Continuing Education
for the Fire Fighter
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
Structural Search, Victim
Removal, and
Firefighter Survival
Module 2
Chapter 9
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe the actions of
a rapid intervention
crew or team (RIC/RIT)
Explain firefighter when locating a
survival methods. downed firefighter.
Explain what survival
actions firefighters can
take when needed.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Demonstrate the
actions required
Demonstrate the for withdrawing
actions required from a hostile
for transmitting a environment
MAYDAY report. with a hoseline.
Demonstrate the Demonstrate the
proper side technique
procedures for for low profile
an SCBA air maneuvers
emergency. without
removing SCBA.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Perform the SCBA-
first technique for Demonstrate the
low profile steps for
maneuvers without disentangling from
removing SCBA. debris or wires.
Demonstrate the
method for
breaching an
interior wall.
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THE LIVES OF ALL FIREFIGHTERS DEPEND ON
SURVIVAL SKILLS.
Must
learn to
Recognize/avoid Rescue lost/trapped
potential hazards firefighters
Escape unavoidable
hazards
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PREVENTION-BASED SURVIVAL IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT SURVIVAL TECHNIQUE.
Read fire, anticipate development
Anticipate location, extent of fire
Identify construction type and potential collapse
Locate entry and alternate exits
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PREVENTION-BASED SURVIVAL IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT SURVIVAL TECHNIQUE.
Perform risk/benefit analysis
Anticipate interior changes
Determine resources needed to finish quickly
Check your own and team’s air supply
Determine “two in, two out” rule
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FOLLOW THESE OTHER IMPORTANT GUIDELINES
BEFORE AND DURING INTERIORS OPERATIONS.
Always have plan and a
backup plan
Consider current and Anticipate effect of
projected fire behavior ventilation and
and structural stability environmental conditions
on fire behavior
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REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WHEN
PRACTICING SURVIVAL PREPARATION.
Know how basic
Know how to
fire fighting
survive
skills are also
hazardous
essential for
situations
survival
Be aware of
Use situational
your
awareness
surroundings
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RECOGNIZING MAYDAY SITUATIONS IS VITAL
TO FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL.
Entanglement
Lost or
disoriented
Air
emergencies
Courtesy of Iowa State
Fire Training Bureau
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RECOGNIZING MAYDAY SITUATIONS IS THE
NEXT STEP IN FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL.
Collapse/
trapped
Thermal
emergencies
Courtesy of Rhett Strain/ OSU-FST
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IMMEDIATE COMMUNICATION INCREASES
THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
1. Describe problem
2. Give location
3. Remain in place
If in immediate danger:
1. Transmit MAYDAY
2. Activate PASS
3. Communicate with IC
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USE THE ACRONYM LUNARS TO REMEMBER
WHAT INFORMATION TO COMMUNICATE.
Location
Unit
Name
Assignment
Resources needed
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13
TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WHENEVER
A MAYDAY IS BROADCAST.
3.
2. Radio
1. MAYDAY Nonessential
channel 4. RIC/RIT
radio traffic activities cease
allocated for dispatched
only and search
MAYDAY
begins
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LISTEN CLOSELY TO RADIO TRANSMISSIONS
BEING MADE.
May be able to assist downed firefighter nearby
Follow orders, do not freelance
IC may order personnel to exit
Must recognize department evacuation signals
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PROPER AIR MANAGEMENT ALLOWS
FIREFIGHTERS TO EXIT IDLH AREAS SAFELY.
Key
principles
Know how much is
Inform IC if must exit
left
Know point of no
return
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CHECK AIR GAUGE REGULARLY AND KNOW
YOUR POINT OF NO RETURN.
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INDIVIDUAL FIREFIGHTERS CAN DECIDE TO LEAVE
ONLY UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
As an • Only if separated or
individual catastrophic event
As a team • If receive a command
from IC or supervisor
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KNOWING HOW TO REACT IN AN AIR
EMERGENCY IS ESSENTIAL.
Stay calm,
follow
procedures
Conserve air, Practice until
improve second
chances nature
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TO SURVIVE A MAYDAY EVENT, MONITOR YOUR
SURROUNDINGS AND USE SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS.
Remain in place
Choose a
course of Seek safe shelter
action:
Escape
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WHEN REMAINING IN PLACE, STAY CALM,
BREATH SLOWLY, AND STAY LOW.
5.
1.
