Structural Collapse Technician Training

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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System

Structural Collapse Technician Training


Appendix A Search Capabilities

Jan09

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TERMINAL OBJECTIVES The student shall understand the

capabilities of the US&R Task Force Search Team.

The student shall be prepared to function as the Rescue Specialist member of a Search Team

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ENABLING OBJECTIVES Discuss the Rapid Recon process Understand the advantages and

disadvantages of the various search methods and tools used by a US&R Task Force

Understand the basics of search strategy for the Detection and Location of Victims

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INTRODUCTION Search & Rescue needs close interaction of

all Task Force elements Search starts early and continues to the end

of the incident Search consists of Detection and Location

Many tools and methods are availableSome are better at either Detection or Location –

Some do well at both Need to understand the advantages and

disadvantages of each tool

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SEARCH STRATEGY & PRIORITIZATION

Search used in the past to prioritize a multi-building incident – too slow

Structure Triage – also too slow Intended to pre-prioritize bldgs for search teams

New Rapid Recon ProcessRecon Team, Followed by Search TeamsTime of incident vs. Occupancy may be critical

Prioritization may be done by others or by Task Force

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Original RECON TEAM Search Team Manager Two Canine Search Specialists Technical Search Specialist Medical Specialist Structural Specialist Hazmat Specialist Two Rescue Specialists

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Structural Collapse Technician Training NEW, RAPID RECON – 3 Phases Assessment Team

Struct & Hazmat Spec + Tech Info Spec & Search Tm Mgr Quick Assessment of a few buildings at a time Initial prioritization

Victim Detection Team STM, 2 - K9 Teams, Tech Search, 2 - Rescue, Med Spec,

Struct Spec, Hazmat Spec Victim Detection & detailed Hazard Assessment

Victim Location Team STM, 2 – K9 Teams, Tech Search, 2 – Rescue, Med Spec,

possibly Struct & Hazmat Spec (from detection Team) Victim Location, Initial Treatment, & start rescue

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Structural Collapse Technician Training SEARCH TEAM EQUIPMENT

Electric hammer drills Electronic viewing equipment Electronic listening equipment Atmospheric monitoring equipment Marking materials Structure Evaluate equip

Distance, laser range finderHeight, clinometer Recording devices

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SEARCH TEAM EQUIPMENT Bull horn for hailing - air horn for signaling Medical pack Personal gear

WaterSafety equipmentCanine

Search & Recon equipment needs to be loaded in position to be unloaded among “First Off” items

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Structural Collapse Technician Training PHYSICAL VOID SEARCH

AdvantagesNo special equipment requiredPeople easily trained to support effort

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Structural Collapse Technician Training PHYSICAL VOID SEARCH Disadvantages

Limited access to voids May be dangerous Will not locate unconscious, weak, young

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Structural Collapse Technician Training AUDIBLE CALL-OUT Advantages

No special equipment requiredPeople easily trained to support effortSearchers can inform victim of responseCan be used with listening device

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Structural Collapse Technician Training AUDIBLE CALL-OUT Disadvantages

Will not locate unconscious, weak, youngSound of knocking may be too weak for

audible detection

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VISUAL SEARCH DEVICESMostly used for location Flexible Fiberscopes Rigid Borescopes Video Search Cameras

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FLEXIBLE FIBERSCOPES

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Structural Collapse Technician Training FLEXIBLE FIBERSCOPES

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RIGID BORESCOPES

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FIBERSCOPES & BORESCOPES Advantages

Finds position & condition of victimUseful to verify other search tactics

just prior to starting rescue operationsUsed to monitor victim during rescue

DisadvantagesDifficult to use in extended holes due to

flexible cable, limited length of rigid scope, and limited light sources

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SEARCH CAMERAS Video camera Video Cable Video display

CRT - olderLCD - newer

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Original unit Pole mounted 1 3/4”

camera7” BW/CRT Mic/SpeakerBuilt-in light source

SEARCH CAMERAS SearchCam

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Newer UnitPower controlsArticulating headVariable LED lightTwo-way audioExtendable probe2- LED screen

portsInterchangeable

batteries

SEARCH CAMERAS SearchCam

SearchCam® 2000 Courtesy of Search Systems Incorporated

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Structural Collapse Technician Training SEARCH CAMERAS Zistos WalkAbout

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Dual Thermal Head

Thermal Video

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Manual articulation LED light head LED screen Rechargeable battery

Waterproof

Flexible Lower cost

SEARCH CAMERAS Snake-Eye

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Structural Collapse Technician Training SEARCH CAMERAS Advantages

Easily understood Possibility to record picture Useful to verify other search tactics just prior

to starting rescue operations Used to monitor victim during rescue

Disadvantages Size, cost, and power requirements Straight line of sight

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INFRARED/THERMA IMAGING

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INFRARED/THERMAL IMAGING Advantages

Equipment often locally availableCan be used to survey large, open, dark

areas Disadvantages

Cannot detect heat difference through solidsSources other than human can be detected

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Structural Collapse Technician Training ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVICES

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Sensor Attachment

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ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVICES Advantages

Able to cover large area as a DetectorCan triangulate on victim positionCapable of picking up faint

noise/vibrationUsed in conjunction w/other search tools

to verify find

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ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVICES Disadvantages

Unconscious victims not detectedAmbient nose level may need to be

loweredVictim needs to create noise patternLimited range (acoustic=25ft,

seismic=75ft)Can be used to locate victims, but may

be relatively slow

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ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVICES All Task Forces have these devices Listen to acoustic or seismic vibration Normally deploy two or more sensors Hailing device used to get victim response Can Detect if live victim is in structure

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ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVICES May Locate proper layer in pancake collapse Takes time to Locate victims - move sensors Compared signals only good if sensors are

matched and anchored in similar materials Sensors best in solid/dense materials

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ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVICES Can use two sensors to Locate victims

by keeping strong signal in place and moving other in circle.

