Life-saving and rescue of people from crashed vehicles equipped with airbags
Cars and trucks are increasingly being fitted with airbag systems for the protection of the vehicle occupants. Both frontal airbag systems (cars and trucks) and supplementary side impact airbag systems (cars) are now used. The frontal airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel, whilst the front passenger's airbag is housed in the instrument panel in front of the front passenger seat. Side airbag systems are integrated in the seats or in the doors. In addition, certain side airbag systems are installed in the rail above the side doors.
Frontal airbag systems are triggered in the event of a severe frontal impact if the direction of impact is in the vehicle's longitudinal axis and in an angle range of about 30 degrees to either side. Side airbag systems are triggered in the event of predominantly lateral crash impact. The airbag is generally triggered by an electrical signal generated by a transducer that responds to the deceleration force of the impact. In order to ensure that the airbag functions correctly even after a failure of the power supply (e.g. due to destruction of the battery), most vehicle types have an electrical storage device that provides electrical energy for a certain time (a maximum of 3 minutes in by far the majority of vehicles).
The inflation time of an airbag is about 50 milliseconds. The gas then escapes through the specially provided holes. The airbag is then depressurised and can be moved by hand.
Whether a vehicle is fitted with airbags, and if so for which seats, can be determined from the markings on the vehicle. At present the following systems are used:
- In the area of the airbag modules (e.g. steering wheel, instrument panel in front of the front passenger seat, side of seat back, on A-pillar cladding or door cladding), the following markings are displayed:
- SRS or
- AIRBAG or
- SRS-AIRBAG - On the door post on the front passenger's side, if a front passenger airbag is fitted, an additional sticker with text and/or an airbag symbol is displayed.
If airbags have been triggered in an accident, no particular precautionary measures are required for the triggered airbags. If there are reasons to believe that airbag systems have not functioned and if rescue operations are required in order to free the vehicle occupants (e.g. violent opening of a jammed door), with the aid of rescue services (e.g. using hydraulic rescue devices), the following instructions must be observed:
- Switch off the ignition and, if possible, disconnect or sever both battery cables (earth/negative cable first).
- Theoretically, there is a danger, if the vehicle electricity supply is not cut off, that an airbag can be activated by a short-circuit caused by severing electrical cables.
- If possible, avoid damaging undetonated airbag modules.
- Do not use cut-off machines and flame cutters, at least in the vicinity of airbag modules.
- Rule 1: Immediately clear an access to the injured occupants of the vehicle, so that technical rescue service operations can be started as rapidly as possible. Airbags do not present any special situation that endangers the emergency personnel
- Rule 2: In the care and rescue of the occupants of a crashed vehicle, keep the area immediately in front of inactivated airbags clear when using tools and devices.
When an airbag is triggered, combustion gases are released by the pyrotechnic propellent gas, together with smoke and dust particles. The combustion gases are not toxic. Smoke and dust can cause irritation to the eyes, respiratory tract or skin.
Note: This "Information Sheet" can only give general indications for rescue operations. The assessment of the actual situation always requires exact reconnaissance (observation) by the rescue services on the spot.
