A Course Designed to Save Firefighters Lives
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Transcript of A Course Designed to Save Firefighters Lives
A Course Designed to Save Firefighters Lives
Firefighter Survival Course 2
Course Introduction
• Instructors– B/C Forest Reeder – Lt. Mike Grazian – FF/PM Ken Brucki
• Program Goals– Orientation to concepts of self rescue and
rapid intervention– Review of actual scenarios– Practical experience– Train the Trainer focus
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Course References
• Illinois Fire Service Institute - Saving Our Own Program
• Firefighter Survival - John Sulka, FDNY
• Firefighter Safety and Survival - • USFA / NIOSH / NFPA Reports• Personal Experiences and Case
Studies• Training
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Common Factors in Firefighter Fatalities and
Injuries• Lost or separated from team• Hotter Fires• Malfunctioning SCBA• Inactivated PASS device• Lack of knowledge of self-rescue
techniques
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Course Objectives• Classroom• Understand the
concepts of self-rescue• Understand the process
of rapid intervention teams
• Understand the responsibilities of the RIT officer and team members
• Identify some of the basic tools required for SR and RIT
• Practical Exercises
• Self-Rescue Techniques
• Size-up for RIT• Rapid
Intervention Scenarios
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Self Rescue Concepts• Before Rapid
Intervention even begins, firefighters must posses the ability to begin to remove themselves from mechanisms that have trapped them– Wires– Debris– Occupancy
Hose Slide
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Firefighter Rescue Scenarios
Quick exit using hose slide
SCBA onto unconscious FF
Team assistedSelf
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Skills Necessary for Self Rescue
• Knowledge of Building Construction• Fire Spread and Fire Behavior• How to Call for Help
– Mayday, Emergency Traffic– Where are you in building
• How to find the FASTEST way out– Turnout gear protects for only seconds in
flashover– Low air means time to get out
• No more primary, secondary or firefighting operations
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Personal EquipmentSuggested Equipment for Self-
Survival
Should be available to EACH firefighter
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Must be able to tie handcuff knot around self or downed firefighter (RIT)
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Ladder Bail-out
Was ladder placed for rescue, by RIT, or for ventilation?
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Getting into a safe refuge area
FDNY found this most overlooked
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Performed with minimum equipment
Firefighter Survival Course 14Cable TV, Phone, Ceiling Support, Flex Duct
$5.00 - $10.00
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Firefighter Survival Skills Training• Quarterly review of these lifesaving skills is a
must:– Donning / Doffing of SCBA (Reduced Profile Maneuver)
• Other product specific advanced SCBA techniques; quick fill
– Tying of basic rescue knots• Bowline around self• Handcuff knot
– Activation of RIT • Mayday or Emergency Traffic
– Release from obstructions techniques• Swim Method for wire, use of sidecutters
– Hose direction identification by couplings
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Cover of Trapped Firefighter
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Rapid Intervention TeamsBasic Concepts
• A function of Command• Assembled in teams of 2 or more• Bring rescue equipment to Command• Perform own size-up of scene• May do other functions as long as
available immediately• Most important assignment given to a
company– Protect and rescue firefighters
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Personal Skills Required for RIT Assignment
•Size-up Skills
•Building Construction
•Fire Spread and Behavior
•Communications
•Aggressive “Can-do” spirit
•Use of multiple types of tools and equipment
•Ability to act fast under poor conditions
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Team Skills Required for RIT Assignment
• Must be familiar with all aspects of assignment– Fireground is not the place to learn– Preparation in training will begin
process
• Ability to function as a team– Identification of key tasks and
positions
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NFPA Requirements for RITNFPA 1500 Firefighter OccupationalHealth and Safety
6-5 Rapid Intervention for Rescue ofMembers
- Provide for rescue of membersoperating at emergency scenes- RIT shall consist of at least two fully
equipped members- Flexible structure based on incident
type- May perform other functions but be
ready for immediate deployment- Expand with size- One crew min. for special operations
NFPA 1561 Incident ManagementSystem
4-1 Incident Command
- Shall provide personnel for therescue of individuals operating atemergency incidents if the needarises. Must consist of at least 2members and be available for rescueof personnel if necessary.
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OSHA 2 in / 2 out Compliance
• A Rapid Intervention Team should fulfill the requirements as specified in the 29 CFR Part 1910.134 regulation– A minimum of four individuals is required before
entry into the hazard area (interior operations) may begin• Two of the four must be present and ready outside the
hazard area• Must be identically equipped
– Crews in hazard area must remain in either voice, visual or tethered contact with each other at all times• Radio may not be substituted for direct visual contact
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The Beginning of Self-Rescue and RIT
• FDNY and Philadelphia– Found common denominators in
many situations– No quick way to mobilize firefighters
to rescue our own– Many names for RIT
•Firefighter Assist Team, Rapid Intervention Crew, Firefighter Rescue Team, etc.
