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Big Tree VFC - School Bus Extraction - pg. 4 |
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Widening the back end for tunneling
When dealing with a bus load of patients, it may be necessary to remove seats in order to extricate patients. This will prove to be a long and tedious process. Due to the size and amount of debris (seats) that will need to be removed from the bus, it is best to employ a tunneling technique. The tunneling technique requires rescuers to open up the back end of the bus and remove seats working from the rear of the bus forward. Again, common extrication tools can be used to widen the opening at the rear end of the bus. The tool of choice for this procedure is the Sawzall. It can quickly cut through the multiple layers of sheet metal and insulation that make up the outer skin of the bus. It may be helpful to remove any obstructions to the cutting path (such as lights and rub rails) prior to initiating cutting. Although rub rails can be removed with relative ease, we have found that using a sufficiently long enough Sawzall blade will allow the extrication team to cut through the rub rail and bus skin simultaneously. This may negate the need to remove the rub rail prior to cutting, especially when only a few inches of rub rail need to be cut. It is advisable to have multiple spare Sawzall blades available as they have the potential of bending and breaking during this evolution. |
 |  | | | | | | | | Tail lights and marker lights are removed with a pry bar in order to create an unobstructed cutting path for the Sawzall. |
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| | | | | | | Striking a Haligan bar with an axe allows the rub rails to be pried away from the bus skin. |
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| | | | | | | Once rub rails and lights have been removed, an unobstructed cutting path exists. |
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|  | | | | | | | | Hydraulic cutters can be used to cut the posts between the rear windows and the rear emergency exit door opening. |
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| | | | | | | Hydraulic cutters can be used to make a relief cut in the lower outer corner of the rear window. |
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| | | | | | | Use the Sawzall to create a floor-level horizontal cut. |
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|  | | | | | | | | Once the relief cuts and lower floor cut have been made, the rear of the bus can be flapped open. |
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| | | | | | | To completely remove the the flapped panel, an additional vertical cut can be made from the outer lower corner to the floor. |
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| | | | | | | If the rub rail was not removed before initiating cutting, the Sawzall can cut right through the rub rail. Simply follow the contour of the rub rail while maintaining light but firm pressure |
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|  | | | | | | | | This picture illustrates one side of the bus flapped open with the other side completely cut off. |
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Hamburg, NY
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