Fire service search and rescue strategies consist of a broad range of tactical procedures that help save people from fires and other dangerous situations with which firefighters can assist. If you are new to the field of firefighting, Essential Fire Service Search and Rescue Strategies is a highly regarded book that will help you learn the strategies. Below are six important examples of fire and rescue strategies that the text will help you learn to perform while you work in the field.
Structural Collapse Rescue
Several situations can initiate structural collapse rescue, such as the collapse of a building or a residence due to fire, an earthquake, or a terrorist attack. To rescue victims, firefighters must often use special equipment, such as temporary structural supports, heavy duty equipment that can cut through tough materials, and hydraulic jacks for lifting collapsed walls and equipment.
Elevator rescue is typically performed as a result of one of two situations: when an elevator malfunctions due to a mechanical failure, and when an elevator stops working due to fire damage to the electrical system. In the second case especially, firefighters must work quickly to remove victims from the elevator before fire and smoke inhalation threaten their lives.
Rope rescue consists of establishing a connection to a building using a thin, metallic rope that demonstrates excellent tensile strength. After it is attached, the rope can be used to deliver essential supplies to victims or retrieve them from their location. Rope rescue is an excellent option for situations when those who are trapped cannot be reached using ladders or stairs.
Confined Space Rescue
As its name implies, confined space rescue is used to rescue people who are trapped in a tight spaces, such as a bank vault, a storage silo, or a storage tank, to name a few. Because the space is typically quite confined, firefighters often choose to perform a “non-entry rescue”, using a rope system, a long pole, or a strap system to remove a person from the tight space.
Considered a subset of confined space rescue, trench rescue may be the least discussed fire service search and rescue strategy. Nonetheless, it is quite helpful for rescuing people from the confined space that a collapsed trench creates. Trench rescue often requires securing the remaining trench wall to ensure that it does not collapse further and fully bury the victim.
This type of rescue focuses on saving people -- and in some cases animals -- that are trapped by water or ice. A person who climbs a tree to escape a raging flood or a person who plunges through the ice on a lake are examples of victims who need water/ice rescue. To perform the procedure, firefighters often extend a rope or a long pole to the victim, and pull them to safety.
Start Preparing Today
Performing fire service search and rescue strategies is an essential part of being a firefighter. If you need to learn about different search and rescue procedures and when to use them, Essential Fire Service Search and Rescue Strategies is the educational resource you need. By learning the contents of this book, you will increase your skills as a firefighter and help to save more lives. Order your copy of this dynamic textbook today by visiting our online store!