Search & Rescue Training

SEARCH & RESCUE TRAINING AWARENESS OVERVIEW

This program is designed for your ERT members as an overview
and provides the following training:

  • Intro to the basics of Search and Rescue
  • Structural and nonstructural safety
  • Search and Rescue techniques and search plan
  • What to do before, during & after an event
  • Incident scene management and communication

Program Length

  • 2 hours
  • 4 hours

SEARCH & RESCUE TRAINING TYPE 4 (BASIC) OPERATIONAL LEVEL

This is a hands-on program designed as a more comprehensive awareness program for those needing SAR responder skills and includes the following training:

Personnel shall be trained in hazard recognition, equipment use and techniques required to operate safely and effectively at incidents involving non-structural entrapment.  Personnel at this level shall be competent at surface rescue that involves minimal removal of debris and building contents to extricate easily accessible victims from damaged, but non-collapsed structures.

Training at the basic level will include at minimum the following:

  • Size-up of existing and potential conditions and the identification of the resources necessary to conduct safe and effective urban search and rescue operations.
  • Process for implementing the Incident Command System (ICS).
  • Procedures for the acquisition, coordination and utilization of resources.
  • Procedures for implementing site control and scene management.
  • Identification, utilization and proper care of personal protective equipment required for operations at structural collapse or failure incidents.
  • Identification of five general construction categories, characteristics and expected behavior of each category in a collapse or failure situation.
  • Identification of four types of collapse patterns and potential victim locations.
  • Recognition of the potential for secondary collapse.
  • Recognition of the general hazards associated with a structure collapse or failure situation and the actions necessary for the safe mitigation of those hazards
  • Procedures for implementing the structure/hazard marking system.
  • Procedures for conducting searches at non-collapsed structures using appropriate methods for the type of building configuration.
  • Procedures for implementing the search marking system.
  • Recognition and response to the emergency signaling system.
  • Procedures for the extrication of easily accessible victims from non-structural entrapments involving minimal removal of debris and /or building contents.
  • Procedures for providing disaster first aid medical care to victims.
  • Members shall be trained to the Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness Level (FRA).
  • Members shall be training in basic CPR/First Aid and if appropriate AED training.

Program Options

  • 8 hours (minimum)
  • 12 hours (recommended)

SEARCH & RESCUE TRAINING TYPE 3 (LIGHT) OPERATIONAL LEVEL

Personnel shall meet all SAR Type-4 (Basic) level training requirements.  In addition, personnel shall be trained in hazard recognition, equipment use and techniques required to operate safely and effectively at structural collapse incidents involving the collapse or failure of Light Frame Construction and low angle or one person load rope rescue as specified below:

  • Site safety, hazard assessment and personal protective equipment required for site.
  • Recognition of the building materials and structural components associated with Light Frame Construction.
  • Recognition of unstable collapse and failure zones of Light Frame Construction.
  • Recognition of collapse patterns and probable victim locations associated with Light Frame Construction.
  • Procedures for implementing the emergency signaling system.

Personnel shall have an awareness of the resources and the ability to perform search operations intended to locate victims who are not readily visible and who are trapped inside and beneath debris of Light Frame Construction.  Training should include but not be limited to the following:

  • Conducting non-technical searches.
  • Procedures for implementing the victim marking system.

Personnel shall be trained in the procedures for performing access operations intended to reach victims trapped inside and beneath debris associated with Light Frame Construction.  Training should include but not be limited to the following:

  • Lifting techniques to safely and efficiently lift structural components of walls, floors or roofs.
  • Develop and communicate a shoring plan. Safely and efficiently construct temporary structures needed to stabilize and support structural components to prevent movement of walls, floors or roofs.
  • Breaching techniques to safely and efficiently create openings in structural components of walls, floors or roofs.
  • Operating appropriate tools and equipment to safely and efficiently accomplish the above tasks.

Personnel shall be trained in the procedures for performing extrication operations involving packaging, treatment and removal of victims trapped inside and beneath debris associated with Light Frame Construction. Training should include but not be limited to the following:

  • Packaging victims within confined areas.
  • Removing victims from elevated or below grade areas.
  • Providing medical treatment to victims at a minimum to the Basic Life Support (BLS) level.
  • Operating appropriate tools and equipment to safely and efficiently accomplish the above tasks.

Personnel shall be trained in the procedures for performing low angle or one-person load rope rescue involving accessing, packaging, treating, and removing victims.  Training should include but not be limited to the following:

  • Rope system anchors
  • Evacuation litters
  • Rescuer and patient packaging
  • Lowering and raising systems
  • Mechanical advantage systems

Program Options

  • 16 hours (minimum)
  • 24 hours (recommended)