Road and workshop
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Handyman
Vehicle recovery: tricks, trucks and tactics (20)
• We have now discussed a number of recovery situations, but not the aftermath of a grim head-on crash between two heavy vehicles. Today, happily, such collisions between goods vehicles are decreasing in frequency, thanks to dual carriageways, improved signals and roadsigns, and the removal of hundreds of blind spots and other hazards.
Nevertheless as this sort of accident will cross the path of the recovery operator it is necessary to be prepared. While the ambulance and fire men are, as professionals, well versed in dealing with trapped and injured persons, the skilled transport recovery operator can also play a vital part, if early on the scene. particularly with his fitter's knowledge of vehicle construction. He may be asked: "What will detach or move quickly and easily-,—and where to set about ope rations.
Make no mistake, this is the gory part of road transport. This is, or can be. part of your job and there is no place for easily upset stomachs. Therefore, yet another quality is called for—the ability to work alongside badly injured people calmly and efficiently, in order to release them for expert medical attention.
While it is easy to talk in this vein, it is another matter altogether when one has to face up to the actual task. My own experience is not something I like to dwell upon. Without a doubt. the wisest approach to this unpleasant aspect is for the operator to learn first aid and tackle the rninor garage injuries. I can vouch for the fact that this is a great help in overcoming personal upset, when facing the bigger and really serious situation. It pays to encourage and enable a regular recovery operator to take up first aid—there are courses and classes available today, and it is money well spent to allow your man day or part-day release to attend without loss of pay.
This is not all that easy to arrange, as there are never any keen volunteers for first aid duty. But once the first hurdle is overcome, your man increases in stature with his new knowledge, and any earlier trace of squeamishness is pushed aside, as he begins to deal with light injuries.
Important asset
Therefore, first aid knowledge is an important asset in two ways: first a valuable service is rendered in your garage, and secondly your recovery man becomes far less likely to feel ill at a moment when his best fitter's skill is needed. .While the recovery cum first aid man is bound to be limited to minor injury attention, he will be drilled in how to stop a flow of blood from arms, legs, etc. and whether or not to move a person with serious injury. In other words, his first aid training plus his skill and knowledge of vehicle construction can combine most effectively. '
It follows that your recovery man should have by him at all time a suitable first aid kit, and for this I have in mind either the Romac P.S.V. Mark 3 outfit, a comprehensive kit to MoT specification at about three guineas, or slightly less ambitious, but no less effective, the Bradex kit of 22 items, available from Brown Bros, at about one guinea. In fact, Brown Bros can supply both kits, usually off the shelf.