R.I.T.
Rapid Intervention Team

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”(John 15:13)

• “Influence Of Tragedy” • There Is No Greater Influence Of
Change In The Fire Service Than A Line Of Duty Death Of A Firefighter.
• Yet, There Is No Greater Tragedy
Than That Of A Fallen Firefighter Whose Death Prompted The Passage Of A Safety Policy Which May Have Prevented His Death…..
• Author Unknown

• 10 Most Common Responses: • 10) “You have got to be kidding me, R.I.T.! • 9) “ What, you want us to stand here?” • 8) “ If you let us get out of R.I.T., we’ll put this
fire out!”
• 7) “Who’s idea was this” • 6) “You go,we go (nowhere).”

• 5) “Ya, sure, we’ll stand here and do R.I.T, or
Rectal Insertion of Thumb.”
• 4) “We waited all year for a fire, and now we
get to watch it from the front yard.”
• 3) “ Leave the R.I.T. for the outstanding
firefighters`!
• 2) “We can be the R.I.T for rehab!” • 1) “Wow, we get to herd sheep in the front lawn
again!”

• Definition, Purpose, Concepts • Why do we have R.I.T.? • Case Studies • Mental conditioning • Deployment/Equipment for R.I.T. operations • Preparing for hands on • Hands on practical evolutions

– Rapid Intervention Teams 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.

• 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

• Utilized at any time firefighters are at
risk
– structural firefighting – Is to locate and rescue lost, trapped, and/or injured firefighters
on the fire ground.
– hazardous materials response – technical rescue – water rescue or recovery • during attack and hazard operations

• 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

Concepts of R.I.T.
“The Concept is one of Attitude ”

Concepts of R.I.T.
• Attitude is everything!!! – It doesn’t take a 500,000 dollar squad to begin thinking
and ACTING…
– Do you come dressed for the party? – Firefighters are killed surrounded by 1/2” sheetrock. – “Don’t give up! Mentality is essential!” – Who do you want coming to get you? – Rapid Intervention Crew

•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

• 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

• Firefighter Injuries 1995 - 94,500 • 50,640 Injuries on the Fire Ground • Problems: – Less fires but same number of deaths – Were described as “routine fires” – Several “things” went wrong. – Common factors involved.

Fatality Statistics 1997 NFDC • 43.6% Fire Ground / 40 of 94 – 13 Heart Attack – 8 Asphyxiation – 7 Crushing – 5 Internal Trauma – 3 Burns – 1 Heat Stroke – 1 Drown – 1 Asthma Attack – 1 Shot
43.3% caught or trapped

• Declining number of structure fires. • Less fire ground experience. • PPE too protective? • Lost or separated from team • Hotter Fires • Malfunctioning SCBA • Inactivated PASS device • Lack of knowledge of self-rescue techniques

Common Factors Contributing To Firefighter Injury & Fatality
• Failure to read the building - # 1 overall factor – Lack of, or incomplete size up – Lack of knowing building construction and fire
behavior
• No Pass device – NFPA reports 1984-94, 173 FF fatalities – 160 with no pass device – 6 with pass not turned on – only 7 with pass device turned on

Common Factors Contributing To Firefighter Injury & Fatality (Cont.)
• Heavy Fire on lower levels – Walk out basements – Floor weakened or holes burnt through • Communications - Information between IC &
Companies
– Hackensack, NJ 5 fatalities, called for help over 30
minutes, 17 minutes after collapse last call for help.
– Indianapolis, called for help 7 times in 5 minutes.
WHY DON’T WE HEAR?

Common Factors Contributing To Firefighter Injury & Fatality (Cont.)
• Accountability – # 1 factor in accountability is the officer
knowing where his/her people are.
– 25% of all firefighter fatalities are due to a
lack of accountability

Common Factors Contributing To Firefighter Injury & Fatality (Cont.)
• Hotter fires - Since 1970 fires have tripled the BTU
output.
– Iowa (Royers) L X W X H / 100 = GPM – NFA L X W / 3 = GPM • Energy Efficient Windows • Average apartment has over 2500 lbs... Of plastic • Temperature inversion at flashover - 1100 at ceiling
1700 at floor.
• Deteriorating buildings • Light weight and truss construction – Light weight truss can fail as soon as 4 minutes

Common Factors Contributing To Firefighter Injury & Fatality (Cont.) 85 - 90% of Firefighters have never practiced Firefighter Rescue

• On the average 100 firefighters will die in
the line of duty.
• 27% Trauma related • 20% from asphyxia and burns • Firefighters under age 35 are more likely
to be killed by traumatic injuries than from medical cases like heart attacks.

