Light Search & Rescue Operations

Cell Phones, Pagers, etc.

Please turn to OFF, VIBRATE, or SILENT

Search And Rescue - (SAR)

• Begins with a personal assessment– Family – Friends– Co-workers

• Two separate functions– Search– Rescue

Components of SAR

• Tools– Availability– Needs of the incident

• Rescuers– Trained personnel– Volunteers

• Time– GOLDEN DAY

TOO

LS

TIME

RE

SC

UE

RS

First 24-hour period following a disaster victims have an 80% chance of survival if rescued.

GOLDEN DAY

Equipment

• Crowbars• Auto jacks• Chain Saws• 2X4 & 4X4 Posts• Campers/Trailers• Motorcycles• Bicycles• Generators

Personnel Resources

• Neighborhood– Firefighters– Police– Nurse– MD– Plumbers– Contractors– Carpenters

• Workplace– Skills– Hobbies

• Military Experience– Heavy Equipment

SAR Goal

• Rescue the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time.

• Rescue lightly trapped victims first.

Types of Occupancies

• Construction Types– Safety Considerations

• Use – Determine Risk– Occupant Load

• Create an Action Plan

Size-up - Continuous analysis of facts

• Time of Day• Day of Week• Occupancy Type• Weather

– Rescue complications

– Affect on victims & rescuers

Size-up - Construction Type

• Wood Framed• Masonry• Concrete Tilt-up• Steel (High-Rise)• Pre-1933

General Hazards

• Electrical

• Natural gas

• Water

• Hazardous Materials

• Biological Hazards

Structural Damage Categories

• LIGHT – Safe to enter and remain

• MODERATE – Hazardous to enter– Enter only to save lives

• HEAVY – Unsafe for CERT trained members to enter– Contact professional rescuers

Light Damage

• Superficial

• Cosmetics

• Fallen plaster

• Small cracks

• Primary damage to contents of structure

Moderate Damage

• Structural stability questionable

• Fractures greater than 1/4”

• Significant Tilting• Foundation

Movement or Displacement

Heavy Damage

Partial or total wall collapse

Ceiling failure Obvious structural

instability X-cracking

Partial or total wall collapse

Ceiling failure Obvious structural

instability X-cracking

X - CRACKING

• Questionable Stability

• Don’t enter

• Beware of the impact zone

Size-up Discussion

Single Family Home - Pre-1933

Foundation Movement– Not bolted down– Cripple wall failure

Utilities– Utility lines shear

when home moves off foundation

Porches– Attached parts of

homes will detach Moderate damage

expected