Chapter 14 Flashcards
In hazardous materials/WMDx release, victim rescue and recovery require tactics and safety procedures which depend on the following (8)
Incident type
Number of living victims
Location victims
Whether the victim are ambulatory or nonambulatory
Victims may be contaminated
Armed hostile people may also be victims
vehicles may be uses as weapons
IED or secondary devices may be discovered
Before starting any rescue operation response personnel should (4)
Assess the situation
Take appropriate precautions for their own safety
establish decontamination
Don the highest level PPE appropriate for the situation
Responders assess survivability by identifying and evaluating the 5 factors including
Mechanism of injury or exposure
IDLH
Values such as lethal doses or lethal concentration
Contact time and concentration of materials
Hazard class and health effects
5 Assessment questions include
What are the hazards to responders
Can the victim be rescued successfully or is this a body recovery operation
How many victims are there
What is the availability of trained responders to fill positions
Will it be necessary to prioritize Victims and triage patients for decontamination
8 questions to determine the feasibility of conducting rescue operations involving a contaminated environment
Can hazards be Identified
What are the other known factors about the incident have witnesses provided additional
information that may be useful to the decision making process
Is it a rescue operation or recovery operation
Are victims within line of sight or is a search needed
Do on scene emergency responders have the necessary PPE, equipment and training to perform the mission
Are there enough personnel available to conduct a rescue safely
Are there detection devices, papers and instrumentation responders can use to identify possible hazards and determine what is present
Could other available information resources such as ERG NIOSH pocket guide or SDS be helpful
in addition to the SOPs of their local agency or AHJ responders should be familiar with
SOPs for mutual aid response in their area
Developing and implementing a successful rescue and recovery operation requires (5)
Training
Comprehensive understanding of the rescue process
Information about local capabilities and facilities
Skills necessary to perform rescues safely and efficiently
A rescue plan
Rescue Supervisor is responsible for
Providing proper supervision and overseeing the safety of all entry teams.
Rescue supervisor are also responsible for (6)
Designate team assignments
Brief unit members of objective and required tasks
Maintain immediate and functional supervision over teams to ensure their operational safety
Ensure accountability and tracking of personnel
Relay critical or pertinent information received from the teams up the chain of command
Report and document victim rescue and recovery operations
Entry Team is
Members work in teams of two buddy system and wear appropriate PPE
Entry Team are responsible for (7)
Review the site safety plan
Know dedicated radio channel and back up hand signals
Maintain situational awareness while locating victims
Identify the viability of potential victims
Direct ambulatory victims to the safe refuge area
Search for rescue and recover victims per AHJ
Select and safely operate tools and equipment to extricate trapped victims
When responders perform rescue operation the should prepare for the following (5)
Direct exposure to the hazards in the hot zone
Dangers posed by the unstable physical environment of the incident,
Stress from working in protective clothing
Emotional trauma of situation involving a mass casualty event
Decontamination of persons involved in the incident
When responders enter the hotzone they must be alert to their surroundings at all times and follow these 3 basic guidlines
Immediately exit any area whre chemical contamination is encountered and no living victims are identified
Avoid contact with any hazardous or unidentified materials
Undergo decontamination immediately upon exiting the hazardous area
Typically start at the incidents outer edges and work their way in following these 4 Priorities
Assist ambulatory casualties to save themselves (Direct them to an area of safe refuge to await decontamination)
Evacuate non ambulatory casualties showing signs of life from the warm zone
Evacuate non ambulatory casualties showing signs of life from the hot zone
Recover the deceased
To Direct these victims the rescuer can use methods including (4)
Verbal instructions
Hand signals
Signs
Light sources
