US&R Search Terms and
Procedures
Relevant Victim Location
Information
• Building use
– Type of occupancy
– Expected number of occupants
•
•
•
•
Time of day and day of week
Type of collapse
Associated hazards
Possible victim locations
Sources of Information
• Pre-incident site plan
• Size-up and reconnaissance information
• Verbal reports
– Rescued victims, co-workers, witnesses,
relatives
• Contractors and building engineers
Types of US&R Search
• Hasty Search (Primary Search)
– Rapid assessment
– Assists in size-up
– Helps determine priorities
• Extensive/Grid Search (Secondary Search)
–
–
–
–
Thorough systematic search
Redundant search
Verification of victim location with alternate resources
Confirms “exact” victim location
US&R Search Categories
• Categories
– Physical search
– US&R canine search
– Technical search
• Effectiveness of
various categories of
search types
Physical Search
• Deployment of personnel
for physical search
• Advantages
– Resources readily available
– No high tech
equipment/procedures
needed
– Can use volunteers
– Visual sighting provides
victim location verification
Physical Search
• Disadvantages
–
–
–
–
Only for surface victims
Best during only daylight hours
Dangerous for search personnel
May miss some victims
Hailing System Procedures
• Surround search site with personnel
• Call for silence
• Personnel call out one by one – use
clockwise rotation
• After each call out, ALL personnel listen
for response and point to direction of sound
• Triangulate on victim location – may have
multiple “fixes”
Hailing System
• Advantages
– Resources readily
available
– No high tech
equipment/procedures
needed
– Triangulates on victim
location
– Can be used day or
night with relative
safety
Hailing System
• Disadvantages
– Effectiveness diminishes after time due to
victims decreasing ability to respond
– Additional search tactics may be needed to
pinpoint the exact location of the victim
– May not locate all victims in collapse
Physical Search Procedures
• Organize personnel to search area
– Requires team leader
– Establish good communications with IC
– Use buddy system
• Use building plans to plot progress and direct
teams
• Use hailing procedure if appropriate
• Use proper search marking procedures
• Enter if structure is sound
Physical Search Options
• Search in organized manner
• Don’t skip any rooms unless areas is unsafe
– Small Rooms or areas
• “Go right - stay right” method
– Large rooms or areas
• Line - search method
Contact with Victims
• Encourage victims not to give up
• Explain situation
• Assess victim position, entrapment and medical
condition
• “Interview” victim about other occupants
• Leave rescuer(s) with victim if safe
• Continue search until all victims are accounted for
• Report to IC with findings
US&R Canine Search
• Specially trained and
certified canine and
handler teams
– Caution using other noncertified canines form PD
or wilderness environment
– Possible harm to handler,
victims or canines to trained
for urban collapse
environments
Canine Search
• Advantages
– Can cover large areas in a short time span
– Used for both Hasty and Extended grid
searches
– Can detect deeply buried victims who are able
to or not able to respond themselves
– Can differentiate between live or dead victims
Canine Search
• Disadvantages
– Very limited number or available teams
– Can be temperamental
– Canines affected by weather and physical
condition
– Additional search modes may have to be used
to confirm victim location
Technical Search
• Three primary types
– Electronic listening devices
– Visual search devices
– Other electronic devices
• Requires trained users
• Expensive
• Some instruments very delicate
Listening Devices
• Advantages
– Very sensitive to
deeply buried victims
– Can cover large areas
and pinpoint location
of victims
– Less sophisticated
devices may be used
by public works
departments
Listening Devices
• Disadvantages
– Usefulness of device diminishes with victims
condition
– Best when ambient noise is low
– Should be used with hailing method
– Does not locate all victims
Visual Search Devices
• Video and Optical
• Advantages
– Provides conclusive
verification of victim
location
– Some devices can access
openings ¼ inch wide and
extend up to 10 feet deep
– Flexible
– Doesn’t require verification
Visual Search Devices
• Disadvantages
–
–
–
–
Requires skilled operator
Limited field and depth of view
Limited reach
Does not locate call possible victims
Other Search Devices
• Thermal sensing devices
– Can see through smoke but not walls or even heavy
dust
• Infrared and UV sensing devices
– Sees light radiation
– Used for covert surveillances – not for US&R
• Electromagnetic wave detection – Radar
– Can detect heartbeat and respirations through 10 feet of
concrete and steel debris