rapid intervention teams 1 08
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Rapid Intervention
Team Structure
& Exterior
Operations
Session Objectives
1. Define what a Rapid Intervention Team is
2. Examine why Rapid Intervention Teams are needed
3. Show what a properly equipped Rapid Intervention Team is
Session Objectives(cont’d)
4. Describe how a Rapid Intervention Team functions outside the hazard zone at a structure fire
5. Describe typical Mayday procedures
6. Show what happens when a Mayday is declared
Introduction
Excluding Sept. 11, 2001, the annual average for firefighter fatalities in U.S. structure fires is 30, according to NFPA. One of the major causes of these fatalities was the absence of an effective rescue plan BEFORE firefighters became trapped.
Introductioncont.
Rapid Intervention is a means of rescuing firefighters in distress.In this course, you will learn why RITs are needed, how they are structured, and how they function outside of burning buildings
Other Names for RITOther Names for RIT
• Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC)
• Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST)
• Immediate Response Team (IRT)
• Rescue Assist Team (RAT)
• Firefighter Rescue Available Team (FRAT)
• Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU)
• Firefighter Assist Team (FAT)
Applicable Codes and Standards
OSHANFPANIOSH
OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard
(29 CFR 1910.134)
• At least two properly equipped and trained firefighters
• Positioned outside of the IDLH atmosphere
• Who can account for the interior team and
• Remain capable of rapid rescue of the interior team
Properly Equipped(29 CFR 1910.134)
Every Rapid Intervention Team member must be…
“...trained and equipped to at least the same level as the firefighters they would
seek to rescue.”
NFPA
• Rapid Intervention concepts are discussed in NFPA Standards 1500, 1561, 1710, 1720, and others.
NFPA 1500
Every Rapid Intervention Team must have...
“...at least two members
available for rescue of
a member or a team if
the need arises.”
Standard for Number of Team
Members• The standards do not
limit a RIT to two members. The IC can adjust the numbers to fit the situation.
• As few as two rescuers may be sufficient to locate a lost or disoriented firefighter
Standard for Number of Team Members
However, as many as a dozen may be required to rescue a firefighter in distress.
NIOSH• Branch of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in the US Department of Health and Human Services
• Not a code-making body• Conducts research/makes
recommendations for prevention of work-related disease and injury
• Approves safety equipment such as respirators
• Makes recommendations to OSHA to develop standards
• Since 1998 – conducts the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program — to prevent line-of-duty fatalities and disseminate firefighter casualty information
Three Most Common Reasons Firefighters Need to be
Rescued
Handout #3
Three Most Common Reasons Firefighters Need to be
Rescued
Inadequate fire experienceInadequate survival trainingInadequate fireground organization
Inadequate Fire Experience
• Number of fire calls dropping every year
• Many departments respond to more EMS calls than fire calls
• Fire prevention efforts more successful, resulting in fewer fires
Inadequate Survival Training
Failure to recognize deteriorating fire conditions Failure to appreciate need for safety equipmentFailure to realize importance of carrying forcible entry toolResources and training are customer-focused
Sudden Unexpected Events
• Lost/trapped/unaccounted for firefighter
• Flashover
• Back draft
• Rapid fire increase
• Explosion
• Collapse
• Cardiac emergency
Lost/Trapped/Unaccounted for Firefighter
Firefighter confirmed missing Location unknown Usually still in radio contact
Firefighter confirmed trapped Location known – unable to escape Usually still in radio contact
Firefighter unaccounted for Location unknown No radio contact
Flashover• Occurs rapidly — heat/smoke
“bank down” just prior to occurrence
• May engulf firefighters operating inside the building
• Only seconds available to escape
• Surviving firefighters, if any, likely to be burned and disoriented
• Heavy combustible loading likely to result in continuing serious fire conditions
