J ITSTRIIOT-O-GRAM

rsFsl THE HANDS-ON TRAINING GUIDEFOR THE FIRE INSTRUCTOR

SEARCHAND RESCUETIMB REQUIRBDThree Hours

INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

Personal Protective Clothing

Area To Conduct Small Area Search

OBJECTIVESThe student will:

l. Demonstrate a basic understanding ofsearch and rescue operations, rescueconsiderations, search techniques, andvictim removal.

2. Explain the sequence of events related toconducting a search and rescue operation.

3. Explain the considerations related toconducting a search in various occupan-cies.

4. Demonstrate the proper techniques forconducting a search of a small and largearea and removal of victims by drags orcarries (NFPA 1001 (1997) 3-3.8.).

5. Describe the techniques for rescuing anunconscious victim using ground ladders.

Copyright @ 2000 International Society of Fire Service InstructorsAll rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

SEARCH AND RESCUE . OVERVIEW

Chronology of rescue operations

Rescue considerations

Search and rescue practical

Rescue using ground ladders

I. CHRONOLOGY OF RESCUEOPERATIONS

NOTE: Rescue of people in danger is theprimary objective of a fire company.

A. Before the Alarm Considerations

1. Occupancies

2. People involved

3. Hazards

4. Objective to know in advance approxi-mate type and extent of rescue opera-tions

B. At the Alarm Considerations

1. First indication thatproblem exists

2. Initial information includes exactaddress or more general location

3. Company should know type ofoccupancy involved or type of area

4. Occupancy and time of day areimportant clues to possible presenceof victimsJ

5. Dispatch information is important

a. 'Across from"

b. "Next door to"

c. 'At the rear of'

d. "Near the intersection of'

6. First reports should be relayed to thecompany officer

On the Fireground Considerations

1. Size up - begins before the apparatusis stopped

a. Is fire building a closed-up dwellingwith heavy smoke showing?

b. Are cars parked in the driveway,front, or rear?

c. Are people at windows of theapartment house, office building, orsimilar occupancy calling for help?

d. In such multiple occupancy, withsmoke showing, can calls for help beheard coming from inside?

e. Is fire showing and, if so, where?

f. Given interior construction of thebuilding, in which directions will firetravel most rapidly?

g. Extent offire, size and age ofbuilding, and apparent occupancy isimportant.

h. Information can be obtained fromneighbors and tenants who haveescaped.

i. Special urgency, are people stillinside?

j. Reports of "everyone is out" may beelToneous.

2. Immediate rescuea. Must be attempted in extreme cases -

jumpers or people with clothing onfire.

b. All other operations must be delayed

c. Get attention of victims and calmthem.

d. Presence of victims at windows mayindicate other occupants.

e. Call for help when rescue operationskeep personnel from other duties.

f. Tiake immediate action to controloverly excited occupants.

C. Give positive orders and directions.

Obtaining water and placing streams

a. Separate the fire from the peopleclosest to it.

b. Control interior stairways andcorridors for evacuating occupantsand advancing fire fighters.

c. Protect crews searching for victimsaround and above the fire.

d. Streams should be placed as soon aspossible upon arrival to coordinatewith the search.

Search

a. Begin search immediately if there areindications of trapped or overcomevictims

b. Search operations demandcoordination and cooperation.

c. Fire spread must be blocked whensearching around or above the fire.

d. Ventilation, laddering, and forcibleentry may be required before searchcan begin.

e. All personnel on the scene must beaware that a search is in progress.

Ventilation - Building should beventilated as soon as possible.

II. RESCUE OPERATIONS

Rescue means removing victims andpotential victims from danger.

1. Extent of rescue problem directlyaffected by

a. Number of people in the fire building

b. Paths by which fire and smoke canreach them

c. Routes available to crews for reachingpeople and removing them frombuilding

Factors depend on construction, size,and interior layout of the building.

Crews must be prepared for the mostcomplex structures.

Rescue problem can tax the capacityof first arriving units. Call for addi-tional companies without delay.

Residential Occupancies

1. Might require rescue operations at anytime of day.

a

C.

4.

5 .

A.

2.

3 .

4.

B .

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2. Rescue situations are more acute atnight.

a. Occupants asleep and offguard

b. More people in residence

3. Single family dwellings

a. Search area around fire (fire floorfirsr).

b. Search area above the fire.

c. Search may begin without an attackline.

d. Attempt to isolate the fire.

e. Ventilate rooms beyond the fire room(as necessary).

