2. 12
Objectives (1 of 4)
• Describe tactical considerations such as
attempting to make a rescue without the
proper PPE or without backup personnel,
or deciding whether a rescue attempt has
a good chance of success
3. 12
Objectives (2 of 4)
• Describe entry team and backup team
responsibilities
• Describe the difference between
ambulatory and nonambulatory victims,
and considerations for each
4. 12
Objectives (3 of 4)
• Describe the difference between rescue
mode and recovery mode
• Describe considerations in providing
medical care and/or decontamination to
victims during rescue mode or recovery
mode
5. 12
Objectives (4 of 4)
• Describe the equipment needed for
search, rescue and recovery operations
• Describe the assists, lifts, and carries
commonly used during rescue operations
• Describe the benefits of sheltering-in-
place
• Describe the process of triage
6. 12
Protecting Life (1 of 2)
• Responder’s job is to protect life
• Risk to responder may outweigh benefit
• Decision based on
– Sound information
– Training
– PPE and enough trained personnel
7. 12
Protecting Life (2 of 2)
• May have to attempt rescue without
resources
– Without adequate training
– Without proper PPE (or any PPE)
• Making a victim rescue is a choice
– Choose wisely
8. 12
Tactical Considerations (1 of 3)
• First, ensure enough responders are on
scene.
• Do not attempt a rescue alone.
• Take time to size up the scene and
understand the hazards present before
responding.
9. 12
Tactical Considerations (2 of 3)
• Generally at least five responders are
needed.
– Two on entry team
– Two on backup team
– One to staff emergency decontamination
• Victim viability is an important factor.
11. 12
Entry Team
• Two or more appropriately trained
responders
• Proper level and type of PPE
• Equipped with radio communications
• With appropriate tools
• Operating under direction of supervisor
12. 12
Entry Team Responsibilities (1 of 4)
• Reconnaissance
• Mapping
• Search and rescue
• Triaging victims
• Directing victims out of contaminated
environment
14. 12
Entry Team Responsibilities (3 of 4)
• Non-line-of-sight situations
– Require searching before rescue
• Ambulatory victims (able to walk)
• Nonambulatory victims (unable to walk)
• Carrying adult victims is physically taxing
• Decontamination necessary for all victims
15. 12
Entry Team Responsibilities (4 of 4)
Decontamination is necessary for all victims when a
chemical exposure is suspected or confirmed.
16. 12
Triage (1 of 3)
• Essential at all mass-casualty incidents
• Rescue live victims with best chance of
survival
• Pointless to rescue the dead
– Dead are recovered later
• Follow AHJ-approved triage method
17. 12
Triage (2 of 3)
• START (Simple Triage And Rapid
Treatment) system
• Assesses:
– Breathing rate
– Pulse rate
– Mental status
18. 12
Triage (3 of 3)
• Use color-coding system to classify
victims
• Shows priority for treatment and removal
– Red-tagged victims are first priority
– Yellow-tagged victims are second priority
– Green- or black-tagged victims are lowest
priority
19. 12
Rescue Mode (1 of 2)
• Victims are present
• Victims determined to have good chance
of survival
• Rescue as quickly as possible
• May transition to recovery mode
20. 12
Rescue Mode (2 of 2)
Victims with a good chance of survival are rescued as quickly
as possible.
21. 12
Recovery Mode
• No chance remains of rescuing victims
alive
• Systematic search
• Removal of bodies
• Decontamination may still be necessary
• Evidence collection
22. 12
Medical Care
• Generally not rendered during rescue
mode
• Decontamination required
• Medical care outside the hot or warm zone
• No absolutes—always exceptions
23. 12
Backup Team (1 of 2)
• One person for each entry team member
• Dressed in same level of PPE
• Staged at same access point
• Ready to deploy in seconds
24. 12
Backup Team (2 of 2)
One backup entry team member should be provided for each
entry team member.
25. 12
Emergency Decontamination (1 of 2)
• Rapidly removes bulk of contamination
• Removal of clothing
• Dousing of victim
• Addressing contaminated runoff if there is
time
26. 12
Emergency Decontamination (2 of 2)
Emergency decontamination involves the immediate removal
of contaminated clothing.
27. 12
Search, Rescue, and Recovery
(1 of 2)
• Time-consuming
• Dangerous
• Labor-intensive
• Stressful
• PPE causes physical problems
28. 12
Search, Rescue, and Recovery
(2 of 2)
• “Work smarter, not harder.”
• Primary team could pass on information to
secondary team
• Each incident has unique factors
29. 12
Search, Rescue, and Recovery
Equipment (1 of 3)
• Wear full PPE, and SCBA if necessary
• Carry proper rescue supplies and tools
– Portable radio
– Hand light or flashlight
– Forcible-entry (-exit) tools
– Thermal imaging devices (if available)
30. 12
Search, Rescue, and Recovery
Equipment (2 of 3)
– Long rope(s) in some cases
– Tubular webbing or short rope (16–24 feet)
• For victims:
– Rescue sleds (see next slide), stretchers
– Evacuation chairs, spine boards
– Wheeled carts
31. 12
Search, Rescue, and Recovery
Equipment (3 of 3)
Responders using a rescue sled to extricate a victim.
32. 12
Search, Rescue, and Recovery
Safety Tips
• Work from a single plan
• Maintain radio contact with IC
• Monitor environmental conditions
• Adhere to personal accountability system
of AHJ
• Stay with a partner
33. 12
Rescue Methods
• Assists, carries, drags
– Should be practiced ahead of time
• Direct or remove victim to safe area
• Use safest means of egress
34. 12
Sheltering-in-Place
• Sometimes safer to shelter than remove
• Conscious victim
• Located in adequately protected part of
building
• When not feasible, rescue is required
38. 12
Emergency Drags (2 of 2)
• Fire fighter drag
• Emergency drag from a vehicle
• Long backboard rescue
39. 12
Summary (1 of 2)
• Rescue feasibility is not exact science
• Rescue attempts should be based on
sound information, good training,
adequate PPE, and enough available
personnel
• Reasonable expectation of a positive
outcome is important
40. 12
Summary (2 of 2)
• Team of five trained responders (not
including supervisor) is recommended
• Use assists, carries, drags to aid victims
• All on scene should know when incident
switches from rescue to recovery mode
• A decontamination plan must be in place
Notas del editor
Image: Courtesy of Rob Schnepp
Image: Courtesy of 1st Lt. Toni Tones/U.S. Air Force
Image: Courtesy of Journalist 3rd Class Ryan C. McGinley/U.S. Navy
Image: Photographed by Glen E. Ellman.
Image: Courtesy of MIEMSS.
Image: Courtesy of Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Kirk Worley/U.S. Navy