– Idea is still the same
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Case Histories
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania• Memphis, Tennessee• Denver, Colorado• Columbus, Ohio• Burr Ridge, IL
– Other of note not included in this presentation• Hackensack, NJ• Seattle, WA• Philadelphia, PA• New York, NY Must Know Info.
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Case Histories Pittsburgh 3 Firefighters
Killed Three Pittsburgh firefighters died on Feb 14, 1995 died at a dwelling fire after they were unable to escape the interior of a building. All three firefighters were together in one room and had exhausted their air supplies.
- 3 other firefighter were rescued from same room, accountability did not identify all who
were lost.
- All 3 had PASS devices that were not activated
- No RIT available to rescue lost and trapped firefighters
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Case HistoriesMemphis High-Rise Kills 2
Firefighters2 Memphis Firefighters will killed on April 11, 1994 in a high-rise fire. Both firefighters died when trapped on the fire floor of this building. 1 firefighter became trapped by cable TV wire which had fallen from the ceiling area and wrapped around his SCBA bottle.
- Both firefighters became separated from each other and ran out of air. PASS devices
were worn but never activated.
- Rescue crews lacked understanding of position of trapped firefighters and crawled right past one member
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Case HistoriesDenver Office Fire Kills 1
FirefighterA Denver firefighter was killed on September 28, 1982 when he became trapped inside the structure by the failure of lightweight construction members. Numerous attempts at rescue from a confined space through a window frame were unsuccessful.
- Firefighter was separated from his crew when collapse occurred.
- Rescue crews were unable to assist firefighter through window.
- Limited visibility and victim position were factors in the rescue attempt.
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Case HistoriesColumbus Commercial Fire
Kills 1 FirefighterA firefighter was killed when he fell through a hole in the floor of a mixed commercial occupancy on July 25, 1987. This firefighter was located early into his entrapment and despite many heroic efforts to rescue him, firefighters were unable to remove him from the hole he had fallen through.
- Numerous attempts to pull and lift firefighter were unsuccessful
- Self-rescue techniques did not work due to altered mental status
- Crews had to abandon structure with firefighter still trapped inside
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Case HistoriesPleasantview Firefighter Killed in
Single Family DwellingOn December 6, 1989, Lt. Joseph Samec died while battling a residential house fire in Burr Ridge, IL. Lt. Samec and his crew tried to rapidly exit the structure due to heavy involvement of the basement when the floor collapsed.
- Rescue attempts included face to face and holding of arms/hands were unsuccessful.
- Lt. Samec breached two walls in his attempt to escape but failed to make the stairs and
was found face down on the staircase.
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Case Studies - Summary
• May Joe Samec, John Nance, Mark Langvardt, and the 100 other firefighters who have make the SUPREME SACRAFICE every year rest in peace forever.– Their memory serves as a catalyst for how
and why we train– We must learn for these tragedies and
every “near-miss” that occurs– We must revisit these occurrences as often
as possible
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Rapid Intervention TeamsRapid Intervention Teams
• Referenced from NFPA 1500, 1992 Edition
• Now in use nationwide as the ultimate in firefighter life safety procedures
• Provides for the rescue of lost, trapped or injured firefighters
• Allows Command to have outside tasks completed while RIT crew is in the standby mode
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Rapid Intervention TeamsRapid Intervention Teams
• Definition– RIT’s are crews of at least two
members who may be called upon to supply rescue techniques to other firefighters operating a the scene of an emergency. These crews will have at least the same level of training and protective equipment as those operating at the scene.
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General Purpose of Rapid Intervention Teams
General Purpose of Rapid Intervention Teams
• Purpose– Provide for the establishment of a
Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) within the Incident Management System• Essential function of COMMAND
– Allows for dedicated company assigned to this function
– Meets current federal and local regulatory requirements
– One of the last industries to apply rescue of our own to work place
» Work Place = Emergency Scene
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When to have a Rapid Intervention Team
When to have a Rapid Intervention Team
• Utilized at any time firefighters are at risk– structural firefighting*– hazardous materials response– technical rescue– water rescue or recovery
• *during attack and hazard operations
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Objectives of a Rapid Intervention Team
Objectives of a Rapid Intervention Team
• Objectives of RIT– Establish a means of effectively
assisting members suddenly threatened by a dangerous situation at an emergency incident
– Provide a means for the IC to initiate an immediate rescue effort.
