FIREFIGHTER I • LESSON 7

RESCUE RESCUE VS.VS. EXTRICATION EXTRICATION

• Rescue — Rescue — Removal and treatment of victims from situations involving natural elements, structural collapse, elevation differences, or any other situation not considered to be an extrication incident

• Extrication — Extrication — Removal and treatment of victims who are trapped by some type of man-made machinery or equipment

TS 7–1

ASSESSMENT PRIOR TO ASSESSMENT PRIOR TO BUILDING SEARCHBUILDING SEARCH

• Look at the entire building and its surroundings Look at the entire building and its surroundings on approach.on approach.

• Question occupants who have escaped to Question occupants who have escaped to obtain information about those who may still be obtain information about those who may still be inside and where they may be found.inside and where they may be found.

TS 7–2

BUILDING SEARCH BUILDING SEARCH OBJECTIVES/PRIORITIESOBJECTIVES/PRIORITIES

FirstFirst PriorityPriority

Searching for lifeSearching for life

SecondSecond PriorityPriority

Searching for fire extension Searching for fire extension

TS 7–3

GUIDELINES FORGUIDELINES FORPRIMARY BUILDING SEARCHPRIMARY BUILDING SEARCH

• Conduct before or during fire suppression Conduct before or during fire suppression operations.operations.

• Be rapid but thorough.Be rapid but thorough.

• Look in known or likely locations for victims.Look in known or likely locations for victims.

• Verify fire conditions.Verify fire conditions.

• Report surprises.Report surprises.

TS 7–4

SECONDARY BUILDING SEARCHSECONDARY BUILDING SEARCH

• Is conducted after fire is under control and Is conducted after fire is under control and hazards are somewhat abatedhazards are somewhat abated

• Is conducted by personnel other than those Is conducted by personnel other than those who conducted primary searchwho conducted primary search

• Is thorough and painstakingIs thorough and painstaking

TS 7–5

SEARCHING MULTISTORY SEARCHING MULTISTORY BUILDINGSBUILDINGS

• Prioritize critical areas:Prioritize critical areas:

1st priority — Fire floor

2nd priority — Floor directly above the fire

3rd priority — Topmost floors

• Search critical areas immediately (remaining Search critical areas immediately (remaining occupants will be in the greatest jeopardy in occupants will be in the greatest jeopardy in these places).these places).

TS 7–6a

SEARCHING MULTISTORY SEARCHING MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (cont.)BUILDINGS (cont.)

• Search intervening floors after critical areas.Search intervening floors after critical areas.

• Close doors to rooms not involved in fire to Close doors to rooms not involved in fire to prevent fire spread.prevent fire spread.

• Keep exits, hallways, and stairs clear to reduce Keep exits, hallways, and stairs clear to reduce tripping hazards.tripping hazards.

TS 7–6b

TYPES OF MARKING SYSTEMSTYPES OF MARKING SYSTEMS

Chalk or CrayonsChalk or Crayons

Masking TapeMasking Tape

Door MarkersDoor Markers

Latch StrapsLatch Straps

Two-part systems are bestTwo-part systems are best..

TS 7–7

GENERAL SAFETY DURING GENERAL SAFETY DURING BUILDING SEARCHESBUILDING SEARCHES

• Be alert for weakened or hazardous structural Be alert for weakened or hazardous structural conditions.conditions.

• Continually feel the floor in front with hands or a Continually feel the floor in front with hands or a tool.tool.

• Be alert for signs that floor/ceiling assembly has Be alert for signs that floor/ceiling assembly has weakened.weakened.

• Be cautious when opening doors.Be cautious when opening doors.

• Open doors slowly to check for possible victims.Open doors slowly to check for possible victims.

TS 7–8

WHAT TO DO IF WHAT TO DO IF TRAPPED OR DISORIENTED TRAPPED OR DISORIENTED

• Stay calm.Stay calm.

• Retrace steps to original location.Retrace steps to original location.

• Seek an exit from the building or fire area.Seek an exit from the building or fire area.

• Shout for help periodically.Shout for help periodically.

• If a hoseline can be found, feel for couplings —If a hoseline can be found, feel for couplings —

Female is toward the nozzle

Male is toward the water source

• Make radio contact as quickly as possible. Make radio contact as quickly as possible.

TS 7–9a

WHAT TO DO IFWHAT TO DO IFTRAPPED OR DISORIENTED (cont.)TRAPPED OR DISORIENTED (cont.)

• If you can’t find a way out —If you can’t find a way out —

Find place of relative safety.

Stay close to a wall.

Activate PASS device.

Shine flashlight toward ceiling.

•   If exhausted or close to losing consciousness —If exhausted or close to losing consciousness —

Lie flat on floor next to exterior wall, hallway, or doorway.

Shine flashlight toward ceiling.

TS 7–9b

SEARCHING FOR A LOST OR SEARCHING FOR A LOST OR DISORIENTED FIREFIGHTERDISORIENTED FIREFIGHTER

• First try to quickly obtain an idea of firefighter’s First try to quickly obtain an idea of firefighter’s last location.last location.

