Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BFP Fire Brigade Module 5
BFP Fire Brigade Module 5
BFP Fire Brigade Module 5
MODULE 5
RESCUE AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL OPERATIONS
Trainee Guide
Introduction
Welcome, in this module we will discuss about the principles in search and rescue and basic life
support. Knowing the different basic principles in search and rescue and giving the necessary life support
techniques will enable a responder to save lives of victims successfully.
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to provide you basic information on the fundamental in search and
rescue and basic life support.
Scope: This module has two main subjects with a six-hour and a two-hour duration respectively; basic rescue
and emergency medical operations.
Conditions: The instructions you receive in this module is intended for fire brigade members, both old and
new ones, with the assumption that you already have knowledge about fire suppression and control.
Instructions will take place in a classroom environment. Pictures, slideshows and actual rescue and medical
emergency equipment and/or demonstrations will be used when necessary and upon availability.
Phase IV : Termination
Secondary Assessment
Primary Assessment
Information Gathering
Decision making
Answers to these questions help the rescuer make the critical decision.
If more resources are needed they must be requested immediately to get them on scene ASAP.
Secondary Assessment
Involves some reconnaissance of the scene or detailed information about the type of elevation
differences involved, its physical characteristics, and the problems to be anticipated.
HAZMAT
The number of trained personnel and how much and what type of specialized
equipment will be needed to handle the situation safely and efficiently
Hazards Assessments
Downed power lines
Leaking/spilled HAZMAT
Lack of adequate anchor points, loose debris, of rock that may fall, sharp edges and abrasive surfaces
Mode of Operation
Finally, all of the info gathered will confirm the nature and extent of the rescue problem and will allow
the IC to make an important decision whether it is a rescue operation or retrieval operation.
Gathering Resources
If there are too few rescue personnel or if the personnel are insufficiently trained to perform as
needed, the best equipment in the world will not get the job done and vice versa.
If the IC is initially unsure about the type and or amount of equipment that will actually be needed, he
or she should call for everything that might be needed.
Personnel
Depending upon the nature and extent of rescue problem, the number of rescue personnel needed
varies. However, even the rescue of one victim from the top of a water tower can involve at least ten rescuers
with safety officers, IC, and support personnel excluding EMS personnel.
Equipment
The amount and types of equipment needed also vary with the nature and extent of the rescue problem.
Rescue unit
Aerial unit
Engine company
Command vehicle
Ambulance
• Lighting units
• Air units
• Communication units
• HAZMAT unit
• Confined space unit
Communication
• Voice communication
• Hardwired phones
• Portable radios
• Lifeline
o 1 tug – Ok
o 2 tugs – Advance
o 3 tugs – Take up (eliminate slack)
o 4 tugs – Help
• Team Leader
• Rescue Squad
• Break tender (belayer)
• Back team
• Hauling team
Search Patterns
Search in pairs
Enter and exit in the same direction if you are to continue the search. eg. Enter right, exit right
Enter and exit in opposite direction if you are to abort the search. eg. Enter right, exit left
Thoroughly search all areas, including behind furniture and inside closets and bathrooms.
Entry Precautions
1. Always approach the scene as if it is dangerous.
2. Only authorized personnel are allowed to operate or enter the scene.
3. Observe the correct procedures needed for the rescue operation.
4. Rope rescue should only be done as a last resort where other means cannot.
5. Proper PPE must be donned for full-bodied protection.
6. Cordon the area.
7. Conduct risks assessment before commencement to determine the;
a. Hazards involved
b. Emergency and rescue procedures required.
• Rescuers to standby
• Maintain communication with all teams making entry
• All entry personnel shall don safety harness and safety lines
• Ensure no one smoke in the vicinity of the confined area
• Ensure proper insulation and isolation of electrical wires and appliances to prevent possible
electrocution or fires occurring
• Remember to undertake precautions for hot works like standing by water hose line or other
extinguishers
Call back-up
Rescue tools must be in working order, inspect and maintain them regularly, and counter check before
use
Always stay alert and get ready to get out quickly when you notice any worrying signs.
Stabilizing/Treatment
Internal lashing
External lashing
Harness
Ambulatory and uninjured victims can be assisted to ground level by being placed in a Class II or Class
III harness, depending on the level of security required for safety and the level of assistance needed.
