When is door removal indicated during extrication?

When is door removal indicated during extrication?

• A. When door access is blocked
• B. When patient access is not possible through the door
• C. When the vehicle is on a slope
• D. When door access is blocked or patient access is not possible through the door

Answer: (D)

Access to the patient drives the decision. If the door can’t be used to reach or treat the patient—whether the door is blocked by crush, intrusion, or awkward positioning—removing the door provides a clear, faster path for assessment, airway management, and the actual extrication. That’s why the best description of when to remove a door is when access through the door is blocked or you cannot reach the patient through the door. A slope value by itself doesn’t dictate door removal; it’s the ability to access the patient that matters.

Access to the patient drives the decision. If the door can’t be used to reach or treat the patient—whether the door is blocked by crush, intrusion, or awkward positioning—removing the door provides a clear, faster path for assessment, airway management, and the actual extrication. That’s why the best description of when to remove a door is when access through the door is blocked or you cannot reach the patient through the door. A slope value by itself doesn’t dictate door removal; it’s the ability to access the patient that matters.