Chapter 12: Search And Rescue Flashcards
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS:
Coordination with Fire Suppression Operations: All rescue efforts must take into account the flow path of the fire. Any operation conducted in the flow path increases the risk posed to FF’s.
Any change in any opening in the fire building, whether it is the intentional opening of a door, window, roof, or an unintentional change produce by glass failure or a in the wind direction can be deadly to both rescuers and persons trapped in a fire.
At times, the most effective initial step that can be taken to achieve an effective search and rescue effort is to slow down the growth of the fire or to extinguish the it. For example, it might be necessary to keep the fire away from potential victims or to protect the entry or exit paths by controlling, limiting, or redirecting the flow path so that the victims can be found and safely removed.
Because smoke is fuel, the initial cooling off gases, particles, and aerosols in the room of origin can slow fire growth and reduce the high temperatures. What is the name of this technique?
What is a Transitional Attack?
The technique is a Transitional Attack
Transitional Attack: An offensive attack initiated by a quick, indirect, exterior attack into the fire compartment to initiate cooling and darkening the fire, allowing FF’s to quickly transition into an interior attack for final suppression. The transitional attack can be an important part of an effective search and rescue operation. It also makes conditions safer for FF’s conducting interior operations.
In Essence, rescuers act as a reconnaissance team to determine which areas are involved and where the fire might spread. They report this information to the IC, who develops the overall fire suppression plan.
SEARCH AND RESCUE SIZE-UP:
The size up process at every fire should include a specific evaluation of the critical factors for search and rescue. What occupants information should you be obtaining? There are four.
The overall size up for search and rescue, you should take into consideration these 5 things…what are they?
- Number of occupants in the building.
- Their location.
- The degree of risk to their lives.
- Their ability to evacuate by themselves.
•Occupant Information
•Occupancy Type
• Building Size, Construction, and Arrangement.
•Visible Smoke and Fire Conditions.
•Time of Day and Day of the Week.
Occupant Information: An observant FF noticed clues that indicate whether a building is occupied and how many occupants are likely to be present. Clues such as viewing the driveway to see if any cars are parked or if the mail box is overflowed, indicating that no one has not been home etc. (Fig12-1)
Building Size, Construction, and Arrangement: A small one story house is simpler to search than a larger building with multiple units. A large building with many rooms must be searched in a systematic fashion.
Access to an interior layout or floor plan is often helpful when planning and assigning teams to search a building.
Visible Smoke and Fire Conditions: This can provide clues to the location and intensity of the fire (Fig 12-3). Observe the volume, density of the smoke and the velocity of the smoke movement. More volume, darker color, and greater speed may indicate more severe fire conditions. Assess the direction of the wind and determine where it may push the fire. Look for the amount of visible flames. Determine the number of openings where flames are visible. All of these factors will help you to determine the location and size of the fire, the potential for growth, and the direction of travel.
Time of Day and Day of Week: Generally, the life risk in residential occupancies is higher at night and on weekends, when more people are at home.
SEARCH COORDINATION:
The overall plan for the incident must focus on the life safety priority as long as search and rescue operations are still underway. As searchers complete a search of each area, the search officer notified the IC of the status and results of the search effort. An “All Clear” report indicates that an area has been searched, and all victims have been removed.
If FF’s discover a victim, they must notify IC immediately. The IC may send a search team so that the search team does not lose continuity of its search.
Pre-incident Plans: Pic
Another critical aspect of search coordination is keeping track of everyone who was rescued or who escaped without assistance. This info should be tracked at the IC post so that reports of missing occupants can be matched to reports of rescued victims. FF should also conduct an exterior search for any missing occupants. An occupant who escaped from the fire may be lying down unconscious or could have jumped from a window.
SAFETY TIP:
SEARCH PRIORITIES:
A search begins in the areas where victims are at the greatest risk. Search teams must work together closely and coordinate their searches to ensure that all areas are covered.