• 57% of deaths were members of
volunteer or combination departments.

• NFPA 1500 and 1561 have established the
basic terms of what Rapid Intervention involves.
• NFPA 1500 states, “that rapid
intervention teams are essentially risk management tools.”

NFPA 1500 Firefighter Occupational Health and Safety 6-5 Rapid Intervention for Rescue of Members NFPA 1561 Incident Management System 4-1 Incident Command - Provide for rescue of members operating 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 - Shall provide personnel for the rescue of individuals operating at emergency incidents if the need arises. Must consist of at least 2 members and be available for rescue of personnel if necessary.

• According to Section 6-2.1.1,”The
concept of risk management shall be utilized on the basis of the following principles”:
• (a) Activities that present a significant
risk to safety of members shall be limited to situations where there is the potential to save endangered lives.

• (b) Activities that are routinely employed
to protect property shall be recognized as inherent risks to the safety of members, and actions shall be taken to reduce or avoid these risks.
• (c) No risk to the safety of members shall
be acceptable when there is no possibility to save lives or property.

OSHA 1910.134 (“2 in 2 out rule”)
• 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

• 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.

Three Pittsburgh firefighters died on Feb 14, 1995 died at a dwelling fire after they were unable to escape the interior of a building.
supplies.
All three firefighters were together in one room and had exhausted their air - 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

2 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

Case Histories Denver Office Fire Kills 1 Firefighter
A 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.

Case Histories Columbus Commercial Fire Kills 1 Firefighter
A 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

On 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.

• 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

• Phoenix Fire Department study: • Results: • -rescue crew ready state 2.50 minutes • -Mayday to R.I.C.entry 3.03 minutes • -R.I.C. contact with downed firefighter
5.82 minutes.
• Total time for each crew inside 12.33
minutes.

Phoenix Fire Department study:
• The drills showed that a 3000psi bottle
was good for 13.09 to 24.31 minutes of air.
• The average time was 18.7 minutes. • Average time from mayday to removal
was 21 minutes.
• R.I.C. teams were running out of air
during the removal phase.

• States in the special report: “Rapid
Intervention Teams And How to Avoid Needing Them”.
• “Not every firefighter will be assigned to a
R.I.T., but all members of the fire department should be instructed on the purpose, policies, and rules governing a R.I.T. and the conditions which it would be deployed.”

• • • • Three consistent ratios:
-It takes 12 firefighters to rescue “one”.
-One in five R.I.T. members will get into some type of trouble themselves.
- A 3000 p.s.i. SCBA bottle has 18.7 minutes of air (plus or minus 30%).

March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church - Pittsburgh, PA As fire consumes the church roof, Safety Chief Charles Brace, (first white helmet from the left), observes operations trying to keep Pittsburgh firefighters safe during this dangerous fire. The fire continues to consume the church roof and Pittsburgh fire crews attempt to extinguish the fire.

March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church - Pittsburgh, PA Heavy fire erupts from the roof of the historic Ebenezer Baptist church as Incident Commander Deputy Chief David Manfredo (center white helmet) directs crews in operations. Manfredo was seriously injured when the bell tower steeple collapsed striking him with bricks and debris.

March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church - Pittsburgh, PA Immediately after the steeple collapse, Pittsburgh firefighters rush to the aid of their fallen comrades. In the lower left, Deputy Chief David Manfredo, who was the fireground Incident Commander, is seen lying unconscious after being struck by falling bricks and debris. He was one of the more seriously injured firefighters and had to undergo facial surgery.

March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church - Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh firefighters tend to another fallen comrade that was buried in exterior bricks and debris.

March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church - Pittsburgh, PA This is the view of the Ebenezer church after the bell tower had collapsed killing 2 firefighters and injuring 28.