Back Draft
Occurs rapidly – sudden inrush of oxygen to smoldering fire causes “smoke explosion” or back draft – no time to escapeIs violent – causes damage due to pressure wavesFirefighters possibly thrown, trapped, and traumatically injuredPotential structural damage/collapse
Rapid Fire Increase
• May occur due to flashover or back draft
• May occur due to storage/use of flammable liquids, gases, or other materials in the fire building
• May occur due to vertical openings/voids within the building
• Can trap firefighters above the fire• May disorient firefighters, but more
likely they will be oriented and searching for means of egress
• Fire will continue to grow if action is not taken
ExplosionOccurs rapidly and without warning – no time to escapeMay result from the presence of a flammable liquid, gas, or other hazardous materialSimilar conditions as in a back draftIs violent – causing damage due to pressure wavesFirefighters possibly thrown, trapped, and traumatically injuredPotential structural damage/collapse
Collapse
• Occurs rapidly and without warning – building collapses upon personnel or responders fall through collapsed floor/roof landing in a hazardous area
• May trap personnel in/under debris
• Likely jeopardizes multiple responders
• Firefighters likely to have traumatic injuries
• Safety of area likely to be questionable
Cardiac Emergency
Common cause of firefighter fatalitiesCauses 40% or more of on-duty deathsSmoke, toxic gases, and the stress of the incident all contribute to this prospect
Inadequate Fireground Organization
• Creates communication problems, such as failure to hear emergency evacuation signal
• Operational problems, such as loss of water supply, freelancing.
Other Basic Fireground Problems
Failure to control doorsOpening doors/walls/ceiling/roof without a charged hose lineFailure to maintain an escape route
RIT Gear
• Equipment for a RIT can be divided into two categories– Personal gear to be
carried by every RIT member
– Team resources that will be staged on-scene and ready to take into a burning building
Personal Gear
• Must include:• Full PPE • SCBA• A complete SCBA or
a spare cylinder• Portable radio• Rope bag• Strong handlight
Team Equipment
Spare SCBA cylindersThermal Imaging Camera
Forcible entry tools
Power saws
Handlights with spare batteries
EMS equipment
Heavy rescue equipment
Team Equipment Set out a tarp to indicate
tools for RIT use only.
Why RITs are needed and how they function
Quiz #1
Arrival and Set-Up
• RIT must be ready to deploy as quickly as possible.
• Arrival and set-up procedures can be separated into three areas– Size-up– Staging area– Team member duties
Arrival and Set-Up
Perform a quick size-upThe RIT team’s size-up must focus on current and potential hazards and deployment situations.
How many firefighters or crews are insideWhere are they assigned
Establish and maintain radio contact with firefighters in the hazard zoneBe ready to commence search and rescue
Arrival and Set-Up(cont’d)
• Station one member near hazard zone entrance
• Set up a RIT staging area
– Close to the hazard zone entrance
– Outside of the collapse zone
– Collect and assemble the search and rescue tools and equipment
Team Member Duties
Remain close to hazard zone entrance
Able to commence rescue operations at a moment’s notice
Perform only non-critical jobs
Maintain radio contact with crews in the hazard zone
Declaring a Mayday by Radio
• Transmit on all incident channels
• Identify yourself
• Use Clear Text or plain English
• Include as much information as possible
Declaring Without Radio Contact
Assume the position that offers the most safetyActivate your PASS deviceIf your PASS device fails, tap on a pipe or wall with tool or hard objectShine your flashlight toward the ceilingDraw attention to your location!
Mayday Procedures
“Emergency Traffic” is declaredCease all unrelated radio trafficKnown details are announcedAll units cease activity and listenRIT is deployedWait for order to resume radio traffic/activities
Exterior Rescue Evolutions
Breaching Wooden Walls1. Locate access point — look for pre-existing openings such as windows. If no openings exist, cut a probe hole. 2. Make primary cuts with a power saw. 3. Use hooks to clear debris and make second cuts as needed.