One or two search teams can usually go through all of the rooms in a single-family dwelling in 15 minutes or less. Multiple search teams and a systematic division of the building are needed to cover larger structures, such as apartment, buildings and high-rise buildings.
Area search assignments should be based on four priorities, what are they? (Answer on the picture)
Listen up:
RISK MANAGEMENT: The IC is responsible for managing the level of risk during emergency operations. He or she must perform a risk/benefit analysis to determine which actions will be taken in each situation. Actions that present, a high-level of risk to the safety of firefighters are justified only victims are known or believed to be in immediate danger and there is a reasonable probability that lives can be saved. In contrast, only a limited wrist level is acceptable to save property.
The risk/benefit analysis should consider 3 factors. What are they?
- The stage of the fire.
- The condition of the building.
- The presence of any other hazards.
When there is no possibility of saving either lives or property, no risk is acceptable, and search and rescue operations cannot be performed at all. A similar decision might be made if the fire occurs in an abandoned building or a lightweight construction building in danger of structural collapse. The IC may be able to identify these conditions from the exterior, or heat, or she may learn of them from a team assigned to conduct a search.
In order to assess the degree of risk to minimize the chance of injuries, it is important to do these five steps?
- Conduct a thorough 360° size up.
- Use a thermal imaging device.
- Evaluate the possibility of a ventilation – limited fire.
- Practice good door control at the point of entry into the building to limit the supply of oxygen to the fire.
- Consider the use of a transitional fire attack to cool the fire before starting the search process.
SEARCH AND RESCUE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:
A search team that is working close to the fire should carry a hose line or be accompanied by another team with the hose line. A hose line can protect the firefighters and enable them to search a structure more efficiently. This measure is essential when a search team is working close to, or directly above the fire.
The hose line can be used to do these three important things. What are they?
- knock down the fire, to protect the means of egress.
- To protect the means of egress (stairway, or corridor).
- to protect the victims as they are escaping.
Ladders may also be used to rescue victims from dangerous areas if regular exits cannot be used.
Search ropes may be used during search operations to provide searches within an anchor point that will help them maintain their orientation while searching for victims. Search ropes are especially useful when search is being conducted in large, opened areas.
Webbing can be used when it is necessary to drag or carry a victim from a hazardous environment.
Once a room or apartment is searched, searches should use chalk, felt tip markers, spray, paint, or masking tape to mark the door. This marking lets other personnel know that the room has already been searched.
PRIMARY SEARCH: is an immediate and quick attempt to locate any potential victims who are in danger. This search should be as thorough As time permits, and should cover any places where victims are likely to be found. Primary research should be completed in 15 minutes or less.
SECONDARY SEARCH: conducted after the fire has been suppressed. The main purpose of the secondary search is to find any occupants or victims, who were not found in the primary search. If possible, it should be conducted by a different search team, so that each area of the building is examined with a fresh set of eyes.
Firefighters should try to check all of the areas where victims might be such as beds, cribs, and sofas. Adults who tried to escape on their own, are often found near the doors or windows. Some people, particularly children may try to hide in the closet, in the bathtub, or shower, or behind, or under a piece of furniture. 
GENERAL SEARCH TECHNIQUES: firefighters should operate in teams of two or more and should always stay close together. Figure 12–5.
Partners must remain in direct, visual, voice, or physical contact with each other.
If the search team finds a victim, they can notify the incident commander, so that help will be available to remove the victim from the building and begin medical treatment. The search team must notify the incident commander when the search of each area has been completed so the incident commander Can make inform decisions about which steps to take.
Using a Thermal Imaging Camera: is a valuable tool for conducting a search in a Smoke field building. Similar to a video camera except that it displays images of heat emitted from surfaces instead of visible light images. The images show the relative amounts of heat being radiated by different objects.