March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church - Pittsburgh, PA
• • • •
This cartoon was originally featured in the Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Created by Randy Bish , this cartoon is an excellent tribute to the sacrifice that Battalion Chief Charles Brace and Master Firefighter Richard Stefanakis made fighting the Saturday, March 13, 2004 fire at the Ebenezeer Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Both firefighters lost their lives when the bell tower completely collapsed onto them. A special thanks goes to Randy Bish for creating this cartoon which honors the lives of Battalion Chief Charles Brace and Master Firefighter Richard Stefanakis. We appreciate his permission to allow us to post it on RapidIntervention.com.
Cartoon courtesy of Randy Bish , Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

A member of the USAR team called to the scene salutes as the body of one of the fallen firefighters is removed from the debris.

Mental Conditioning
• Firefighter Survival Tactics
Learning How to Stay Out Of Trouble:
• Lets take at look at these five tactics. • I. Staying Oriented • II. Staying Low • III. Monitoring Conditions • •
a) Visually keep track of the smoke density and fire.
b) Tactilely monitoring heat conditions
• IV. Monitoring the Radio • V. Staying Calm

• Before Rapid Intervention even begins, firefighters must posses the ability to begin to remove themselves from mechanisms that have trapped them – Wires – Debris – Occupancy

• 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

Concepts of Firefighter Rescue (Cont.)
• Anticipate problems - Everyone must be looking!!! • Read the building • 360 degree survey • Throw ladders – Engineers – Stand by companies • Clean out windows • Think Forcible EXIT Tools.

Concepts of Firefighter Rescue (Cont.)
• Ensure Operation of PASS when dismounting
apparatus
• Watch your air – Point of no return – SCBA Emergencies • Consider level of activity • Listen to the radio. (Lapel Mic’s) • Communicate to IC – Declare “MayDay” w/ CO. I.D. and best known location – Activate PASS – Turn on Flash Lights – Inform IC of noises heard, ie. Saws, Fans, Crews, etc. – Tap or Beat on Surroundings

Concepts of Firefighter Rescue (Cont.)
• Ensure Operation of PASS when dismounting
apparatus
• Watch your air – Point of no return – SCBA Emergencies • Consider level of activity • Listen to the radio. (Lapel Mic’s) • Communicate to IC – Declare “MayDay” w/ CO. I.D. and best known location – Activate PASS – Turn on Flash Lights – Inform IC of noises heard, ie. Saws, Fans, Crews, etc. – Tap or Beat on Surroundings

Mental Conditioning
• MAY DAY: • The U.S. Navy is an aggressive
organization and it continually drills on “Abandon Ship”.
• Fire Departments should regularly drill
on getting out of buildings.
• May Day: universal distress signal and
should trigger immediate radio silence.

Mental Conditioning
• Managing YOUR MAY DAY • Orient Yourself • Communicate with Your Crew • Alert Command • Solve the Problem • Activate Your PASS • Solve the Problem • If You Can't Solve The Problem

Mental Conditioning
• MAY DAY Training Sessions: • Find a Hose line and Follow to Safety • Alert Command & activate PASS Device • Additional Training... • Every firefighter, and department, should participate in Get Out
Alive and Rapid Intervention Team training. Sending firefighters into structures without providing them training to respond to their own emergencies should not be allowed. Sending, or assigning, rapid intervention teams that have not trained to perform rapid intervention skills is like not having a rapid intervention team at all.

Mental Conditioning
• Lessons learned: • For the MAYDAY call to be completed it must be received by
someone in communications, then communications must repeat back to the firefighter the information reported. This is the only way the person calling the MAYDAY will know their message was received correctly.
• The hands free feature of the radio is useful, but if the mike is
turned facing the firefighter's coat the message will become muffled.
• The firefighter must speak loudly, clearly, and distinctly to be
heard and understood.
• If LUNAR is not the normal day to day communications sequence
for talking on the radio it may not come naturally to firefighters under MAYDAY conditions.

• In some cases the radio EIB did not reset correctly. The next time
the EIB was pushed the three beeps sounded indicating the open mike was on but there was no transmission.
• It was learned that AACOFD communications could reactivate the
captured channel and open the mike for an additional 20-seconds and repeat opening it as needed.
• The AACOFD is working on purchasing user-friendly firefighting
gloves. This will help in using the radio.
• Situational awareness can be compromised very quickly in a zero
visibility environment.
• The fact that you decided to call a MAYDAY can tax your higher
cognitive thinking, like where you are and what you are doing, which are important facts for the RIC.

