The Burning Car

Hot Rod Racers #9
July 1966

You are walking peacefully along the street and suddenly you see smoke coming from under the hood of a parked automobile. The driver jumps out of his car and opens the hood completely. Is he doing the right thing? Then he starts pulling wires out. His friend runs into a building and comes out with a pail of sand which they dumped on the burning engine. Another friend runs to the nearest fire-alarm box and turns in the alarm. Could you have done any better?

Or you are driving along the highway. Suddenly the car ahead of you swings off the road, turns on its side, and flames begin to shoot out from the car. Would you know what to do? How to get the people out of the car safely? And at the same time not be injured yourself. Recently my wife and myself had the pleasure of attending the First Aid College, given by the American Red Cross in our city, which had as its special program: First Aid in Fire.

Werner J. Kuhn was the chairman and he personally took us to the garage in the building, and there demonstrated to us the correct procedures in trying to rescue people from a burning car. In case his name has a familiar to it, I remind you he is the same Werner J. Kuhn of Ski Patrol Fame. Important point number one: You don't just rush in to rescue the people without having some plan in mind. And know why you are doing what you do. Dr. G.F. Osler, at the same program, in telling us about first aid and emergency treatment of burns and suffocation, used an expression: Educated Common Sense. So that is what you need.

If you do what you feel to be the normal impulse - rush over and open the door full - you are doing the wrong thing. Why? Figure it out yourself, with educated common sense: You are permitting fresh air to rush in and hence it will feed the fire. With the result that two things may happen to you. You may get burned on the face and part of the body, and you may breathe in hot air. Both of which are dangerous.

Always carry a large blanket in your car. It comes in handy for a lot of emergencies. Drape this blanket over half of your body so that it covers you from head to foot. Now with your covered half of the body face the door and open it partially. Then wait a few seconds and kick it back completely with your foot. Not your hands! The door may be extremely hot and burn you. Get the driver out at once. If he has his safety belt attached, release it.

No matter how seriously he may be injured - get him out! It is better to have him even permanently crippled than burned alive. You place the body on the ground. Drag him away from the car by gripping both of his shoulders. The idea is that even if he has a spine injury, at least it won't aggravate the condition. And you are getting him away from a car that may blow up very quickly.

Suppose the safety button is down so you can't open the car door? The Police Lieutenant explained to us that they advised people in our city to drive with the button down to prevent thugs from trying to take over the car with a woman driver at the wheel. If the door can't be opened, it is evident glass has to be smashed. If there is nobody in the back seat - smash this glass. You are standing at the side with the blanket protecting you. The flames will shoot out. Then later you can smash a door glass and open the door from the inside. If there are people in the back, you may have to smash the front glass, on the side away from the driver. If your blanket catches fire - throw it away.

My personal observations: I believe you and every driver of a car should have a fire extinguisher with you. I have one in my car and so has my son in his car. But it has to be in working condition. So read instructions on how to maintain it. And keep it where it is handy, not hidden away in the trunk compartment of the car. I think a pair of fire-resistant gloves would also be handy in case of a fire emergency.

Bear in mind that you can replace a car that has been burned. But not the person in it. "Save my burning car," shouts the man you rescued. If it can be done without danger to you - o.k. But if not, then let it burn. And next week visit your local firehouse. And ask those firemen for additional advice and suggestions.