As rescuers and EMS; we are going to see some airbag deployment injuries. Most of these injuries are going to be minor chest and facial wounds, much like a carpet burn. Though they are minor wounds, EMS personnel, with out fail should document and report these wounds.

Warning! Any direct contact with a deploying airbag can produce hidden brain and spinal damage, which the patient may not realize at the time.

This report should include the severity of the crash, whither minor or major, the angle of impact, whither the victim was wearing a seat belt or not, the airbag that was contacted and the number and location of any other airbags that were deployed.

With the development of side impact airbags, EMS personnel must remember the proper terminology for these airbags.

For many years we reported the steering wheel airbag as being the driver’s side airbag. Today this would lead doctors to look at a totally different mechanizium of injury. The steering wheel airbag should be recorded as the driver’s frontal airbag and the same with the passenger’s 

Upon arrival, many times the vehicle will be filled with what looks to be a cloud of smoke, causing many people to believe the vehicle is on fire. This cloud is mainly made up of cornstarch or talcum powder used to keep the airbag from sticking together while folded in the module. It is estimated that only about 2% of this cloud is actually smoke, which has escaped through the filters of the inflator.

Rescuers should immediately ventilate the vehicle by opening the doors or windows. This powder is not harmful, but it can cause minor irritation to the eyes and lungs, along with the fear of the vehicle being on fire, this could cause the patient to panic increasing the risk of shock.

Also in a major crash, the patient could have chest damage, and with the irritation of the powder causing coughing, it could produce future damage.

Warning! Though it is normal procedure, it is especially important that any patient experiencing an airbag deployment, whether properly or hit by the bag, be fitted with a C collar and total spinal alignment maintained.

Old habits are hard to break, though not a good idea and highly discouraged, traditionally EMS personnel will run to the patient before rescuers have time to stabilize the vehicle and shut down the electrical system. With the new systems of today’s vehicles EMS personnel must keep a few rules in mind when doing this.

Rule #1. When approaching the patient, never lean through the window of the vehicle. Most of today’s vehicles are equipped with curtain airbags, these airbags deploy straight down approximately 18 inches, or from the roof to the bottom of the window and are capable of snapping a persons neck.

Once the door is open, if this curtain is deployed, rescues can safely cut the bag and get it out of their way. Unlike frontal airbags there are no dual stage side impact airbags made.

Warning! If the curtain airbag is not deployed; the rescuer must stay out of the 18 inch inflation zone until the time the rescuers get the electrical system shut down and the capacitor drain time has expired.

Rule #2. If the door is able to be opened, rescuers must be aware that a live door mounted airbag may be behind them while working on the patient. It is a good idea to secure the door open with a rope or strap so it can not close against you. Never use a prop, as it is easily kicked loose or becomes a tripping hazard.

The inflation zone for these airbags is 5 inches from the door panel.

Rule #3. When opening the door rescuers must also be aware of possible seat mounted airbags. These are mounted in the edge of the back rest portion of the seat. Under normal deployment they follow the door panel, but with the door open they will extend out at a 45 degree angle, about were a rescuer would be standing, or kneeling.

There are two types of these airbags.

The torso type will deploy outward about 12 inches and upward about 12 inches, with the bag itself being about 5 inches thick.

The head/torso type will extend outward about 12 to 14 inches and upward to about roof height and the bag itself is about 5 inches thick.

If possible, it is a good idea to do most of the patient care from the back seat area. This keeps the rescuer out of both the frontal and side impact deployment zones. If for some reason you must work from the door opening, it may be a good idea to tilt the back rest portion of the seat so that the B post gives you some protection from the seat mounted airbag.

Warning! Remember that if the seat mounted bag is not deployed there is likely a curtain airbag over your head, that is also not deployed.  

Like the curtain airbag, both the door mounted and seat mounted bags are side impact airbags and can only deploy once. If the bag is deployed it is safe for the rescuer to work within its area or to cut it out of the way.

Warning! If it is not deployed the rescuer must stay out of its inflation zone until the electrical system is shut down and the capacitor drain time has expired.  

Rule #4. For years we were taught, that if a frontal airbag was deployed there was no more danger, this is no longer true.

Today’s driver’s and passenger’s frontal airbags are all dual stage and are capable of deploying a second time.

Today, not only the later but, all frontal airbags must be considered dual stage, because as can be seen here; when installed in the vehicle it is impossible to tell which one is an earlier single stage and which one is a later dual stage.

Warning! All personnel must stay out of the inflation zones; never put any part of your body or any type of equipment between a frontal airbag and the patient, even if it has already deployed.

The inflation zone for a driver’s frontal airbag is 10 inches from the center of the steering wheel.

The inflation zone for a passenger’s frontal airbag is 20 inches from the front edge of the dash board.

Rule #5. Always cut the seat belt, there are many reasons for this.

One being today’s vehicles are equipped with pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners, if the tensioner is accidentally ignited, the belt will suddenly snap the patient back against the seat, possibly furthering a spinal or chest injury.

Another reason is that to unbuckle the seat belt the rescuer must lean over the patient putting him or her self within the inflation zone of the frontal airbags.

A third reason is: By unlatching the belt we leave the metal buckle hanging loose. If the tensioner is ignited, the swinging metal buckle could cause injury to you or the patient but, if the belt were cut, the loose strap would simply spin around the spool.

Also if a crash is sever enough to deploy an airbag, always check the patient for seat belt injuries. These belts are pyrotechnic and deploy the same as the airbags, the force of the belt retracting combined with the momentum of the patient being thrown forward can cause injury to the chest and abdomen.   

Rule #6. Never enter, lean on, or lay any type of equipment on an empty passenger’s seat until the electrical system is shut down and the capacitor drain time has expired.

These seats are equipped with hidden weight sensors that control the deployment of the passenger’s frontal airbag. If the seat was empty at the time of the crash, the airbag would not have deployed.

Warning! With the electrical system still intact any weight placed on the passenger's seat would alert the control module to open the path for a deployment. (See details in the passenger's airbag section, under weight sensors)  

Rule #7  If an accident is severe enough to warrant extrication type procedures, total spinal alignment must be maintained on the occupant.

For many years, rescuers have used a quick extraction technique; in which they spun the patient a quarter turn, laid them down and sled them up onto a long spine board.

Today’s vehicles are built a lot different. We no longer have the large door openings that earlier vehicles had. In fighting the fuel and economic problems, manufacturers are building cars that are smaller on the outside but still keeping them larger on the inside. By doing this the seats now sit partially behind the B post. Which means the patient must be maneuvered around the post in order to place them on the spine board.

Today more than ever, we must revert back to the basics of extrication. “Move the metal and not the patient”.

Instructors do not always agree on some techniques. One of these is the moving of the seat. Most of the seats today are electrically operated and many instructors teach that the seat needs to be moved back before the battery cables are disconnected. Others teach that because the airbag deployment has already happened, the system is stable and by moving the seat, the seat position sensor would cause the system to open the path for a second deployment. (See seat position sensors for details)

A good rule of thumb in this situation is: If the back rest is adjustable, tilt it back rather than move the seat. If it is not adjustable and the patient is within the inflation zone, such as a single cab pick-up, be sure the seat is moved to it farthest point, incase of an accidental deployment.

Another tip is that the back rest of a seat can be removed with a reciprocating saw within seconds, giving the rescuer much more room to operate.