• Stop every so often and become perfectly quiet to Stop every so often and become perfectly quiet to hear calls for help or downed firefighter’s PASS hear calls for help or downed firefighter’s PASS device tone.device tone.

• Use any safe means possible to remove downed Use any safe means possible to remove downed firefighter from hostile atmosphere.firefighter from hostile atmosphere.

• If downed firefighter has functioning SCBA, If downed firefighter has functioning SCBA, carefully move firefighter so as not to dislodge carefully move firefighter so as not to dislodge SCBA facepieceSCBA facepiece..

TS 7–10a

SEARCHING FOR A LOST OR SEARCHING FOR A LOST OR DISORIENTED FIREFIGHTER (cont.)DISORIENTED FIREFIGHTER (cont.)

• If downed firefighter does not have functioning If downed firefighter does not have functioning SCBA, connect mask to buddy breathing SCBA, connect mask to buddy breathing connection on rescuer’s SCBA, or quickly connection on rescuer’s SCBA, or quickly remove victim from hazardous atmosphere.remove victim from hazardous atmosphere.

• Do not remove your facepiece Do not remove your facepiece atat anyany timetime or in or in any way compromise the proper operation of any way compromise the proper operation of your SCBA in an attempt to share them with your SCBA in an attempt to share them with another firefighter or victim. another firefighter or victim.

TS 7–10b

GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGSOPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS

• Do not enter a building in which viable victims Do not enter a building in which viable victims are not likely to be found.are not likely to be found.

• When backdraft conditions exist, attempt entry When backdraft conditions exist, attempt entry only after ventilation is accomplished.only after ventilation is accomplished.

• Work from a single operational plan.Work from a single operational plan.

• Maintain contact with command.Maintain contact with command.

• Monitor fire conditions constantly.Monitor fire conditions constantly.

TS 7–11a

GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)

• Have a rapid intervention team constantly Have a rapid intervention team constantly available.available.

• Use the established personnel accountability Use the established personnel accountability system without exception.system without exception.

• Be aware of the secondary means of egress Be aware of the secondary means of egress established for search personnel.established for search personnel.

• Wear full PPE.Wear full PPE.

• Work in teams of two or more. Work in teams of two or more.

• Stay in constant contact with team members.Stay in constant contact with team members.

TS 7–11b

GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)

• Search systematically.Search systematically.

• Stay low and move cautiously.Stay low and move cautiously.

• Stay alert — use all senses.Stay alert — use all senses.

• Continually monitor the structure’s integrity.Continually monitor the structure’s integrity.

• Feel doors for excessive heat before opening Feel doors for excessive heat before opening them.them.

TS 7–11c

GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)

• Mark entry doors into rooms, and remember the Mark entry doors into rooms, and remember the direction turned when entering the room.direction turned when entering the room.

• Maintain contact with a wall when visibility is Maintain contact with a wall when visibility is obscured.obscured.

• Have a charged hoseline at hand when working Have a charged hoseline at hand when working on the fire floor.on the fire floor.

The hoseline may be used as a guide for The hoseline may be used as a guide for egress as well as for firefighting.egress as well as for firefighting.

TS 7–11d

SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)OPERATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS (cont.)

• Coordinate with ventilation teams before Coordinate with ventilation teams before opening windows during search.opening windows during search.

• Inform group/sector supervisor immediately of Inform group/sector supervisor immediately of any room(s) that could not be searched.any room(s) that could not be searched.

• Report promptly to the supervisor once the Report promptly to the supervisor once the search is complete.search is complete.

TS 7–11e

VICTIM REMOVALVICTIM REMOVAL

• Do not remove the victim before treatment Do not remove the victim before treatment unless —unless —

There is fire or danger of fire in the immediate area

Explosives or other hazardous materials are involved

It is impossible to protect the accident scene

The victim is in cardiac arrest and must be moved to a different area so that rescuers can administer CPR

TS 7–12a

VICTIM REMOVAL (cont.)VICTIM REMOVAL (cont.)

• Be aware that the chief danger of moving a Be aware that the chief danger of moving a victim quickly is the possibility of aggravating a victim quickly is the possibility of aggravating a spinal injury.spinal injury.

• Pull victims in the direction of the long axis of Pull victims in the direction of the long axis of the body, not sideways.the body, not sideways.

• Whenever possible, use two or more adults Whenever possible, use two or more adults when attempting to lift or carry an adult.when attempting to lift or carry an adult.

• Guard against losing your balance.Guard against losing your balance.

TS 7–12b

VICTIM REMOVAL (cont.)VICTIM REMOVAL (cont.)

• Always lift as a team.Always lift as a team.

• Keep your back straight and lift with your legs, Keep your back straight and lift with your legs, not with your back.not with your back.

Remember:Remember: Lifting incorrectly is one of the most Lifting incorrectly is one of the most common causes of injuries to firefighters.common causes of injuries to firefighters.

• If immobilization of a fracture is not feasible If immobilization of a fracture is not feasible until the victim has been moved a short until the victim has been moved a short distance, support the weight of the injured part distance, support the weight of the injured part while other rescuers move the victim.while other rescuers move the victim.

TS 7–12c

Video 7.8Video 7.8