Alicante’s veteran firefighter, known as Particle, retired in 2022 after more than three decades of service with the SPEIS, the Fire Prevention, Extinguishing and Rescue Service. Throughout a career that included dozens of traffic crash responses, he never stopped seeking smarter ways to protect survivors during vehicle extrications. His latest innovations focus on keeping people safe as they are freed from wrecked cars, with an emphasis on reducing spinal injuries and smoothing the rescue process. The most notable achievement is a super-thin spine recovery board that dramatically lowers the risk of spinal cord damage during patient handling and has gained recognition across fire stations worldwide. Now Particle has begun marketing a set of self-adjusting chocks that he patented. These wedges stabilize a vehicle quickly, neutralizing suspension components from the moment deployment begins and allowing swift, controlled access for rescuers.
These wedges arrive ready to use, almost like a LEGO kit in a rescue kit. As a skilled carpenter, the inventor explains that the system greatly simplifies the operation. It supports injured passengers more safely and minimizes the danger posed by sudden vehicle movement. Fire teams cannot prevent every crash, but minimizing injury during extraction remains a priority, he notes. Earlier chocks existed, but they were heavy and not as practical. The new design weighs under six kilograms, enabling a rescuer to carry two wedges comfortably in each hand.
The wedge setup is like a Lego set. AXEL ALVAREZ
Each wedge can bear a load of more than ten tons and is crafted from birch wood, which the inventor describes as compact yet stronger than oak. Deployment can begin from a distance of seven centimeters, and the wedges extend up to 38 centimeters in length, with additional reach possible as needed.
Alicante’s firefighter community has recently seen the wedges showcased at a national rescue championship held in Seville. The device has sparked curiosity among firefighters across the country and has begun to reach markets beyond Spain for more than two months. In Europe and beyond, several fire services are evaluating or purchasing the wedges through a distribution partnership. France, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Taiwan are among the countries where trials or orders are taking place, with distribution managed by a local Alicante company dedicated to rescue equipment. In Portugal, Germany, and the United Kingdom, exchanges and demonstrations are ongoing.
“Jack” next to the wedge he invented. AXEL ALVAREZ
The Provincial Consortium of Alicante Firefighters has added the wedges to its donation program, and the city council has expressed plans to purchase them for SPEIS after successful field tests. Widespread adoption is already evident across Tenerife, Madrid, Murcia, Seville, Cordoba, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote, with growing use in other regions as well.