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Assigning Rapid Intervention Teams
Assigning Rapid Intervention Teams
• Dispatch of Equipment-Assignment to RIT– IC should establish the RIT’S whenever FD
personnel are required to operate under hazardous conditions.
– The composition and structure of RIT should be flexible based on the size and complexity of operations. The IC shall evaluate the situation and risks to operating teams and shall provide more teams commensurate with the needs of the situation
– Some scenes may require the establishment of more than one team• Size of structure or complexity of structure
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Rapid Intervention TeamsRapid Intervention Teams
• In the initial stages of an accident, the RIT shall be either:– On scene personnel designated and
dedicated as RIT– On scene personnel performing other
functions but ready to redeploy to perform RIT functions
• As the incident expands in size or complexity, the RIT’s shall be on scene personnel dedicated to that function
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Rapid Intervention TeamsRapid Intervention Teams• Reporting to the Fireground
– Companies designated as RIT will bypass staging, and report directly to the IC
– Companies designated as RIT must park their apparatus so as not to interfere with fireground operations
– Must bring minimum specified equipment and be prepared for immediate entry into incident area if required
– Additional equipment may be required after RIT completes own size-up of scene• Incident Command must supply WHATEVER is
determined to be needed
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Rapid Intervention TeamsCommand NotesCommand Notes
Rapid Intervention TeamsCommand NotesCommand Notes
• If used for other tactical assignments, the RIT must be replaced another crew– May be used to secure utilities– Force exit/entry around structure
• Don’t place into position where deployment would be delayed
• If the need for rescue is diminished, the RIT may be assigned to other tasks
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Primary Tasks for RIT’sPrimary Tasks for RIT’s• Respond to any firefighter reported in
distress• Assess the need for ground ladders• Monitor radio and maintain contact with IC
for quick response if needed• Assess where ff. personnel are located in the
structure and any special tasks they are performing
• Size up structure, walk building to determine these factors
• Appropriate tools carried by members
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Rapid Intervention Team Equipment
• Flat head axe/halligan tool
• Sledge hammer or maul
• Search rope, 150’ minimum
• Portable saws• Hand lights• Ground ladders
• Oxygen/EMS• Portable radios• SCBA complete• SCBA spare
bottles
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Equipment NoteEquipment Note
• Key word is RAPID. Don’t overload the personnel. Equipment must be available and RIT’s have priority to use it.– Use pre-arranged bags or kits with
most equipment pre-packed and ready to go.• Saves time when arriving on fireground
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RIT Size-up Skills
• Building Dimension– Occupancy– Construction Type– Placement of windows, doors, escapes,
porches, etc.
• Tactics– Offensive, Defensive, Defensive to Offensive– Command Operations in place– Ladders and Truck Operations– Time of Operations
Fire Eng. Jan 1998, R. Lasky, B. Hoff
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Equipment - Wood Frame, Heavy Timber, Ordinary
• Pickhead axes and pikes• Circular wood-blade saw• Ventilation chain saw• Halligan and sledgehammer• Search rope• SCBA and extra supply• Charged hoseline• Ground ladders
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Equipment - Noncombustible/Fire
Resistive• Halligan bars• Sledgehammers• Circular metal-blade saw• Torches• Search rope• SCBA and extra supply• Charged hoseline• Ground ladders
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Other Size-up Considerations
• Check with rehab officer on condition of firefighters
• Check with Safety Officer and compare information
• Relocate or add another RIT• Potential collapse and collapse
area• EMS for the RIT available
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RIT Size-up of a Structure
1-36
1-58Command Mode Slide 1
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Tips from the “Pros”Radio ChannelPositioning
Using RemoteMicrophones
Carry PersonalEscape System
Feedback of twoportables
Identify exits asyou go
Don’t loose contactwith hose/rope
Everyone shouldhave webbing
Close door over apike pole
Buy wire cuttersand carry them
Learn to tie knots 1handed and blind
Concrete nails forwooden doors
Know couplingdirection
Open nozzle atceiling for drops
Open ceilings asyou go
Practiceaccountability
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Special Thanks and Acknowledgements
• All Fallen Firefighters, Their Sprit Lives In Us Forever
• Saving Our Own - Illinois Fire Service Institute• Getting Out Alive - Fire Department New York
City• Firefighter Survival - Phoenix AZ, FDNY• Elgin IL - Regional Fire Academy Firefighter
Survival Program• Illinois Society of Fire Service Instructors• Pleasantview Fire Protection District