Search and rescue operations and rescue equipment use
Search and rescue operations test whether you can find casualties systematically, use rescue equipment within its limits, and work safely in structures, on rope, and in water.
Core rules
- Search patterns are chosen to fit the area and the information: hasty search for quick finds, then primary, then secondary grid or line searches. Record areas searched so effort is not duplicated.
- In structural search, mark every entry. The single slash records team, time in, and hazards at entry; the cross slash records hazards found and search progress; a box drawn round the marking means the search is complete.
- Rope systems: anchors must be redundant and load-rated; use figure-eight on a bight, bowline, clove hitch, and water knot correctly; understand lowering, belaying, and simple mechanical advantage such as 3:1 and 5:1 systems.
- Lifting: crib and shore loads progressively, use pneumatic bags with adequate lift rating and no sharp contact, and never place any part of your body under a suspended load.
- Confined spaces require a permit, atmospheric monitoring, an attendant outside, and a rescue plan before entry.
- In water, use throw bags and reach techniques before going, and in moving water float feet downstream on your back.
- Inspect and log equipment before and after use; damaged rope, harnesses, and hardware are removed from service.
Worked example
A four-person team must search the ground floor of a damaged building. Reasoning: the safety officer assesses structure and utilities, the team leader sets the entry point and an outside attendant, the searchers check rooms clockwise with a partner and call clear for each, the recorder marks the entry with team name, time, and hazards, and the team exits to update the marking and brief the next team.
Traps
- Entering an unmarked or partially marked structure and repeating the search.
- Using a single, unredundant anchor because it is quicker.
- Overloading a rope system or ignoring the safety factor.
- Entering a confined space to check quickly without monitoring or an attendant.
- Deploying rope or hardware that has not been inspected and logged.