Commanding the Confined Space Rescue

ICS Incident Priorities

• Life safety

• Responder safety is number one priority

• General public

• Be part of the solution, not the problem

• 60% of fatalities are would be rescuers

ICS Incident Priorities

• Risk / Benefit analysis – What do I have to lose?– What do I have to gain?– Analysis: process used to determine strategic

goals of an incident.

ICS Incident Priorities

• Development of strategic goals is determined after an assessment of the situation.

• The survivability of the victim will determine if a rescue is possible or if this will be a body recovery.

ICS Incident Priorities

• Offensive ( rescue)– Are viable lives at risk– Manageable number– Hazards are known and controllable– Resources are available– Incident stabilization prompt and probable

ICS Incident Priorities

• Defensive ( body recovery )– No life probability of victim– Complex rescue incident– Hazardous conditions still exist– Resources unavailable– Stabilization unlikely

Incident Stabilization

• Ability of each CSR team is based on training and equipment.

• CSR team needs to pre-plan spaces to determine equipment and training needs.

• Tactical objectives are based on strategic goals of the incident.

Scene Management

• Establish Command

• Reconnaissance

• Gain Control

Establish Command

• Any team member can be command– usually highest trained– can be passed as more people arrive– need to know the ICS– trained in CSR

Responsibilities of IC

• Make initial assessment and evaluation

• Establish goals and objectives

• Determine additional resources

• Deploy personnel and units

• Establish a command post

Reconnaissance

• Once preliminary information indicates that PPE on hand is adequate– Obtain air monitoring samples– Assess hazards– Patients– Characteristics of space

• Rapidly communicate information to IC

Gain Control

• Perimeter Control– May need police– Barrier tape, ropes, barricades

• Includes– Civilian volunteer rescuers– Controlling traffic– Limiting access to the rescue area to assigned

personnel

Gain Control

• Hazard Mitigation– Avoid the hazard– Remove the hazard– Control the hazard– Use personal protective equipment

Gain Control

• Hazard Mitigation– Risk / benefit analysis– Length of time to implement– survival time of patient

• Factors involved– Equipment available– Personnel - training, skills, knowledge and

numbers

Scene Management

• IC needs to:

• Analyze the problem

• Plan solutions

• Implement the plan

• Evaluate progress

Strategic Factors for CSR

• Confined Space Characteristics

• Hazards Present

• Rescue Opportunities

• Resources

Confined Space Characteristics

• Type

• Function

• Configuration

• Construction

• Size

• Entry Points ( size, number, location )

Hazards Present

• Atmospheric

• Energy Sources

• Entrapment

• Fall

• Fire / Explosion

• Hazardous Material

Rescue Opportunities

• Not Injured

• Minor Injury

• Controllable Hazards

• Personal Protection for Patient

• Rescue Problem within Capabilities of the Department

• Distance

Resources

• Sufficient Personnel ( numbers, experience, training )

• Appropriate equipment, Apparatus, Material

• Time to Implement Option Chosen

• Availability

• Interagency Coordination

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Operations / Group Supervisor / Team Leader

• Overseas and controls all tasks and functions.

• Directs all tactical objectives according to goals set by command.

• Ensures entry control

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Safety– Monitors all safety factors– Advises command– Ensures correct selection and use of PPE– Monitors entry team air time– Has authority to stop unsafe operations and

override command

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Entry: Rescue / Recovery– Enters space to provide recon– Provides for removal of patients– Directs communication with Operations and

Safety

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Hazard Control– Provides proper ventilation of space– Provides monitoring of space– Provides lockout of all sources of energy and

engulfment hazards– Advises Operations of above

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Air Supply– Provides appropriate air supply support for all

entrants– determines amount of air needed amount – Ensures adequate amount of on-scene air

supply– Advises Operations

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Rigging– Determines type rescue equipment needed– Sets up and manages rescue systems– Performs duties of attendant– Ensures safety of entrants– Advises Operations

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Medical– Provides medical surveillance of entrants– Provides rehabilitation– Provides medical care to patients after removal

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Additional Functions– Research

• Provides technical research on hazards.

– Decontamination• Provides decon to entrants and patients

• Manages decon line

Functional Components of IMSAssigned by IC

• Rapid Intervention Team ( RIT )– Provides safety backup for entry– Dressed in same PPE as entry, staged to go– Cannot be assigned to another task– Provides at least one for one coverage

Application

Application

• First Arriving Company: Initial Actions– Establish Command– Reconnaissance– Gain control

Application Phase I: Pre-Entry

• Size-up

• Rescue / Recovery

• Pre-Plan

• Command Post

• Hazard control

• Monitoring

• Ventilation

Application Phase I: Pre-EntryCont.

• Lockout / Tagout

• Technical Team Required

• Decon

• Rehab

• Accountability

Application Phase II:Entry /Rescue

• PPE

• Rigging system

• Air monitoring

• Ventilation

• Briefing

• Communications

• Entry authorized, accountability

Application Phase III: Removal

• Recon

• Package

• Removal

• Entry team out

• Accountability

Application Phase IV: Termination

• Objective

• Debriefing

• Rehab

• CISD

• Re-supply, Re-deploy

• Terminate Command, document

• Post incident analysis