Exterior Rescue Evolutions
Breaching Masonry Walls1. Look for existing
openings to enlarge. 2. Use a sledge hammer to
enlarge openings. 3. Use a battering ram or
large sledge to begin an opening if necessary.
4. Use diamond-shaped holes for greater stability.
Exterior Rescue Evolutions
Breaching Metal Walls and Doors
Use a rotary saw with metal-cutting blade. To cut doors or walls at grade, make two diagonal cuts down from a single point and then fold the metal flap onto the ground. To cut a rectangular hole in a metal wall, make four cuts and then carefully remove the metal section and insulation and place them aside.
Exterior Rescue Evolutions
Breaching Plasterboard Walls1. Use a Haligan bar or other
appropriate tool to make a probe hole to determine location of breach.
2. Break open the wall with the adze end of the Haligan bar — twist the bar to remove chunks of wallboard.
3. Move team members and the victim through the hole using appropriate techniques — enlarge the hole with a saw if necessary.
Rapid Rapid InterventionIntervention
Interior Interior OperationsOperations
Session ObjectivesSession Objectives
1. Show how a RIT functions inside the hazard zone
2. Desribe how RITs locate firefighters in distress
3. Show how to perform an initial assessment of a downed firefighter
Session ObjectivesSession Objectives(cont’d)(cont’d)
4. Describe air-supply considerations for trapped firefighters
5. Show a variety of rescue techniques
Entering Hazard ZoneEntering Hazard Zone
Before entering, first
• Confirm what is known and not known about the
situation
Entering Hazard ZoneEntering Hazard Zone(cont’d)(cont’d)
Second, quickly check each other’s PPE
• All gear is on properly
• SCBA is functioning
• PASS devices are turned on
Entering Hazard ZoneEntering Hazard Zone(cont’d)(cont’d)
Upon entering, function as a team
Stay in voice or visual contact with each other
Stay in radio contact with those outside the hazard zone
Tag Lines
A tag line can make finding your way out of the hazard zone easier
One end should be tied to a solid object at the entranceThe rope should be paid out as the team progresses into the hazard zone
Locating a Firefighter in Distress
Location Known
• Abandon normal search patterns and go directly to the firefighter.
Locating a Firefighter in Distress
Location UnknownLocation Unknown• Follow tag or hose line left by first
entry team
• Stop and listen
• At times cease all activity
• Look for discarded tools and equipment
• Check the ceiling for beams of light
• Use a thermal imaging camera
Interior Functions and Locating a Firefighter in
distress
Quiz #2
Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentNotify Chain of CommandNotify Chain of Command
Number of firefighters found
General condition/situation
Mobility status
Lost or Disoriented Firefighter
If the firefighter is merely lost or disoriented, simply lead them out of the hazard zone. Once outside:
Their physical, psychological, and emotional condition should be assessedTheir fitness for reassignment should be evaluated
Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentSafety ConsiderationsSafety Considerations
• Assess your environment– Advancing fire– Entanglement hazards– Live wires– Secondary collapse
• If the location is dangerous and mitigating measures are not available, you may have to risk further injury and immediately extricate the firefighter
Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentConscious FirefighterConscious Firefighter
• First consideration—air supply
• Reassure—you will get them out
• Control PASS
• Call for rescue resources
• Continue assessment while waiting
• Head-to-toe check
Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentUnconscious FirefighterUnconscious Firefighter
•Control PASS •Place your ear over the victim’s regulator and listen for air exchange•Check air supply•Head-to-toe check
Securing an Air Supply
•Transfill from spare SCBA cylinder
•Spare SCBA cylinder
•Complete new SCBA
•S.A.R.
NIOSH and NFPA recommend against “buddy breathing.” There are various ways to supply air.
Determining Action
Stay or go?Method of least harmReport to command:
- Situation- Special concerns- Resources needed- Next action
Assessing and extricating a
Firefighter in Distress
Quiz #3
Drags and Carries
SCBA Harness1. Undo and loosen the
firefighter’s waist straps.