4. Apartment houses

a. Note location of fire and smokeduring size up.

b. Vent the building to relieve carbonmonoxide and other combustiblegases.

c. Search fire floor, floor above fire. andtop floor.

d. Search other floors as soon aspossible.

e. Search and rescue must becoordinated with fire attack.

5. Hotels and motels

a. Problems similar to large apartmenthouses.

b. Problem depends on size, age, generalconstruction, and number ofoccupants in the building.

c. Number of people in transientoccupancy varies with time of dayand day of week.

d. Must be thoroughly ventilated.

e. Fire floor, floor above fire, top floor,and other floors must be searched.

f. Give prompt attention to roomsbehind the fire room.

Industrial Occupancies

1. Present greatest rescue problemduring daytime working hours.

2. Companies should be aware ofworking hours.

3. Physical ability/self-rescue ability ofemployees is a rescue consideration.

4. Rescue can be hampered by burningchemicals or other hazardous materi-als.

5. Large areas require special rescueprocedures to maintain control andcontact.

6. Offices present major rescue problemswith daytime fires.

Hospitals, Schools, and Institutions

1. Handled essentially the same asmultiple family housing.

2. Compounded by a larger number ofpeople, their age, and physical condi-tion.

3. Night rescues more difficult.a. Sleeping patientsb. Some patients sedatedc. Some patients immobilized

4. Fire in vacant areas may not bedetected promptly (delayed response/prolonged fire development).

5. Know special areas forbedfast, non-ambulatory, and continuous care.

6. Evacuation depends on constructionand size as well as location andseverity of fire.

a. Move patients within building.b. Corridors divided by smoke and fire

control doors.c. Lower patients to the floor whenever

smoke is encountered.

7. Crews should be aware of schoolusage - daytime and/or nighttime.

8. Expect overly excited or panickingchildren and adults.

Retail Stores

Time of day, day of week, and season allaffect rescue operations.

1. Exits

a. The larger the store, the greaterdistance between most customers andexits.

b. Super stores are laid out for restrictedtraffic flow.

c. Narrow aisles lead to narrowercheckout aisles.

d. Turnstiles at entrances.e. Shopping carts may increase

evacuation difficulty.f. Door openings are usually limited.

D.

E.

C.

g. Fire and smoke will cause panic withpushing and shoving.

h. Primary objective is to get people out.

2. Additional openings

a. Crews must calm occupants andestablish a traffic pattern.

b. If necessary, additional openingsshould be forced.

c. Create separate openings foroccupants and fire fighters, wherepossible.

3. Search

a. Aisles, offices, and storerooms mustbe searched.

b. Upper floors must be searched.

c. Search may be simplified by lack ofpartitions.

d. Know the construction and layout.

III. SEARCH AND RESCUE PRACTICAL

It is recommended that searchers wear fullprotective clothing, including SCBA, andcary appropriate tools and equipment toconduct the search and carry out the rescue.A. Working as a team, conduct a search of a

small room, and drag or carry any victimsfound to a safe location.1. Maintain direction.2. Communication between team mem-

bers.

3. Mark area.4. Use the same doorway.5. Use proper drag or carry.6. Critique evolution.

B. Working as a team, conduct a search of alarge room, and drag or caffy any victimsfound to a safe location.1. Maintain direction.2. Communication between team mem-

bers.

3. Mark area.

4. Use the same doorway.

5. Use proper drag or carry.

6. Critique evolution.

IV. RESCUE USING GROND LADDERS

A. Important to select proper length ladder,especially when a straight ladder is used.

B. As the ladder is raised for rescue, it mustbe kept out of reach of the people to beremoved.

C. Raise ladder in vertical position awayfrom the building, pivot, extend ifneeded,and lower tip to victims.

D. When placed at a window for rescue, thetip should be at or just over the level of thesill.

E. When placed at the front railing of abalcony, fire escape, or at a wall beside arailing or fire escape, extend two to fourrungs above the railing for a goodhandhold.

F. Ladders raised to the roof should be two tofour rungs above the roof wall.

REVIEWSearch and rescueChronology of rescue operationsRescue considerationsSearch and rescue practicalRescue using ground ladders

REFERENCESTruck Company Fireground Operationq Second

Edition, Chapter 3Essentials of Fire Fighting, Fourth Edition, IFSTA,

Chapter 7

ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe materials in this Instruct-O-Gram are providedcourtesy of Clarence E. White, Jr., of the FrederickCounty Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association.

The Instruct-O-Gram is the monthly training outline of the InternationalSociety of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI). The monthly Instruct-O-

Gram is provided as one of the benefits of membership in ISFSI.

CALL 1 -8OO-435-OOO5 FOR INFORMATIONON OTHER BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP.