Received this question from a firefighter in Montana.
"As far as you know, is there any substance to the rumor that a fireman was (relatively recently?) severly injured by a "hazardous material" in the door of a BMW automobile while responding to an accident?
My Reply-
This is a new one on me and my gut reaction is that this either is not exactly what happened or this is a new urban legend.
BMW vehicles do have side impact airbags mounted within their doors. The airbag unit is a metal box just a little smaller in size than a cigar box. The airbag is there and so is the airbag inflator module. The inflator module is a stored gas, pressurized cylinder of argon and helium.
I can't think of why anyone would call this a hazardous material; its an airbag!
This whole story sounds a lot like the earlier hoax that was circulating regarding a slim jim door unlocking device deploying on a cop while trying to unlock the door. That hoax said that the slim jim launched into the guys throat. Nice try.
Anyone else out there heard of this or anything like it?
--
Ron Moore
Fire Training Manager
Plano (TX) Fire Rescue
(214) 728-6776
"As far as you know, is there any substance to the rumor that a fireman was (relatively recently?) severly injured by a "hazardous material" in the door of a BMW automobile while responding to an accident?
My Reply-
This is a new one on me and my gut reaction is that this either is not exactly what happened or this is a new urban legend.
BMW vehicles do have side impact airbags mounted within their doors. The airbag unit is a metal box just a little smaller in size than a cigar box. The airbag is there and so is the airbag inflator module. The inflator module is a stored gas, pressurized cylinder of argon and helium.
I can't think of why anyone would call this a hazardous material; its an airbag!
This whole story sounds a lot like the earlier hoax that was circulating regarding a slim jim door unlocking device deploying on a cop while trying to unlock the door. That hoax said that the slim jim launched into the guys throat. Nice try.
Anyone else out there heard of this or anything like it?
--
Ron Moore
Fire Training Manager
Plano (TX) Fire Rescue
(214) 728-6776
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