Temporarily
Communicate
turn off
with radio
PASS, listen
4. Shine light
2. Activate
directly
PASS
overhead
3. Tap floor,
make noise
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SEEKING SAFE SHELTER MEANS TAKING ACTION TO
IMPROVE THE SITUATION OR BUYING TIME FOR
ESCAPE.
Stay low
Use hose stream, but this can also be dangerous
Close doors to fire
Shore building materials with tools
Filter toxic air with protective hood as last resort
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ESCAPE IS THE BEST SURVIVAL OPTION IN THE
FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES.
Extreme Receive
Imminent
No safe Air supply fire order to
threat of
shelter exhausted conditions abandon
collapse
imminent structure
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ESCAPE REQUIRES TEAMWORK AND PRACTICE TO
KNOW ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
Team intact Separated from team
Escape as unit
Follow hoseline
using search line
or wall
or hoseline
Use couplings to
Do not leave
determine
nozzle
directions
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FOLLOW THESE GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES
WHEN ESCAPING A STRUCTURE.
Maintain Use points
Stay calm control of of Stay low
nozzle reference
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FOLLOW THESE GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES
WHEN ESCAPING A STRUCTURE.
Remember
Keep Stay in which Control Check and
contact radio level of your report on
with wall contact structure breathing air supply
you’re on
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USE DUCK WALK OR LOW PROFILE
MANEUVER IN THICK, DENSE SMOKE.
Crawling Duck walking
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FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO SEARCH
FOR AN EXIT.
3. Sweep wall with 4. Determine if
other hand for window window allows exit
5. Notify Command,
ask about conditions
2. Sweep floor with
1. Locate wall, crawl
one hand
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IF ON THE GROUND FLOOR, FOLLOW THESE
STEPS TO EXIT A WINDOW.
1. Open window or
break with tool
2. Clear shards
3. Climb through,
feet first to
ground
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IF ON AN UPPER STORY, FOLLOW THESE
STEPS TO EXIT A WINDOW.
Courtesy of Chris Mickal/District Chief, New
Orleans (LA) FD Photo Unit
1. Find out if aerial 2. If not, report 3. Escape rope
or ground ladder is location and need system if
nearby for egress trained
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BREACHING AN INTERIOR WALL MAY PROVIDE AN
EXIT ROUTE, BUT SHOULD BE USED ONLY AS A LAST
RESORT.
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ALWAYS BROADCAST MAYDAY BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO DISENTANGLE YOURSELF.
Courtesy of Iowa State Fire Training Bureau
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A RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM OR CREW (RIT/RIC) IS
REQUIRED BY NFPA® 1500 AND OSHA AT ANY HAZARD
ZONE.
Two firefighters
prepared for rescue
• Must be trained
• Full PPE
• More than one team
may be assigned
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CAUTION!
Do not underestimate the time
and personnel required to
rescue a downed firefighter.
Carrying one unconscious
firefighter can require four
rescuers, and fully removing the
firefighter from the hazard zone
can require up to twelve
rescuers. This process can take
as long as 20 minutes to
complete.
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MANDATORY EQUIPMENT FOR RIC/RIT IS
DESCRIBED BY AWARE ACRONYM.
Air
Water
A
Radio
Extrication
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RIC/RIT CARRY A VARIETY OF TOOLS
WITH THEM.
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RIC/RIT FOLLOW THESE STEPS AFTER A
MAYDAY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN
RECEIVED.
Establish radio contact
IC may order brief shutdown to listen
If unsuccessful, follow hoseline, last
known location
Stop frequently to listen for sound of
PASS device or calls for help
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DIGITAL RADIO TRANSCEIVERS CAN HELP
LOCATE DISORIENTED OR LOST FIREFIGHTERS.
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AFTER LOCATING A DOWNED FIREFIGHTER,
RIC/RIT TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS.
1. Check air 2. Deactivate 3. Confirm
supply PASS device identity
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RIC/RIT THEN NOTIFIES COMMAND OF THE
LOCATION AND STATUS OF DOWNED FIREFIGHTER.
4. Request assistance 5. Mitigate any 6. Move to safe
if necessary hazards shelter if necessary
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EXITING IDLH AREA USUALLY TAKES PRIORITY
OVER STABILIZING INJURIES.
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MAKE SURE THAT SCBA IS FUNCTIONING OR
REMOVE FIREFIGHTER FROM HAZARDOUS
ATMOSPHERE.
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WARNING!
Never remove your
facepiece or compromise
the proper operation of
your SCBA to share your
air supply— not even
with another firefighter.
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SUMMARY
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