2. Pass one strap between the victim’s legs and connect it to the other strap.
3. Tighten all SCBA straps.
Drags and Carries
SCBA-Strap Drag1. Convert the victim’s SCBA to a harness if time permits.
2. Loosen the victim’s SCBA shoulder straps.
3. Grasp the shoulder straps and drag to the nearest point of egress.
Drags and Carries
Webbing/Sling-Assisted Drag
1. Loosen the victim’s SCBA shoulder straps.
2. Slide the working end of the sling or webbing under the SCBA straps.
3. Use the sling ends as handles for dragging.
Drags and Carries
Webbing/Rope Drag1. Obtain a 20 –25-foot length of webbing or rope. 2. Create a loop using the water knot (webbing) or square knot (rope).3. Pass the working endof the webbing under thevictim’s SCBA shoulder straps and then backthrough the standing partof the loop.
Drags and Carries
Webbing/Rope Drag4.Pull the working loop all the way
through the standing loop until the webbing tightens around the SCBA harness.
5.Place the hauling end of the loop over a rescuer’s shoulder and remove the victim.
Drags and Carries
Push-Pull Drag1. One rescuer moves to thevictim’s head and the other to the victim’s feet.2. Rescuer at the head turns the victim on his side and grasps one SCBA strap.3. Rescuer at the feet positions his shoulder under the victim’s knee and thigh. 4. When the rescuer at the head says, “Push!” they push and pull together.
Drags and Carries
Blanket Drag1. Two rescuers roll the victim onto his side.2. A blanket is laid behind the victim and
the excess is pushed against the victim’s back.
3. The victim is rolled onto the blanket and the excess is distributed onthe rescuers’ side of the victim.
4. The corners of the blanket nearest the victim's head are used to pull.
Drags and Carries
Fireman’s Carry1. One rescuer stands over
the victim and pulls him to a standing position.
2. A second rescuer
(if available), assists
the first rescuer in hoisting the victim
onto his shoulders.
Stairs
Two-Firefighter Technique
1.Move the victim to the base of the stairwell.
2.One rescuer moves onto the stairs behind the victim and grasps the victim’s SCBA straps.
Stairs
Two-Firefighter Technique3. The second rescuer places the victim’s legs over his shouldersand gets as far underthe victim’s hips aspossible. 4. The rescuer at the headsays “Lift!” as he pulls up on the SCBA straps to clear the first stair. The second rescuer pushes up with his legs when he hears “Lift!”
Stairs
Two-Team Rope Rescue1. Primary team follows
steps for previous evolution.
2. Second team deploys to top of stairs and provides rope.
3. Primary team attaches rope and then lifts while second team pulls on rope.
Stairs
Litter-Assisted Rescue1. Call for the second team to bring the Stokes/litter as soon as possible.2. The primary team moves the victim to the bottom of the stairs.3. The second team arrives with the basket and attaches a hauling line to it. 4. The second team lowers the basket down stairs and the victim is placed inside.
Stairs
Litter-Assisted Rescue
5. The second team pulls the basket while the primary team pushes.
6. The victim is carried or slid in the basket to exit.
Stairs
Moving a Firefighter Down Stairs
1. One rescuer clears the stairs and then positions a few stairs below the top.2. The other rescuer pulls on the victim’s SCBA harness to drag him down the stairs. 3. The first rescuer guides and steadies the second rescuer.
Below-Grade Rescue
Two-Rope Method1. Primary team calls for second
team to enter with two 50-foot ropes, an attic ladder, a prying tool, and a saw.
2. Primary team assesses floor/roof area through which victim fell, directs protective streams as needed, and attempts to contact victim.
3. Second team enlarges the hole if necessary, while first team prepares ropes and secures the opening with ladders/doors as needed.