Phase IV : Termination
Termination phase of a rope rescue involve the obvious element of retrieving pieces of equipment
used in the operation and some less obvious elements such as:
Investigation
Release of Control
Equipment Retrieval
• Identifying/Collection
o The process of identifying and collecting equipment assigned to the various pieces of
apparatus on scene can be made much easier if each piece of equipment is clearly
marked; however, nothing should be engraved or stamped onto the surface of the rope
rescue equipment.
• Abandonment
o In some cases, the rescue environment is too hazardous to justify sending rescue
personnel back to retrieve pieces of equipment even expensive ones.
Investigation
All rope rescues should be investigated at some level at the very minimum, a departmental
investigation should be conducted for purposes of reviewing and critiquing the operation.
Release of Control
Once rescuers respond to the scene of a rope rescue they assume control of the scene and the
immediate surrounding area. With certain limits, they can deny access to the scene to anyone, including the
property owner. However, the process of releasing control of the scene back to the owner or other
responsible party is sometimes not as straightforward as it might seem. The property owner should be given
an explanation of any remaining hazards.
CISD
• Injuries suffered by victims can sometimes be extremely gruesome and horrific and that are likely to
produce psychological or emotional stress for rescuers involved.
• The process should actually start before rescuers enter the scene.
• Briefing process is done wherein the rescuers who are about to enter the scene are told what to expect
so that they can prepare themselves.
• Debriefing process is done within 72 hours of completing their work on the incident.
• Trench Rescue
• Rope rescue
• Vehicular Accident Rescue
• Special Rescues
o Electricity
o Natural gas/liquefied petroleum gas
o Cave
o Mine
o Silo/grain vessel
Rope Rescue
When victims are located above or below grade in rescue situations, the most efficient and sometimes
the only means of reaching and getting them to ground level may be by the use of ropes and rope
systems.
○ EX.
Confined spaces
Rock edge
Rescue rope, webbing, and appropriate hardware and softwares are used to protect rescuers and
victims as they move and work in elevated locations where a fall could cause injury or death.
Are those where the angle of the slope is such that rescuers do not need to be supported by a lifeline
to avoid falling down the slope.
Are those in which the rescuers must be supported by a lifeline to keep from falling.
Rescuers from below grade are most often in some sort of confined space. This adds the problem of
testing, managing and monitoring the atmosphere within the space. This usually involves the use of a
rescue tripod to lower rescuers and equipment into the space and to raise them and the victim out.
Equipment used
• Helmet
• Eye protection
• Outerwear
• Gloves
• Footwear
Software
• Rope
• Accessory cord
• Webbing
• Harness
Hardware
• Load bearing
Carabiners
Swivels
Anchor plates
• Ascending devices
Handheld ascenders
Cams
• Hardware
Descending devices
Figure of 8 plates
Rappel racks
Belay Plate
• Pulleys
Single-sheave
Double-sheave
Triple-sheave
Edge rollers
Anchor System
The variety of ways anchor system can be configured is limited only by the situation, the equipment,
available, and the imagination of the rigger (anchorman). However, all anchor systems fulfill the same
function: to provide a safe and dependable means of securing the rescuer to a bombproof anchor
point.
Anchor systems may also provide redundancy in case of systems failure, and/or they may spread the
load among two or more less-than-bombproof anchor points.
Single point and multipoint anchor systems are commonly used and in the absence of an anchor
points, a series of picket can be used for a man-made system.
CAUTION
Regardless of what kind of anchor is selected rescuers must be aware that virtually any anchor can be
overloaded and fail if enough pull is applied.
Anchor Points
Natural anchors
o The most commonly used natural anchors are trees and rocks around which webbing of rope
can be wrapped. However, both of these have a potential for failure. Before using them as
anchors, you should examine trees for potential rot. But even trees with sound wood may not
be good anchors if their root systems are shallow or thin or if they are in wet soil. Boulders
weighing tons can be pulled over by the stresses of an anchor system.
Artificial Anchors
o These are special types of hardware specifically designed for creating anchors. Many artificial
anchors such as nuts, chocks, and cams, are used but these are usually not as secure as good
natural anchors.
Strength of an Anchor
Anchors must be able to sustain the greatest anticipated force on the high angle system as calculated
through the safety factors.
