Of the nearly six million police-reported car accidents in the U.S. each year, approximately 10–15% involve people trapped in vehicles. These incidents require specialized extrication techniques, dependable equipment, and, of course, speed is essential.
Stabilization is Key
Rescuers use a variety of specialized tools to cut, spread, or lift vehicle structures to free occupants. Before that, however, they must stabilize the vehicle, which may be overturned or otherwise unsteady. Traditionally, rescuers have relied on wood blocks for cribbing to stabilize vehicles, but wood can be problematic for several reasons. It lacks accurate load ratings, cannot be locked in place, and is prone to contamination and splinters.
Turtle Plastics provides a more reliable and sustainable alternative to traditional wood cribbing. For 45 years, we’ve manufactured highly durable stabilization products, including cribbing blocks, pads and chocks made in the USA from recycled plastic.
Better than Wood Blocks
Our Dura Crib® brand of blocks, chocks and pads offers a safer alternative to wood for auto extrication. The blocks can be stacked and interlocked to handle a wide range of stabilization challenges. Each Dura Crib® product is clearly labeled with a working load limit, giving rescue crews crucial safety information at the scene and removing uncertainty.
Depending on the product, our plastic cribbing blocks, chocks and pads are rated between 369 through 3,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). Unlike wood, they do not lose their structural integrity when they are exposed to water and feature integrated lanyards that make positioning and transport easier. In collaboration with emergency rescue teams, we’ve developed six comprehensive Dura Crib™ and Dura Stat® auto extrication kits that include stabilization blocks, chocks, pads, and wedges.
Long-term Payoff
With a significantly longer lifecycle than wood, our cribbing blocks hold their value over time. While many rescue teams choose wood because it’s readily available and less expensive upfront, safety and reliability are what truly matter during emergency extrication. Having the right tools on hand makes all the difference.
To learn more about auto extrication and our six extrication kits, call Turtle Plastics at (800) 756-6635 or contact us.