Below-Grade RescueTwo-Rope Method
4. One crew member enters the hole using a ladder or rope and assesses the victim. 5. Crew on top ties handcuff knots in the center of each rope and then lowers them to rescuer below.6. The rescuer below attaches the knot from one rope to the victim’s feet and the other to his wrists. 7. The rescuers on top pull the victim up while the rescuer below guides the victim.
Below-Grade Rescue
One-Rope Method1.Follow steps 1–4 of the
two-rope method. 2.From two to four
rescuers position around the hole and grasp the rope whilethe rescuer in the hole changes the victim’s SCBA into a harness.
Below-Grade Rescue
One-Rope Method3. The carabiners are lowered into the hole and attached to the victim’s SCBA shoulder straps. 4. The rescuers above pull while the rescuer below pushes up on the victim’s feet.
Using A Hose LineUsing A Hose Line
• Call for the line to be shut down
• Lower nozzle down to firefighter
• Firefighter drains hose, forms loop at bottom, and places one foot in loop
• Pull firefighter up
Moving a Firefighter into a Window
Face-Up Method1. Remove SCBA harness, if necessary.2. Lie the victim perpendicular to the window sill with feet touching the wall.
Moving a Firefighter into a Window
Face-Up Method3. Lift the victim’s legs onto
the window sill and slide his body until his buttocks touch the wall.
4. Position one rescuer on each side of the victim and lift by cradling the victim under his lower back and arms (SCBA harness).
5. Turn the victim if SCBA is in place.
Moving a Firefighter into a Window
Flip-Over Method1. Drag the victim headfirst to the window.2. Grasp the victim’s legs and pull them over his head to the window sill. 3. An outside rescuer grabs the victim’s feet as the two inside rescuers lift the victim by his SCBA.
Moving a Firefighter into a Window
Face-Down Method1. Lie the victim on his side, facing the
window, feet toward the sill. 2. One RIT member removes his
SCBA harness and lies face down on the floor, perpendicular to the window.
3. The other primary team member(s) roll(s) the victim onto the first rescuer, who then pushes up into a crawling position.
4. The remaining team members slide/lift the victim onto a ladder outside the window.
Accountability
Accountability systems
Accounting for other units on the scene
Accounting for the RIT
Procedures for “rescuing the
rescuers”
The bottom line
Accountability
Only way to maintain control of personnel on the fire ground
Use varies widely
System needs to keep track of everyone
Must be:
Established as a system
Established long before emergencies occur
Utilized by all personnel who could operate on a scene
Practiced on all calls
Accountability
RIT must be familiar with the various accountability
systems utilized in the areas where they may
respond.
Accountability must be a disciplined function.
RIT may need to try to identify missing personnel
at a glance.
Accountability
The RIT is accountable to the Safety Officer or IC.
The RIT officer must maintain accountability for the RIT crew.
The RIT’s accountability system must fit into the overall incident management system.
The RIT typically will deploy immediately into a high risk situation.
Procedures for “Rescuing the Rescuers”
Do not panic.Admit you are lost and call for help.
Activate your PASS device.Keep your company together.
Follow hose or lifeline.Search for any opening.
Conserve your air supply.Shine your light upward to attract attention and
position your PASS for maximum effectiveness.
Conclusion
The RIT must be familiar with the units working on the fire ground and their
assignments.The RIT must have an accountability system
that integrates seamlessly with the system utilized on the incident scene.
The RIT must be able to react to, as well as request, a Mayday signal
ConclusionFirefighters assigned to RIT functions
must be aware of the importance of this role and not take it lightly.
Incident Commanders must be familiar with the capabilities and training of RITs and consider various uses for the team to provide proactive safety duties at incidents.
Incident Commanders must be aware of the risks if they assign RITs to other duties.
For further information on rehab, see USFA procedure booklet “Emergency Incident Rehabilitation” available at no charge from: www.usfa.fema.gov/usfapubs.
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