PROCEDURE Firefighters who are Missing, Lost, or Trapped….
In or around the structure or incident should attempt to perform the following functions: 1. On the companies portable radio, declare a “May Day” along with your company ID and location or the best known location to the I.C.
2. Activate PASS devices to assist rescue crews in their search.
3. Point flashlight beams in the direction of rescue crews or straight in the air to alert rescuers of your location.
4. Keep the I.C. informed to noises heard to aid in their search, i.e., overhead ventilation efforts with saws, etc.

5. Kick legs or move arms to attract rescuers.
6. Tap or beat on the surroundings.
7. Shout for help.
8. Take every measure necessary to increase survivability.

I.C. shall perform the following functions: 1. Ask Dispatch Services to send out an alert tone on the Emergency Scene channel to get the attention of all companies in the “Hot Zone.” 2. Announce emergency traffic.
3. Declare a “May Day” on the fire ground to all companies on the radio and advise them of the following: A.
B.
C.
What company members are missing, lost, or trapped How many firefighters are in the missing company The firefighter’s last known location on the fire ground

4. Assign the RIC to initiate a rescue at the last known location of the missing firefighters.
5. Call for the next greater alarm level.
6. Activate the emergency withdrawal procedure, if necessary.
7. Assign companies to assist or support the rescue effort.
8. Conduct a PAR of all companies to confirm the number of missing, lost, or trapped firefighters.

• In 2000, the Chesterfield, VA Fire Department
conducted a lieutenant's test. Part of the testing included a field activity.
• Seventeen candidates for lieutenant were taken to a
large abandoned building, 80’ x 120’ with an open floor plan.
• One at a time, in full turnouts, SCBA with less the
700psi, portable radio, and Nomex hood on backwards covering their face mask, each candidate was taken into the building and told the following.
• "You are the OIC of the first engine operating at a fire
in a Shopping Mall.

• You and your crew are stretching a 1 3/4 hand
line at the top of the escalator on the second floor and you encounter "cold" smoke and zero visibility. While maintaining voice contact with your crew, you have been searching for the fire. You no longer have voice contact with you crew and are now lost and disoriented. This is not a training scenario, your life depends on your actions!" 2000).
(By Heather Casey. Test asks: Can you Survive? Firehouse.Com News, Sept. 28,

• The correct actions to take were: • Declare an emergency on the radio • Activate the emergency button • Announce “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,
Emergency Traffic”
• Activate the PASS device • Successfully merge with the RIT

• Of the 17 candidates, only four took the
correct action immediately. The fastest times to complete the tasks were four to five minutes. Some of the candidates never called Mayday (Personal communications Capt. Dave Daniels, Chesterfield FD Sept. 25, 2001).

• Survey Results 339 Respondents • MAYDAY DECISION PARAMETERS:
SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING DETACHED, 1 or 2 STORY WITH OR WITHOUT BASEMENT* IDLH ENVIRONMENT SCBA IN USE:

A firefighter must call a mayday for themselves under these conditions. % said YES Possible Mayday Conditions 98% 94% 92% 89% 88% 82% 69% 69% 58% Tangled, Pinned, or Stuck; low air alarm activation, Mayday Fall through roof, Mayday Tangled, Pinned, or Stuck and do not extricate self in 60 seconds, Mayday Caught in flashover, Mayday Fall through floor, Mayday Zero visibility, no contact with hose or lifeline, do not know direction to exit, Mayday Primary exit blocked by fire or collapse, not at secondary exit in 30 seconds, Mayday Low air alarm activation, not at exit (door or window) in 30 seconds, Mayday Cannot find exit (door or window) in 60 seconds, Mayday

RIT: Dispatch
– 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

• In the early 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

• Reporting – 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

• If used for other tactical assignments, the RIT must be replaced by another team • If the need for rescue is diminished, the RIT may be assigned to other tasks

• 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
• Size up structure, if possible, walk bldg. • Appropriate tools carried by members

• Officer has a different role!
• Responding for firefighter rescue, not suppression.
• The chief officers must have high expectations of their RIC Officers

Equipment For R.I.T. Operations

Suggested Equipment for Self-Survival Should be available to EACH firefighter

Equipment For R.I.T. Operations

 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

• Key word is RAPID. Don’t overload the
personnel. Equipment must be available and R.I.T.’s have priority to use it.

