Over the years we have attended and instructed at many auto extrication events around the country. When using the reciprocating saw, we have noticed varying skill levels being demonstrated by students and instructors alike. Most of the time, the saw is used at full speed, while the operator tries to hold on, as the tool throws them back and forth at 3000 strokes per minute (SPM), until there is smoke and sparks and the blade goes dull since the teeth melted off.

As the price of fuel increases, many of us are searching for a cleaner and more efficient mode of transportation. We would all like to stay away from the gas station as long as possible. For many years now, new car options have been emerging including hybrid, ultra efficient gasoline or diesel, alternative fuel, and electric vehicles. In this article, we are going to explore the electric vehicle charging station, and some of the potential risks involved with this power source for vehicles.

A tanker carrying liquefied natural gas overturned and exploded on a major highway in central China’s Hunan province, killing five people, including three fire-fighters, state media reported. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the tanker leaked around 20 tons of liquefied natural gas. Seven vehicles including two fire trucks were destroyed in the blast, it added. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

In our New Vehicle Technology for First Responder courses over the years, we have been asked numerous times about the dangers of cell phones keeping a vehicle electrical system alive after the 12 volt battery has been disconnected. The common myth we encounter is that the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) computer will remain energized by the cell phone battery that is connected to the vehicle through the power outlet, and may cause unwanted deployment of airbags during extrication procedures.

In response to questions that have arisen from the recent publicity regarding the Chevrolet Volt battery fire at the NHTSA, we at MGS Tech have been asked to shed some light on things that are being reported, and how accurate they may or may not be.

In the not so distant past, this scenario would not have been the case. Advancements in Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) and body structure have greatly increased your chances of survival during a collision. Just how is this accomplished? Multiple airbags, pre-tensioner seat belts, active head rests and vehicle stability control are just a few of the specific ways modern vehicles are safer than models produced just a few years ago. In this first of three articles, we will be taking a look at the airbag portion of the SRS system, and how it operates.