the side, on the other hand, the underbody side between the supports is ideal, but the height should not be too high so that the heavy equipment does not have to be bent over to work.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Octopus rescue platform , product picture.
