Dekalb County
Fire Rescue Department
Bill Craddock
Firefighter Safety and Survival
1
Objectives
Discuss reasons for firefighter
fatalities
Identify Causes of Firefighter
injuries and Deaths
Define Mayday
Discuss the parameters of a
Mayday
Discuss the IC responsibilities
when a Mayday is call
Identify what to do when you call a
Mayday
Discuss and practice Self Rescue
Techniques
2
Firefighter Down
3
Video of
Downed Firefighter
4
On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities:
(1977-2005)
Year
Deaths
2005……115
2004……117
2003……112
2002…...100
2001……441
2000……102
1999……112
1998……91
1997……94
1996……95
Year
Deaths Year Deaths
1995……96
1994……104
1993……77
1992……75
1991……109
1990……108
1989……119
1988……136
1987……131
1986……121
1985……126
1984……119
1983……113
1982……125
1981……135
1980……140
1979……126
1978……171
1977……157
5
Reasons for Firefighter Deaths and Injuries
Ineffective size-up
Improper strategic
and tactical decisions
Absence of an
effective emergency
rescue plan
Lack of training
Poor judgment
6
Other Identified Causes of Injuries and
Deaths
Failure to recognize
rapidly deteriorating
conditions
Inexperienced Officers
Failure to use safety
equipment
Loss of water supply
Freelancing
7
Sudden Unexpected Events
Lost/trapped or
unaccounted for
firefighter
Flashover
Backdraft
Rapid fire increase
Explosion
Collapse
Cardiac Emergency
8
Can’t Happen Right?
You've carefully thought out all the angles.
You've done it a thousand times.
This is a routine fire.
It comes naturally to you.
You are confident.
You know what you're doing, its what
you've been trained to do.
Nothing could possibly go wrong, right ?
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Think Again!!!!
10
The life you save may be your
own…
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MAYDAY VIDEO
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What is a Mayday
It is used internationally
as a distress signal in
voice procedure radio
communications.
It is used to signal a lifethreatening emergency
by many groups, such as
pilots (marine and air),
police and fire personnel,
and transportation
organizations
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What is a Mayday (cont.)
The call is always given three times in a
row.
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday !!!
This prevents mistaking it for some similarsounding phrase under noisy conditions.
It means HELP ME
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Reasons Firefighters Don’t Call a
Mayday
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pride
Overconfident
Denial
Lack of Communication/
Radio Traffic
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Reasons To Call A Mayday




FALL
COLLAPSE
TRAPPED / CAUGHT
LOST
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Defining the parameters of a
“Mayday”
The “if” – “then” approach; call a Mayday if:
You fall through the roof
You fall through the floor
You become tangled, stuck or pinned and can
not free yourself quickly
You are caught in a flashover
You become lost or disorientated and you can
not find the exit door or window quickly
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Defining the parameters of a
“Mayday”
Your primary exit is blocked by fire or
collapse and you are not at the secondary
exit in 30 seconds
Your partner collapses
Start them early, Cancel them if not
needed
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Case Scenario
An examination of three
Seattle near-misses
uncovered some
disturbing similarities




None of the firefighters in
distress called a Mayday
None of their partners
called a Mayday
Nobody activated their
emergency button
None of the crew leaders
activated their pass
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Case Scenario cont..
Seattle findings cont’d




None of their partners
activated their pass
Each firefighter became
separated from his
partner
Each firefighter ran out
of air
Each firefighter suffered
debilitating effects from
carbon monoxide
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What information should I give the
IC when I find myself in a Mayday
situation?
LUNAR
L – Location
U – Unit
N – Name
A –Air (you and partner)
R – Resources (What do I need to help me)
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What to do if you find yourself in
trouble…
Do not panic. Stop and think about what
is occurring, your location in the building
and how you got there. This may help
you find your way out.
Keep your company together. Discuss
your problem and share information.
Admit that you are lost and call for help
with the radio and verbally to those that
may be near.
22
What to do if you find yourself in
trouble…
Follow a hose line or lifeline.
After you send the Mayday
communication, activate your PASS device
in a manner that will not interfere with the
rescue.
Conserve your air supply. (Air Conservation Drill)
Shine your light and position your PASS to
be most effective.
Make noises with a tool.
23
What to do if you find yourself in
trouble…
Search for an opening.
Create an opening.
Wall Climb
Most residential
structures have
exterior walls that
are easy to breach.
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Incident Commander
Responsibilities
Stay calm
Immediately obtain situation
information
 L.U.N.A.R.
 Identify primary hazards to
trapped firefighters
Immediately move fire ground
communications to another TAC
channel
Immediately call for more
equipment
Call a PAR
25
STANDARDIZED ACTIONS
of a
Lost / Disoriented Firefighter
1. Control your P.A.S.S. device
2. Initiate a the “Mayday!” call
 L-Location
 U-Unit
 N-Name
 A-Air (you and partner)
 R-Resources (needs)
3. Monitor radio / Update Command
4. Use flashlight to signal
5. Use tools or debris to alert rescuers
6. Stay calm, conserve your air supply
7. Stay with your partner or crew
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STANDARDIZED ACTIONS
of a
Lost / Disoriented Firefighter
Attempt to locate an exit – Seek area of refuge
 Move towards visible light
 Listen for audible sounds
 Search walls for windows, doors, etc.
 Search for hose line (Read couplings)
 Attempt to locate a life line
9. Create an exit or opening
10. Go down steps unless in a basement or subfloor
11. Assume defensive posture
 Right lateral side
 Protect face piece with gloves
8.
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Self Rescue Techniques
Breach a Wall
Use Bail Out Rope
Ladder Bailout
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Personal Equipment for Rescue
Door chocks
Medical shears or tin
snips
Lifeline
Rescue sling/webbing
Bail Out Rope
29
Outdoor Drills
Air Consumption / Conservation Drill
Airpack Emergencies / Familiarization
Rapid Location of a Window, Clearing window
and First Floor Bailout
Disentanglement Drill
Wall Breach / Wall Climb
Ladder Bailouts – “hook 2 reach for 4”
Rope Bailouts


