Ch. 18 Search & Rescue at a bldg. collapse

Question 1

Chief Dunn added 2 new steps to the collapse plan with the 1st step being to secure the area.
After securing the area we:
-Survey the site of the collapse
-Shut off the utilities
-Search for and remove surface victims
-Search all voids and spaces created by the collapse
-Tunnel and trench
-Start general rubble removal
When do we take a time out to re-examine safety and determine the location of buried victims?

Answer 1

We take a time out after searching the voids and spaces and before we start tunneling and trenching.

Question 2

When surveying the collapse area; a site safety size up of the six sides of the collapse site (the 4 sides, above and below) is required. There are 4 important items to look for what are they?

Answer 2

• Secondary collapse danger
• Fire spread in the structure-including potential spread to the exposures
• access to the interior of the collapse structure that can be used by rescuers
• Trapped victims out of sight in the rear or sides of the collapse area

Question 3

Can several steps of a collapse plan be carried out simultaneously or should they be carried out 1 step at a time to provide control and safety to the members?

Answer 3

Several steps of a collapse rescue plan may be carried out simultaneously if sufficient resources are available-it is not necessary to complete one step before starting the next.

Question 4

The victim tracking officer should be assigned to the planning team during the initial stages. His exclusive duties is to attempt to determine the exact # of missing victims. Before tunneling and trenching, the victim tracking officer must be able to state?

Answer 4

• Missing person is confirmed by someone to have been INSIDE during the collapse
• Exact floor where the victim was last seen
• Pinpointed area where the collapse could have shifted the victim in the rubble
• Person is not safe at a hospital or ambulance
• Missing person is not at a 1st aid station or left the scene or went home

Question 5

The important point when shoring is not to do what to the unstable structure.

Answer 5

Not to move or attempt to restore the unstable structure to its original position-as this could cause a collapse.

Question 6

When shoring the shoring material shall be placed where against the unstable structure?

Answer 6

The supporting object should be gently placed beneath the unstable structure, barely in contact with it.

Question 7

What is a safer operation tunneling or trenching?

Answer 7

Trenching-it is slower but safer-and there is less of a chance for secondary collapse.

Question 8

After surface victim removal and void search what percent of survivors have been found?

Answer 8

75%

Question 9

Is it better to have more or fewer members engaged in rescue work when the exact location of a victim is known?

Answer 9

Fewer

Question 10

General debris removal is done after all victims are discovered, accounted for, and all pinpointed locations of tunneling and trenching have been reached. The FDNY will remain in charge of the scene for this entire phase. Since there is little chance of survival payloaders and cranes will be used. Even if all victims are accounted for, each load of wreckage should be spread out on the ground and examined by who?

Answer 10

FF’s along with the medical examiner