Anchors that are so strong they can withstand any force of the high angle system are said to be
bombproof.
A force created through mechanical means including, but not limited to, a system of levers, gearing, or
ropes and pulleys usually creating an output force greater than the input force and expressed in terms
of a ratio of output force to input force.
Synonymous with…
Raising system
Pulley system
Hauling system
Number of haulers
Categories
Simple systems
o Simple mechanical systems are used mainly for low angle rescuers. These systems typically
provide a range of mechanical advantage from 2:1 to 3:1.
Compound systems
o These systems are used when the lift needed is beyond what is provided by a simple system.
Compound systems are those in which one simple system is attached to and pulled on another
simple system to multiply the mechanical advantage gained. Compound systems typically
provide a range of mechanical advantage from 4:1 to 9:1.
Gravity
o Defined as the force between two objects with mass
o Mass is attractive – the greater the mass, the greater the force of attraction
o Gravity is our finest & most important tool
o It is the engine in rope rescue system
Friction
o Defined as the resistance to relative motion between 2 bodies in contact
o Good friction balances the effects of gravity
o Absorb heat and dissipate to surrounding
o Bad friction disintegrates knots
o Cuts and burns
Human Factors
o Must have the knowledge and skills
o Use teamwork
o Must control anxieties
Correlation
To accomplish rope rescue tasks, we must have cooperative relationship with all tools
Ancillary tools are simply connections for the primary tools
Gravity, friction and human factors must be in harmony in order to routinely effect safe, high level
rescues
Rope rescue should be considered only after all other means of accomplishing the task have been
rejected.
• The knot itself is usually thought of as the intertwining of the ends of the line in such a way as to be
secured and suitable for any one of a variety of designed purposes.
• To be suitable for use in rescue, a knot must be easy to tie and untie, be secure under load, and reduce
the rope’s strength as little as possible.
• A rope’s strength is reduced whenever it is bent. The tighter the bend, the more strength is lost. Some
knots create tighter bends than others and thereby reducing the rope’s strength to a greater degree.
• All knots should be dressed after they are tied; that is, they should be tightened until snug and all slack
are removed.
Kernmantle rope - A rope constructed with its interior core (the kern) protected with a woven exterior
sheath (mantle) that is designed to optimize strength, durability, and flexibility. The core fibers provide the
tensile strength of the rope, while the sheath protects the core from abrasion during use. The name is derived
from German Kernmantel... which means coat protected core.
Types of Ropes
Dynamic rope – this design of rope is purposely made to be stretchy ( usually around 30% or more
elongation at failure). It is designed to absorb the impact of the climber’s fall, minimizing the shock to
his body, equipment, victim and preventing injury.
Static rope – with a very low stretch of up to 6% and is weaker than dynamic ropes but may be
advantageous to certain raising and lowering situations. It is not designed to absorb the impact of a
climber’s fall, as in a shock load.
Rope Management
Criteria for reuse:
Rope has not been exposed to heat, direct flame impingement, or abrasion.
Rope has not been exposed to liquids, solids, gases, mists, or vapors of any chemical or other
material that can deteriorate rope.
Standard of Safety
NFPA standard 1983 specified the strength of a life support line to be 15 times the load.
NFPA 1983 defined a person load to be 300lbs – best represent the average firefighter with all his
gears
= 9mm
= 12.74mm
Hitches
Loops
Bends
Harness
Stopper knots
Most often used to prevent the end of a rope from slipping through an eye or a hole. Stoppers could
also be used to bind the end of a line so that it could not unravel.
Overhand knot
Hitches
Knots used to secure a rope to a post, hook, ring or rail. Hitches do not keep their shape on their own.
Clove hitch
Timber hitch
Cow hitch
Italian hitch
Clove hitch
Timber hitch
Loops
Made to be dropped over an object, unlike hitches, which are made directly around the object and
follow its shape.
Overhand loop
Bowline
Bowline on a bight
Triple Bowline
Overhand loop
Bowline
Bowline on a Bight
Triple Bowline
Bends
Knots used to join the ends of two lengths of a rope to form one longer piece. To ensure that the knot
is secured, the two ropes that are to be joined should be of the same kind and have the same
diameter.
