Overcoming Extrication Challenges with Boron and UHSS

BoronExtrication.com

Common Sense

“Everybody gets so much common information all day long that they lose their common sense.”• Gertrude Stein

Cutting Boron

• Reciprocating sawso Teeth burned off the blades

• Air Chiselo Ineffective

• Puncturingo An axe will bounce off anything thicker than 1.0mm

• Electric Saw• K12/ Partner Saw

o Will cut, but too many sparks

Tool Position

• Standard cutters maybe unsuccessful perpendicular to the pillar.

• Standard cutters are more successful parallel to the pillar or in line with the vehicle.

• If your tool stops, re-position tool on the pillar and re-cut.

• Try to completely surround the part you are cutting with the most metal closet to the notch.

Sounds While Cutting Boron

• Listen for a “Pop”• Almost sounds like breaking glass• Boron is fractured during a cut

Boron and UHSS Dangers

• Parts can shoot off the vehicle.

When your tool is outgunned!

Know Where to Cut

• Never stop trying to cut. Tailored Blanks are very common with Boron and UHSS.

• Some Pillars even have Mild Steel mixed in with the Boron and UHSS.

Workaround Techniques

• Pie Cut• Lift B-Pillar Up• Ram Roof Off• Cross Ram or Half Ram• Roof Peel• Total Sunroof• Trunk Tunneling

Pie Cut

• Inverted V-pattern cuts into the roof rail, bypassing the B-Pillar and basically cutting around it.

Lift B-Pillar Up

Lift B-Pillar Up

Ram Roof Off

Ram Roof Off

• Use Ram to spread against roofline until spot welds tear apart.

• Remember, the weld is the weakest link.

Cross Ram or Half Ram

Roof Peel

• Rescuers must pay attention to interior parts like the headliner to keep them from falling on the patient.

Total Sunroof

• Cut along the “fore/aft” axis of the vehicle.

• If you encounter Boron on the roof the reciprocating saws will cut through it if it is a single layer less than 1.0mm thick.

Trunk Tunneling

• Stabilize the car• Remove rear glass• Open and remove trunk• Remove rear bulkhead• Get rescuer in and manipulate or remove seatback• Slide longboard in and use strap around chest to pull pt

out while inside rescuer maintains c-spine. • Inside rescuer can also use spreader to lift dash by

pushing off center hump if needed. • Also tried pulling seatback down using chain and come-

along from rear bumper and it worked pretty well.

Boron Bends

• Standard Ram can bend Boron and UHSS

References

• RTC Extrication Techniqueso A UK based site for the sharing and

development of extrication techniques.• Ron Moore – University of Extrication at

Firehouse.com• Randy Schmitz - Calgary firefighter and

instructor. He is the Alberta chairman for Transport Emergency Rescue Committee in Canada,