If the driver is still in the car then our rescue protocol would be:
- Have a crew member (usually the designated medic but this can be changed as all crew are medically certified) enter the car and perform an initial assessment of the driver.
- Based on this assessment and in consultation with the doctor he decision would be made to either roll the car back or extricate from the existing position.
- If the decision is to roll the car back onto the wheels then the crewman will take the necessary positioning to provide full c-spine control as the car is rolled.
- The car will then be gently moved one quarter of the way on to its wheels.
- Second crewman from outside the car will take c-spine control while the "inside man" repositions themselves for the next move.
- Move the car another quarter, this should have the car back on it's wheels, if not then re-position again and repeat until car is back on. Usually there will only be the two quarters but if the car is on its side with the wheels tight in to the tyre-wall/armco then it may have to take the long way back on to four wheels.
The actual moves will take as many marshals as are available and will involve getting the car to the point of "tilt" and then re-positioning as necessary to lower the car as gently as possible.
This technique is practised in rescue training days to use as little as four or five people and is also taught to ground marshals on our national training day where we use a "live" casualty and "inside man" to make the operation as realistic as possible.
As for turning cars when the driver is out. In general, if there's enough bodies around then a bit of care is always good as it's always good practise for if you have to do it with someone in the car!