A major benefit of using a thermal imaging device is that it can see the heat signature of a person in conditions of total darkness or through smoke that totally obscure normal vision. Figure 12–6. You will be able to identify the shape of a human body with the thermal imaging camera because the body will be either warmer or cooler than its surroundings. Temperature differences also mean that the thermal imaging device can show Furniture, walls, doorways, and windows. This thermal Imaging camera can sometimes be used to locate a fire in a Smoke field building or behind doors, walls, or ceilings.
A thermal Imaging camera does not show you the integrity of a structure. Be alert for areas that show small heat, signatures (areas of high temperature), which may indicate that a floor is not safe to walk on or an area or roof that is unsafe to be under. If the thermal imaging device gives any indication of an unsafe condition, make sure that a thorough exterior size up has been conducted.
FOUR METHODS OF CONDUCTING A PRIMARY SEARCH :
There are four different methods of conducting a primary search. What are they?
- The Standard Search Method.
- The Oriented Search Method.
- The Oriented-Vent-Enter-Isolate-Search (O-VEIS) Method.
- The Team Search Method.
Primary Search:
1. Standard Search Method: Conducted with a search team of two or more members. All members of the search team cover the same area at the same time. Searchers conduct a quick and systematic search by staying on an outside wall of the room. They may choose to use a left-handed or a right handed search pattern. the Fire Fighter closest to the wall keeps his or her left or right shoulder close to the wall at all times. (Figure 12–7.)
The standard search method is the most commonly taught method of primary search used by firefighters. The main use of the standard search method is in residential fires, where two firefighters should be able to search an average size house in 15 minutes or less.(Coleman, 2011).
SKILL DRILL 12-1
Primary Search:
2. The Oriented Search Method:
A primary search using the oriented search method is conducted using a search team, consisting of an officer or team leader, and one to three searchers.
With the oriented search method, the officer remains outside the individual rooms that are being searched, and a single searcher, or multiple searchers systematically search one room at a time, using the right handed or left-handed search method.
The search Officer is responsible for maintaining the searcher safety, monitoring their air supplies, monitoring the progression of the fire, and the fire suppression efforts, developing a systematic search plan, assessing the progress of the search effort, monitoring the activities on the rest of the fire scene and coordinating activities with the incident commander. This provides safety for the search team and allows the searchers to focus on the search itself. The officer also keeps track of which rooms have been searched in which are to be searched.
The oriented search method takes less time than using the standard search method.
Depending on department procedures, the search room or apartment can be marked so the other personnel know that it has been searched. Chalk, crayons, felt tip markers, spray paint, or masking tape, can be used to mark the door for this purpose. Some fire department use a two-part marking system to indicate when a search is in progress, and when it has been completed: and this system, a slash (“/“) indicates that a search is in progress, and an (“X”) indicates that the search has been completed. Figure 12–8.
SKILL DRILL 12-2 CONDUCTING A PRIMARY SEARCH USING THE ORIENTED SEARCH METHOD.
Continuity of the search can be easily lost when a victim is found and removed from the hazardous environment by a single search team. When this happens, it is hard to resume the search from the same location. By the time a second team has been assembled and arrives at the location with the victim was found, it is hard to pick up the search without duplication of efforts and wasting valuable time. in switching from one team to another, it is easy to miss areas that need to be searched. The most efficient way to maintain the continuity of the search is for the search officer to notify command that a victim has been found, moved toward the exit with the victim, and be met by a team that can remove the victim, the rest of the way out of the building and begin emergency medical care. This approach enables the search team to return to the location they were searching and continue the search for additional victims, without losing much time and without losing the continuity of the search. This operation requires planning, a lot of practice, and a well coordinated fire suppression operation.
Primary Search:
3. The Oriented- Vent-Enter-Isolate-Search (O-VEIS) Method:
The original vent – enter – search ( VES) method of conducting a primary search was developed for situations in which there is a porch located in front of a bedroom window, and a person in the bedroom needs to be rescued. This method of primary is meant to be used in extreme situations in which there is a shortage of personnel. Fire Fighters can quickly place a ladder to the porch roof, quickly open or break the bedroom window into the bedroom, perform a quick search of the room, and exit back onto the porch roof. This evolution is very dangerous for several reasons, however, opening a bedroom window is a type of ventilation, which adds oxygen to the fire, contributing to a flashover, or directing the hot gases toward the open window. Additionally, the VES method violates the 2 in/2 out rule and because it is often done before any hoseline is in place the fire may expand rapidly. VES is a very dangerous method and should not be used.
