Extricating accident victims is more dangerous in this day and age?

[Alnitak7]

I hear rumors about modern day cars which now ALL have power locks and windows. From what I hear about it, it's dangerous and complicated to extricate people out of these cars.

The paramedics have to know exactly how to go about it. From what I understand, it was more simple in the old days. Is this the real truth or my own misconception?

[stygianabyss]

Did anybody read that study about self extrication? This study was pretty interesting, basically there was less cervical movement when people extricated themselves out of the vehicle. Just some food for thought, who knows what best evidence practice this will lead to but very interesting stuff.

Cervical Spine Motion During Extrication: A Pilot Study

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

The battery banks in the hybrids are pretty well marked and the high voltage lines are identified usually with orange coloring. They are also run low in the car where they are less likely to be in the way. Airbags continue to be a bummer, I had a ride across the back seat of a Taurus a few years ago when the side curtain airbag decided it wanted to randomly deploy. From an extrication strand point the methods are constantly changing, when I just started out the jaws could peal a car like an orange. Now with the cobalt rods all over the place its often easier to use a ram to pop the welds rather then cut the posts to roof the car. I try and take a extrication class every few years just to know what's going on, even though I don't fit anymore n