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Carl J. Haddon |
For those of you who may not know, I presently live and serve in the Northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho, where winter temperatures are known to regularly dip into the -20 to -30°F range. We traditionally battle the winter weather with things like CAFS units, pumps, hoses, and the expected gamut of equipment and apparatus that we use on a regular basis.
To keep this piece from being about me, I put the question about the effects of severe winter weather on hydraulic rescue tools out to departments from various parts of North America where the winter weather is an issue. The responses I received were generally similar. One common response was the effect of the cold on hydraulic fluid viscosity (thickening), causing the tools to run slower. The longer the hydraulic hose length, the greater the frequency of reports of this issue. Additionally, as with other gasoline-powered tools, respondents reported hard starting power units in extreme cold as an issue.
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| 1 Two common cold-weather issues affecting hydraulic rescue tools are transporting the tools from the apparatus to the vehicle, which is often off the roadway, and oil viscosity issues (thickening), which cause the tools to operate more slowly. Consider having a way to mount tools to a backboard or Stokes so you can lower them with a rope to a vehicle’s location. For viscosity issues, there isn’t a lot departments can do short of cycling the tools at full throttle from fully closed to fully open positions a number of times to help warm the fluid in the system. (Photo by author.) |
Oil and Fuel Issues
Although there typically isn’t much that can be done about the cold-related viscosity changes to the hydraulic fluid-short of cycling the tools at full throttle from fully closed to fully open a number of times to help warm the fluid in the system-there are a couple of things that departments can do to help gasoline power unit performance, most notably using specialized fuels and fuel additives. Be sure to check with rescue tool manufacturers before adding fuel additives or specialized fuels.
Small engine fuel (SEF) has been around for a while but is gaining in popularity and use in the fire service. SEF is typically a high-grade gasoline that is free of ethanol, which is known to cause issues with small gas engines and is proven to degrade faster than ethanol-free fuels. Additionally, SEF is typically a higher octane (100 to 104) than that which you can get at your local gas station.
Tool Transport
The most common comment I received about cold-weather effects on rescue tools is something that all of us who do extrication work in snowy and icy conditions deal with on a regular basis: moving heavier rescue tool components from the rig to the scene and keeping rescue tool power units and tools from skating away on the ice once on scene and running-which can be amusing, frustrating, and downright dangerous all at the same time. For those departments in areas of the country that experience ice storms or freezing rain where everything outside becomes covered in a layer of ice, these extrication-related issues are exacerbated and require extra time and patience. Some departments have the luxury of sand and cinder crews on hand to add texture to the work surface at a scene. Some of us don’t have that luxury, and we certainly don’t have room on the rig for enough sand or kitty litter needed for a multivehicle accident scene. If you do have Department of Transportation crews with sand or cinder trucks available in your area, don’t wait to get on scene before calling them for help. As with equipment such as tow trucks, consider having these resources placed on auto dispatch with you.
Let’s face it-many times when we’re called to accidents on icy roads, somebody usually ends up off the roadway, in a ditch, in the median, or somewhere other than the lanes of traffic. I would be remiss if I didn’t remind everyone of the need for extra added vigilance for scene safety and situational awareness while working on icy roadways-especially at night. Follow department SOPs regarding using apparatus as blockers. We can always replace rigs; we can’t replace you.
What happens when the accident is an “over the side,” on a snowy or icy day? Are your rescue tools and power units constructed in a way that they can easily be secured to a spine board or stokes basket, for example, and lowered by rope to the extrication site? Is this scenario something that you train on? If not, shouldn’t you?
Effects on Rescuers
What about the effects of extreme winter weather on us, the human rescue “tools”? Our bunker or turnout gear is what it is, and we can usually help fend off cold with base layers of clothing that can range from traditional cotton thermal underwear to (recommended) high-performance wicking base layers, all of which are usually worn under station wear or job shirts. The biggest concern I have for crews working in this environment is their footwear.
Slip and fall injuries are common occurrences in snowy and icy conditions. It is not uncommon to still see rounded, soft-rubber-bottom fire boots worn on icy scenes. Please don’t think I’m knocking tried and true traditional soft-rubber fire boots. What I am suggesting is that perhaps it’s time to take a look at some of the newer boots on the market to see if they might fit the bill better for your department and offer more protection for your personnel. Many of the models available have aggressive Vibram rubber soles that are designed to be self-cleaning and offer great traction on everything short of hockey rink ice. Additionally, many of the newer models of bunker footwear offer better fit and finish that result in less fatigue for the wearer and help limit injuries and downtime from foot-, leg-, and back-related issues.
As you can see, what started out to be an article that explored ways to combat the effects of harsh winter weather on hydraulic rescue tools became a much broader subject that extended to mechanical and human tools alike. Special thanks to my fellow firefighters from around the country and Canada who offered input for this piece. Your experiences are invaluable.
CARL J. HADDON is a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment editorial advisory board and the director of Five Star Fire Training LLC, which is sponsored, in part, by Volvo North America. He served as assistant chief and fire commissioner for the North Fork (ID) Fire Department and is a career veteran of more than 25 years in the fire and EMS services in southern California. He is a certified Level 2 fire instructor and an ISFSI member and teaches Five Star Auto Extrication and NFPA 610 classes across the country.