A safer modification of VES is the oriented vent – enter – isolate – search (O-VEIS) method. This method stresses, the need to quickly close the door between the room to be searched, and the rest of the house.
How to Conduct a O-VEIS method: This method is conducted using a search team consisting of an officer or team leader, and one searcher. The team places a ladder in front of the window leading to the room or the porch in front of the room to be searched. They then climb to the window or porch roof and assess the situation. After determining the room appears to be tenable for a victim and for the Firefighter, they open or remove the window. The officer remains outside on the porch roof, or if no porch is present, on the ladder, to continue to assess the situation in the room, maintain radio contact, and monitor activities and other parts of the fire ground. (Figure 12–9). The searcher quickly enters the room. As soon as possible, this, Fire Fighter locates the door to the hallway, and immediately closes it. This action isolates the room to be searched from the fire flow path. Even a thin, hollow corridor will provide some protection from the flow path for a short period of time. This isolation reduces the heat and smoke in that room for a few minutes increases the chance that the room will quickly become untenable for the rescuer and any victims present. If a victim is found and there is another bedroom to be searched for the same porch, it may be more efficient for the officer to request a second rescue crew to remove the victim from the porch roof so the original search team can begin to search the second bedroom.
This is not to say that it is a safe procedure, but it is safer than the VES. It should be considered only in fire emergencies in which a sizable risk has a large potential benefit. It should not be attempted if the room is fully charged with Smoke and in danger of flashing over when additional oxygen is introduced.
Primary Search:
- The Team Search Method: Also known as the (Rope Search) uses a search, rope or hose to provide searchers with an anchor point to keep them in contact with each other, and with the egress route from a burning building. The search team includes an anchor person who ties off the search rope to a stationary object that is located outside the building, about 10 feet outside the exit door. As the search progressed through the building, the anchor person feeds the line out while keeping slight tension on it at a comfortable height above the floor (about 18 to 20 inches.). This method gives the searchers an identifiable route out of the building. If the direction of travel inside the building needs to be changed, Additionally, the anchor can let the searchers know how far they have progressing into the building.
This method of conducting a primary search is more complicated than the three methods previously discussed. It is time-consuming and requires a lot of training and coordination, but it is well suited for locating and removing loss occupants or injured firefighters.
The team search method is an especially valuable tool for a rapid intervention crew/company working to locate a missed, downed, firefighter in a large space.
The team search method is not often used in a residential fire, unless the house is very large, or has large open spaces; however, it can be a valuable method to locate an occupant in a large warehouse or other large open structure when visibility is severely limited.
With the team search method, the officer of the search team is responsible for development and search plan, keeping the team safe, and communicating with the incident commander. The officer stays in contact with the search rope and maintains voice contact with the searchers. This helps to keep the searchers oriented, the officer also ensures that each member is monitoring his or her air supply. This officer is usually responsible for operating the thermal imaging device and directing the team based on the images seen on the screen. The officer must also assess any changing conditions around the search team, and communicate these changes to the IC.
The members of the search team are responsible for following the search rope into the building and conducting the primary search off the rope. This is done by placing one searcher on each side of the search rope. When searching large areas, each of the searchers performs two or three side cross, at a right angle to the rope . The searches on the left side of the rope, side crawls to the left of the rope and the searches on the right side of the rope side crawls to the right side of the rope.
When a search team is ready to exit, the officer should assume the anchor position on the search line and maintain tension on the line as the team works its way along the line to the building exit. The officer assumes disposition in order to remain accountable for the other members of the team.
This method keeps searchers together, preventing individuals from getting lost, or separated.