Boot Rappel
Body Rappel
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Outdoor Drills
WE TRAIN AS WE FIGHT
You need all your PPE
Hustle
Show Support
Be safe and don’t get hurt
HAVE FUN
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Get out of the Classroom
you
SLACKERS
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Rapid Intervention Team
Day II
(RIT / FAST)
Objectives:
•Define what is RIT / FAST
•Recommendations by NIOSH
•Identify your responsibilities when assigned RIT
•List equipment necessary for RIT
•Discuss the two phases of RIT
•What to do in RIT activation?
•Discuss ways to communicate during a RIT
activation
•Discuss techniques to rescue a downed
firefighter
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Definitions
R.I.T. Rapid Intervention Team
F.A.S.T. Fire Fighter Assist & Search Team
R.I.C. Rapid Intervention Crew
I.R.I. Immediate Response Team
F.R.A.T. Firefighter Rescue Available Team
R.D.U.
Rapid Deployment Unit
GO-TEAM
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Why RIT / FAST
Too many firefighters have died needlessly. Their
deaths should make us think. In most cases,
something prevented their escape or their deaths
were caused by something that could have been
avoided.
The concept and tools for accessing and removing a
downed firefighter are the same philosophies that we
use to remove trapped occupants.
RIT/FAST does not take specialized tools and
techniques 99% of the time.
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NFPA 1500 Fire Department
Occupational Safety and Health Program
NFPA major recommendations:




Teams entering should operate in teams of
two or more
ARE TWO(2) ENOUGH???
Team members in hazardous areas shall be in
communication with each other through
visual, audible or physical means or safety
guide rope
Minimum team of four members – two in and
two out
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NIOSH Preventing Injuries and
Deaths of Fire Fighters
NIOSH recommendations for firefighters:




Employ “buddy” system whenever firefighters
wear SCBA’s
Never allow Firefighters to enter hazardous
area alone
Remain in contact
Two firefighters should form a rescue team
stationed outside the hazardous area
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NIOSH Preventing Injuries and
Deaths of Fire Fighters
NIOSH recommendations for IC
responsibilities:



Initial size-up and risk assessment
Personnel accountability
Establishing a RIT and ensuring they are in a
position to respond efficiently
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OSHA says…
At least two properly outfitted firefighters
outside:



Must be positioned outside the IDLH atmosphere
Must account for the interior team(s)
Must remain capable of rapid rescue of the interior
team(s)
Are two enough ??
39
Equipment for initial RIT/FAST
PPE
SCBA with MASK
Hose line
Flashlight
Portable radio
RIT bag
TIC
Basic Forcible
Entry/Egress
Tools
40
RIT/FAST Support Equipment
Additional SCBA
Hose line
Ladders, Saws, Extra Rope,
Specialized Equipment based on request
from initial entry team (resources).
“The initial RIT/FAST team should communicate
any additional resources required to extricate the
downed firefighter to the IC.”
41
RIT Activation
It’s time to go to work!
The access points should already be
determined.
Obtain a L.U.N.A.R.
Communicate with the downed firefighter.
Listen for a PASS device.
Follow a hose line if the firefighter was part
of fire attack.
42
RIT/FAST Communications
Rescue operations remain on original
TAC channel and all other operations
move to another fire ground TAC
channel.

This ensures the downed firefighter,
RIT/FAST, and the designated RIT/FAST
commander to be operating on same
channel.
NO UNNESSESARY RADIO TRAFFIC
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Access to the firefighter
Obtain a L.U.N.A.R.
Take the shortest and safest route based on info
Use a search rope and a TIC
Firefighter with the TIC feeds the rope
Firefighters in back carry equipment
Firefighter up front stays in contact with
firefighter with the TIC. This firefighter does not
carry the TIC because he or she may need to
move obstacles and clear the path.
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You’ve reached the firefighter, now
what?
Get firefighter to a non hostile/safer area.
Check for breathing
Check SCBA for air level and functionality
Give a L.U.N.A.R. to the IC
Get fresh air to the firefighter if needed
Call for more help
Remove the firefighter
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Additional RIT/FAST Duties
Assist with accountability
Monitor access to the
hazard area
Establish a secondary
means of egress
Throw Ladders
Establish emergency
lighting
Rope off the hazard area
Control utilities
46
Remember
Fire Ground Operations Continue



When someone is trapped and the fire is put
out 98% of the problem is removed.
NOW the trapped victim (Firefighter, or
civilian) needs only air to survive.
Removal/disentanglement/extrication could
take a long time.
REMOVE THE HAZARD
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Outdoor Drills
Searches



Grid
Fan
Mass Area Searches
Packaging
Drags and Carries
(1 and 2 Firefighter)


Ladder, Hooks, other tools
Webbing
Girth Hitch
Handcuff Hitch
Airpack Slings
48
Outdoor Drills cont..
Getting Victim into
the window for
removal


Lifting techniques
Ladders and Pike
Poles as Fulcrums
Denver Drill
49
Bottom Line
DO YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!
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In Memory
William “Bill” Craddock
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