More difficult to Locate victim in collapsed structures containing different materials w/different degrees of fracture

Second operator should be used to confirm

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CANINE SEARCHWest Coast,Undisciplined, Document Shredding Type

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K9 can be used in physical search, but are mostly used for their noses not to stand on their Tippy-toses’es

CANINE SEARCH

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Structural Collapse Technician Training CANINE BASICS Dogs use keen sense of smell to differentiate

scent find marijuana in gas tank

Can be trained to detect/indicate the difference between live victim, dead, food, other animals

Essential to deploy only well trained canineK9 needs to have been trained to work in the

collapsed structure environment. K9 normally Detect and Locate victims

simultaneouslyDetection may require Interpretation by a well trained

Handler

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Structural Collapse Technician Training DISASTER CANINE TRAINING

Requires special training beyond Normal SAR K9Alert system - Bark

& DigAgilityDirection & controlCollapsed

structure environment

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Structural Collapse Technician Training DISASTER CANINE TRAINING

Requires at least 2 years to Train a Disaster Dog200+ FEMA Certified

K9Need min of 4 K9

per TF x 3Total for 28 TFs =336

Many TF have adequate numbers of K9

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CANINE SEARCH STRATEGY Search Mgr, Tech Search Spec, and

Canine Spec survey site to determine overall strategy

Need to consider:Time of day & temperatureType & direction of windSize of search area & type of collapse

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CANINE SEARCH STRATEGY Site normally divided into small sectors Trained to bark & dig at scent source Search Mgr needs to draw crude map to

record location of finds, etc

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CANINE SEARCH TACTICS From safe zone, 1st Canine Search Team

deploys to free search sector If no alerts, directs canine in fine grid

search Search Mgr & 2nd Canine Search Team

observe from different vantage points If 1st Canine Search Team has alerts or

not, 2nd Canine Search Team will repeat & verify 1st team’s results

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Structural Collapse Technician Training CANINE SEARCH TACTICS (continued)

Alert is marked only after confirmation by a 2nd team.

Remaining sectors are searched & marked until entire are is covered.

Scent channels around solid slabs, etc & canine will indicate where scent is emerging, not necessarily where victim is precisely located.

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Structural Collapse Technician Training CANINE SEARCH TACTICS (cont.) Scent tends to raise evenly through broken

rubble & lighter structures Continued re-searching of structure as it is

accessed/uncovered will give best results

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WORKING CONDITIONS Best:

Dawn, duskCool weatherLight windsStable rubbleLight rain

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Structural Collapse Technician Training Sometimes Conditions Are NOT going to be Good

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WORKING CONDITIONS Difficult

Hot weather (above 90F)Mid-day with temps above 80FStrong wind and no windSnow/ice made slippery footing/hides

surfacesFirefighting foam & other chemicals

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Structural Collapse Technician Training CANINE PROS Advantages:

Search large area in shortest timeCan gain access to hidden areasCan work in dangerous areasCan detect unconscious victims

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CANINE CONS Disadvantages:

Rest periodsUse of two to confirmPerformance may

varyUncertified to certifiedBasic to advancedHandler to handler

Scarce resource

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ELECTRONIC & CANINE SEARCH COMBINATION Mexico City 1985 Quake had success

using crude electronics with K9. Most common combo is to use

electronics to Detect and K9 to Locate. In large pancake concrete collapse,

electronic may be able to indicate which level contains victim, canine to pinpoint on that level.

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Structural Collapse Technician Training ELECTRONIC & CANINE SEARCH COMBINATION (continued) During hot daytime canine do not work well &

electronic may be able to direct canine to proper sector, etc.

For badly broken structures, canine may be most effective for initial search.

For structures w/large concrete slabs or steel structures, electronics may be most effective.

If both search tools are available they should be used to confirm each other.

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Structural Collapse Technician Training WORK SITE PRIORITIZATION

Search tactics will be determined only after assignment is known.

Type of initial search (canine, electronic, call-out, other) will then be determined:Electronic search is slower but may be

more effective than othersCanine can cover large areas but need

verification & adequate scentCall-out may be most positive

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WORK SITE PRIORITIZATION In some cases, physical, canine, &

electronic search may be conducted in the same, large structure

Once general area of trapped victims is determined, fiber-optics or video camera viewing may be used: Determine exact position & condition.Cameras may be used for initial victim

Location by cutting grid of holes thru conc. or wood floor

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SUMMARY The Search Task may require the Detection and

Location of many victims. Proper use of all available search tools will

enable the most favorable outcome. The Task Force will be assigned to the most

difficult & time consuming structures. The search function must be able to Detect and

Locate viable victims before committing the TF to a prolonged rescue effort.

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SUMMARY (continued) All need to understand the limitations &

advantages of each search tool. Interaction between hazard assessment

and search deployment must be close & efficient.

Assessments should be performed thru-out operations since aftershocks & debris/structure removal can expose new hazards & new search opportunities.

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K-9 DEMONSTRATION

Training Alert at Demolished Stadium

Site

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Overall Site View

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Structural Collapse Technician Training K-9 is deliberately directed to work in structure above victim K-9 Finds Scent

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Structural Collapse Technician Training After finding scent, K-9 goes in opposite direction to more safely get to victim

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K-9 now carefully moving in

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Structural Collapse Technician Training K-9 attempting to penetrate into victim location

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Now Video will illustrate

Live Victim Find in Real Time

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Structural Collapse Technician Training