SECONDARY SEARCH:
The purpose of the primary search is to locate victims and remove them from the hazardous environment. The purpose of the secondary search is to locate any occupants or victims who are unaccounted for and were not found and removed during the primary. The secondary search is conducted as soon as the fire is under control or fully extinguished, and there are sufficient resources available. (Figure 12-10)
The secondary search should be conducted by a different team than the one that conducted the primary search. Bringing in a fresh crew helps to lessen the possibility that a victim will be missed a second time.
SKILL DRILL 12-3
The secondary search team needs to wear full PPE, including SCBA until the air quality has been thoroughly tested. Air that looks clean can contain high concentrations of poisonous gases and small, suspended particles of toxic byproduct of the fire. Approximately 97% of these particulates are invisible to the human eye. In addition, the byproducts of combustion contain cancer causing substances that can be absorbed through the skin.
When searching a large commercial or residential building, the secondary search should include the floor above the fire, the floor below, the fire, stairwells, elevator, shafts, the roof, the outside perimeter of the building, under trees, and shrubs around the building, and even the rooftops of exposed business.
When the secondary search has been completed, the search officer or team leader should notify the IC by Reporting, “Secondary search is clear.”
RESCUE TECHNIQUES:
Rescue is the removal of a located person who is unable to escape from a dangerous situation. Because Fire threatened the lives of both victims and rescuers, the first priority is to remove the victim from the Fire building or dangerous area as quickly as possible. It is sometimes better to move the victim to a safe area, first, and then provide any necessary medical treatment.
The assist, lifts, and carries described in this chapter should not be used if you suspect that the victim has a spinal injury, however, unless there is no other way to remove the person from the life-threatening situation.
Always use the safest and most practical means of egress when removing a victim from a dangerous area. A buildings normal exit system, such as interior, corridors and stairways, should be used if it is open and safe. If the regular exits cannot be used, an outside fire-escape, a ladder, or some other method of egress must be found. Ladder rescues, which are covered in this chapter can be both difficult and dangerous, whether the victim is conscious and physically fit, or is unconscious and injured (Fig 12-11)
You have two options when reducing a victim. What are they?
- Shelter in place.
- Exit the victim.
Shelter in Place: in some situations, the best option is to shelter the occupants in place instead of trying to remove them from the building. This option should be considered when the occupants are conscious, and are found in a part of the building that is adequately protected from the fire by Fire resistive Construction) or fire suppression systems. Smoke and fire conditions block the exits, victims might be safer, staying in the sheltered location than attempting to evacuate through a hazardous environment.
A situation occurs in a high-rise apartment building when a fire is confined to one apartment or one floor. In this scenario, the stairways and corridors may be filled with smoke, but the occupants who are remote from the fire, would be very safe on their balconies, or in their apartment with the window open to provide fresh air.
When occupants remain in place, it is important for them to isolate the room where they are from the fire. This can be done by practicing door control by determining whether they are safer with the windows opened or with the windows closed. The decision to follow a shelter in place strategy in this case, must be made by the rescue officer or IC.
Exit Assist: the simplest rescue is the exit assist in which the victim is responsive and able to walk without assistance, or with very little assistance. The Fire Fighter may simply need to guide the person to safety, or provide a minimal level of physical support.
There are two types of assist that can be used to help responsive victims, exit fire situation, what are they?
SKILL DRILL 12-4 One Person Walking Assist:
- One person walking assist.
- Two person walking assist. Even if the victim can walk without assistance, the firefighter should take the persons arm or use the one person walking assist to make sure that the victim does not fall, or become separated from the rescuer.
SKILL DRILL 12-6: TWO PERSON EXTREMITY CARRY:
Can be performed in tight or narrow spaces, such as the corridors of mobile homes, small hallways, and narrow spaces between buildings.
SKILL DRILL 12-7: TWO PERSON SEAT CARRY:
Used with victims who are disabled or paralyzed this type of carry requires the assistance of two firefighters, and moving through doors, and downstairs may be difficult.
SKILL DRILL 12-8: TWO PERSON CHAIR CARRY:
Suitable when a victim must be carried through doorways, along narrow corridors, or up or downstairs. A folding chair should not be used for this purpose, because folding chairs can collapse when used in this way to carry a victim. Must be strong enough to support the weight of the victim while he or she is being carried.
SKILL DRILL 12-9: CRADLE IN ARMS CARRY:
Used by one firefighter to carry a child or a small adult. With this technique, the firefighter should be careful of the victims head when moving through doorways or downstairs.
SKILL DRILL 12-10: Clothes Drag:
Used to move a victim who is on the floor or ground and it’s too heavy for one rescue to lift and carry alone. In this technique, the rescuer drags the person by pulling on the clothing in the neck and show the area. The rescue should grasp the clothes, just behind the collar, use the arms to support the victims head, and drag the victim away from danger.
SKILL DRILL 12-11: Blanket Drag:
Used to move a victim, who is not dressed, or who is dressed and clothing, that is too flimsy for the clothes drag. This procedure requires the use of a large sheet, blanket, curtain, or rug. Place the item on the floor, and roll the victim onto it, and then pull the victim to safety by dragging the sheet or blanket.
SKILL DRILL 12-11 CONTINUED
SKILL DRILL 12-12: Standing Drag:
Used to move a victim, who is unconscious or disoriented.
SKILL DRILL 12-12: Continued:
SKILL DRILL 12-13: Webbing Sling Drag:
Provides a secure grip around the upper part of a victims body, allowing for a faster removal from the dangerous area. In this drag, a sling is placed around the victims chest, and under the armpits, then used to drag the victim. The webbing sling help support the victims head and neck. A carabiner can be attached to such a sling to secure the straps under the victims arms and provide additional protection for the victims head and neck.
SKILL DRILL 12-14: Fire Fighter Drag:
Used if the victim is heavier than the rescuer, because it does not require lifting or carrying the victim.
SKILL DRILL 12-15: One- Rescuer Emergency Drag from a Vehicle:
Performed when a victim must be quickly removed from a vehicle to save his or her life. Might be used if the vehicle is on fire, or if the victim requires cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There is no effective way for one person to remove a victim from a vehicle without some movement of the neck and spine. Preventing excess movement of the victims neck, is however, important.
SKILL DRILL 12-16: Rescuing a Conscious Person from a Window:
A ladder rescue is often frightening to conscious victims. When a rescue involves a conscious person, firefighters should establish verbal contact as quickly as possible to reassure the victim that help is on the way. People have jumped to their deaths just seconds before a lot could be raised to a window.
SKILL DRILL 12-16: Continued
SKILL DRILL 12-17: Rescuing an Unconscious Person from a Window:
SKILL DRILL 12-17: Continued:
SKILL DRILL 12-18: Rescuing an Unconscious Child or a Small Adult from a Window:
Small adults and children can be cradle across at firefighters arms during a rescue. To use this rescue technique, the child must be light enough that the firefighter can descend safely, using only arm strength to support the victim.
SKILL DRILL 12-19: Rescuing a Large Adult from a Window:
Three or four firefighters using two ladders may be needed to rescue very tall or heavy adults.
REMOVING A VICTIM BY AREIAL LADDER OR PLATFORM:
An aerial ladder or platform can be used for rescue operations. The same basic rescue techniques are used with both aerial and ground ladders but Arielle ladders offer several advantages over ground ladders. Ladders are much stronger and have a longer reach. In addition, they are wider and more stable than ground ladders, with side rails that provide greatest security for both rescuers and victims.
Aerial platforms are even more suitable than aerial ladders for rescue operations. These devices reduce the risk of slipping and falling because the victim is lower to the ground mechanically. An area platform is usually preferred for rescue work if one is available.
FIGURE 12-12
SUMMARY
SUMMARY CONT:
DEFINITIONS:
