4. Branch Director
Works with IC (BC) to:
Determine rescue or recovery
Decide on offensive or defensive actions
Identify the operational level
Develop strategic goal and tactical objectives (a plan)
5. Safety Officer
NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations and Training for Technical
Search and Rescue Incidents
4.5.2.1 At technical search and rescue training exercises and in actual
operations, the incident commander shall assign a safety officer with the
specific knowledge and responsibility for the
identification, evaluation, and, where possible, correction of hazardous
conditions and unsafe practices.
NFPA 1521, Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer
6.4.2 In cases where a designated incident safety officer does not meet the
technician-level requirements of NFPA 1006, Standard for Rescue
Technician Professional Qualifications, the incident commander shall
appoint an assistant safety officer or a technical specialist who meets the
technician-level requirements of NFPA 1006 to assist with incident safety
officer functions.
6. Entry
Hazard Recognition
Patient Packaging
Rigging
Rigging
Construct rope systems
Operate main and belay line
Can be supplemented with untrained personnel
7. Recon/Air Monitor and Ventilation
These positions should not be filled by untrained
personnel.
There are specific duties for each position.
There is a specific order in which these actions should occur.
This part of the initial actions will affect the rest of the incident.
8. Reconnaissance
re·con·nais·sance n. An inspection or exploration of an
area, especially one made to gather military information.
[French, from Old French reconoissance, recognition, from
reconoistre, reconoiss-, to recognize; see recognize.]
1. Approach
2. Situation
3. Hazards
4. Confined Space Details
5. Patient
6. Resources
9. Approach
PPE
Turnouts
SCBA
Air monitor
Radio
Light
Check for:
Attendants and/or witnesses – send them to IC
Permit
Allow time for the monitor to respond to establish a
safe work zone.
10. Situation
What does the problem appear to be?
Atmospheric related incident
Entrapment
Medical/trauma
Other
11. Hazards
Atmospheric
• O2 – high or low
• CO
• LEL
• H2S
• If the monitor readings are normal, call for ventilation to be brought
up.
Other hazards
• Electrical
• Mechanical
• Physical (fall, heat/cold, animals, etc.)
12. Confined Space Detail
Type of space
Size
•
Depth
•
Width
•
Length
Size of opening
Access options
Interior obstructions
13. Patient Assessment
Try to make contact with the patient
Response level
Obvious injuries
Patient location
Trapped, buried, impaled
14. Resources
What resources might be needed for this incident?
Can a ladder be used for access?
Can rescuers enter the space in SCBA?
Do we need utilities locked out?
Will a tripod fit over the opening?
Do we need lighting?
???
15. Air Monitoring
4x4x4 monitoring
4 Functions
• Oxygen
• Flammables (LEL)
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Hydrogen Sulfide (H 2S)
4 Initial Locations
• Outside the space
• Inside – top level
• Middle level
• Bottom level
16. Air Monitoring
4x4x4 monitoring
4 foot increments
After the initial readings, do more precise monitoring by checking the
space every four feet.
Remember to give the monitor time to respond. If the sample hose is
used, allow approximately 1 second per foot for the air sample to reach
the monitor.
The atmosphere should be monitored constantly and any significant
changes should be reported to command. Ideally, the entry team
should have a monitor with them.
17. Oxygen
What is the normal percentage of oxygen in air?
0
20.9%
19.5% 23.5%
?
The OSHA oxygen deficient and
oxygen enriched percentages are…
100
18. Oxygen
19.5% is the minimum oxygen level for unsupported breathing, but
don’t have a false sense of security if the O2 reading is in the “safe”
zone between 20.8% and 19.5%.
1% = 10,000ppm
Example: O2 reading is 20.3%, 0.5% lower than “normal”
0.5% = 5,000ppm
Something must be making up the 5,000ppm. What?
Ammonia
300ppm IDLH
Chlorine
10ppm IDLH
Benzene
500ppm IDLH
CO
1200ppm IDLH
H2S
100ppm IDLH
19. LEL (Lower Explosive Limits), and UEL (Upper Explosive Limits)
Too Rich
UEL
Explosive
Range
LEL
Too
Lean
10% of LEL
All flammable vapors have an
explosive range. Any mixture
of air and vapor that is above
this range is said to be too rich
to explode. Any mixture of air
and vapor below this range is
said to be too lean to explode.
20. Carbon Monoxide
Common asphyxiant encountered in industry.
Formed by incomplete combustion whenever fuel containing carbon is
burned, including internal combustion engines.
Odorless, colorless
Renders the body incapable of utilizing an adequate oxygen supply.
CO is about the same vapor density as air.
Alarm point for CO is 35 ppm
Hydrogen Sulfide
Common to many industries but a major hazard in the oil refining
industry, in sewage treatment.
Formed by the decaying of organic materials.
Characterized by a rotten egg odor.
Renders the olfactory nerve (which controls the sense of smell)
ineffective.
H2S is heavier than air.
Alarm point for H2S is 10 ppm
21. Ventilation
Order of events:
1. Air is monitored on approach and outside the space.
2. Ventilation person readies vent fan by connecting tubing and securing a
power supply.
3. If readings are good, Recon signals for ventilation equipment to be
brought up (not running, but ready to go).
4. Recon places vent tube (near to patient), ventilation is turned on.
5. Recon re-checks air monitoring for changes.
6. If readings outside the space are still good, Recon communicates this
to Command.
7. Work zone is now established.
Place vent tube deep enough for effective ventilation and be aware of
where the fan is drawing air from, as well as where air exits the space.
