Which item is NOT one of the three phases of vehicle extrication?

• A. Stabilization of the vehicle
• B. Hazardous materials decontamination
• C. Stabilization of victims
• D. Stabilization of scene

Answer: (B)

The three phases of vehicle extrication focus on keeping everyone safe while you access and remove the patient: stabilize what could move (the vehicle), control the scene to prevent additional hazards, and stabilize the victims so they can be accessed and moved with minimal further injury. Hazardous materials decontamination isn’t part of those rescue phases—it’s a separate process that only applies when hazardous substances are involved. Decon requires its own procedures and specialists, and it may occur in the same incident, but it isn’t counted as one of the three primary extrication phases. So the item describing hazardous materials decontamination doesn’t fit the standard phases, while stabilization of the vehicle, stabilization of the scene, and stabilization of the victims do.