In vehicle extrication, what is the second function for gaining access and disentangling the victim?

• A. Bend, distort, or displace
• B. Stabilize the vehicle
• C. Cut the roof
• D. Remove the seat

Answer: (A)

Access and disentanglement hinge on creating space to reach and free the patient. After you’ve secured the vehicle so it won’t move, the next essential function is bending, distorting, or displacing structural members to open openings and move metal away from the victim. This controlled shaping of the car’s structure allows you to reach limbs and torso and begin freeing the person without causing further injury. Stabilizing the vehicle is the preceding step, not the second function. Cutting the roof or removing the seat are techniques used within the process, but they’re not the broad second function themselves.