$5.00 - $10.00
Cable TV, Phone, Ceiling Support, Flex Duct

• Building Dimension – Occupancy Fire Eng. Jan 1998, R. Lasky, B. Hoff – 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

• 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

Radio Channel Positioning Feedback of two portables Everyone should have webbing Learn to tie knots 1 handed and blind Open nozzle at ceiling for drops Using Remote Microphones Identify exits as you go Close door over a pike pole Concrete nails for wooden doors Open ceilings as you go Carry Personal Escape System Don’t loose contact with hose/rope Buy wire cutters and carry them Know coupling direction Practice accountability

• RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM CHECKLIST
SIZE-UP
•
o 1. Building dimensions (length 2 width 2 height).
• o 2. Building occupancy. • o 3. Building construction type: Wood frame. Heavy timber.
Ordinary. Noncombustible. Fire restive.
• o 4. Placement of windows, doors, fire escapes, porches, and so
on.
• o 5. Potential danger of high-security doors, barred windows,
building modifications. TACTICS
• o 6. Offensive, defensive, defensive-to-offensive. • o 7. Command operations: Check tactics sheet or board. Check
accountability system. Communication/incident commanders.
• o 8. Ladders and truck operations. • o 9. Fireground time vs. progress.

•EQUIPMENT o 10. Stage equipment based on construction type: Examples: • Wood Frame/Heavy Timber/Ordinary Noncombustible/Fire Resistive •o Pickhead axes and pike poles •o Halligan bars •o Circular wood-blade saw •o Sledgehammers •o Ventilation chain saw •o Circular metal-blade saw •o Halligan bar and sledgehammer •o Torch •o Search rope o Search ropes •o Emergency air supply or SCBA o •o Charged hoseline •o Ground ladder(s) •OTHER OPERATIONS: •o 11. Check with rehab officer/condition of firefighters. o •12. Check with safety officer/compare information. o •13. Relocate or add another RIT. o •14. Potential collapse and collapse area. O • 15. EMS for the RIT.

• Once the firefighter is located the safety team must
provide a detailed report to the IC of the condition of the firefighter in question. This report must include;
• Exact location of firefighter in distress. • Whether firefighter is conscious or not. • Information concerning the fact that the search rope is deployed as
a path to the distressed firefighter.
• If any special tools are required at the location. • If additional assistance (personnel) are required at the location. • If an alternate route of escape is possible and if it will be used. • If the firefighter is alone or if additional firefighters are in need of
assistance.

• Downed firefighter assessment and
preparation.

Downed firefighter removal; across floors, up/down stairs

Downed firefighter removals: through holes, on ladders

• Below grade via charged hoseline or ropes
· Ladder removals: high point and low point · Wall breaching and enlarged openings · Collapse operations · Technical and specialized rescue tools; saws, torches, air bags, etc.

below grade via charged hoseline enlarged openings

below grade via rope

Ladder removals: high point and low point

Without a Tool

Technical and specialized rescue tools; saws, torches, air bags, etc

• Actual Team Search Deployment
· In-depth firefighter rescue operations · Advanced downed firefighter removal techniques · The ultimate use of all techniques and tools available

•
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


• MABAS Division 10 • Policy and Procedures Division 10 created policy December 1996, approved and under implementation  Referenced from NFPA 1500, 1992 Edition  Now in use nationwide as the ultimate in firefighter life safety procedures

“Saving Our Own” This course was developed by the Illinois Fire Service Institute. The course was taught by members of the Chicago, Schaumburg Fire Department members. This was initially a 16 hour “train the trainer” course taught to members of AFD that had been selected by the training staff. The course was modified to meet the immediate needs of the AFD. Additional components of this course will be incorporated into future training sessions.

•Instructors –B/C Forest Reeder –Lt. Mike Grazian –FF/PM Ken Brucki 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