Square knot
Fisherman’s bend
Sheet bend
Square Knot
Fisherman’s Bend
Sheet Bend
Harness
Seat harness
Emergency harness
Lifeline
Fire Brigade Mandatory Training – Version 1.0 August 2012
Training Course provided by the Pre-Fire Planning, Training and Community Relations Section (PFPT-CRS),
Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD), Bureau of Fire Protection – 9 (BFP-9) Page 23 of 32
RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL OPERATIONS
Seat harness
Emergency harness
Lifeline
Other knots
Sheep shank – shortening
Sheep shank
Prusik Knot
Butterfly knot
An emergency procedure that consists of recognizing respiratory or cardiac arrest or both and the
proper application of CPR to maintain life until a victim recovers or advanced life support is available.
The use of special equipment to maintain breathing and circulation for the victim of a cardiac
emergency.
CHAIN OF SURVIVAL
Four Links
It is the event initiated after the patient’s collapse until the arrival of Emergency Medical Services
personnel prepared to provide care.
It is most effective when started immediately after the victim’s collapse. The probability of survival
approximately doubles when it is initiated before the arrival of EMS.
It is most likely to improve survival. It is the key intervention to increase the chances of survival of
patients with “out-of-hospital” cardiac arrest.
If provided by highly trained personnel like paramedics, provision of advanced care outside the
hospital would be possible.
– 21% O2
– trace of CO2
– 16% O2
– 4% CO2
Clinical death (0 - 4 min. - brain damage not likely, 4 - 6 min. - damage probable).
Biological death (6 - 10 min. - brain damage probable; over 10 min. - brain damage is certain).
2. Have patient stop what he or she is doing and sit or lie him/her down in a comfortable position. Do
not let the patient move around.
4. If patient is under medical care, assist him/her in taking his/her prescribed medicine/s.
Getting started
1. Plan of Action
• Emergency plans should be established based on anticipated needs and available resources
2. Gathering of Needed Materials
• The emergency response begins with the preparation of equipment and personnel before any
emergency occurs.
3. 3. Initial Response
• Ask for help.
• Intervene
• Do no further harm
4. 4. Instruction to Helper/s
• Proper information and instruction to a helper/s would provide organized first aid care.
Once you recognize that an emergency has occurred and decide to act, you must make sure the scene of the
emergency is safe for you, the victim/s, and any bystander/s.
• Scene safety.
2. Do a Primary Survey
In every emergency situation, you must first find out if there are conditions that are an immediate
threat to the victim’s life.
In some emergency, you will have enough time to call for specific medical advice before administering
first aid. But in some situations, you will need to attend to the victim first.
4. Do a Secondary Survey
It is a systematic method of gathering additional information about injuries or conditions that may
need care.
Rescue Breathing
Respiratory Arrest
Rescue Breathing
Is a technique of breathing air into a person’s lungs to supply him or her with the oxygen needed to
survive.
• Mouth-to-mouth
• Mouth-to-nose
• Mouth-to-mouth and nose
• Mouth-to-stoma
• Mouth-to-faceshield
• Mouth-to-mask
• Bag mask device
1. Anatomical Obstruction
It happens when the tongue drops back and obstruct the throat. Other causes are acute asthma,
croup, diphtheria, swelling, and cough (whooping).
2. Mechanical Obstruction
When foreign objects lodge in the pharynx or airways; fluids accumulate in the back of the throat.
Classification of Obstruction
1. Mild Obstruction - The victim is responsive and can cough forcefully, although frequently there is
wheezing between coughs.
2. Severe Obstruction - The victim is unable to speak, breathe, or cough and may clutch the neck
with the thumb and fingers. Movement of air is absent.
Heimlich Maneuver
Heimlich maneuver or abdominal thrusts is recommended for relieving foreign body airway
obstruction.
Cardiac Arrest
Is the condition in which circulation ceases and vital organs are deprived of oxygen.
This is a combination of chest compression and rescue breathing. This must be combined for effective
resuscitation of the victim of cardiac arrest.
Check Responsiveness,
“Victim is Breathless”.
Closing: With all the modules complete for a basic training as a fire brigade member, you
should be knowledgeable now how to properly utilize the different firefighting equipment, the
different techniques on how to use them and also the different approach and principles
behind a complete firefighting operation.