SOP - Heavy Rescue Ops
San Andreas Fire Rescue
Heavy Rescue Operations
Standard Operating Procedure
Our Role
The role of the SAFR Special Operations Unit is to provide assistance to the other firefighters in tasks that require specialized training or use of specialized equipment that includes being trained to deal with Hazardous Materials, Search & Rescue Operations, and Technical Rescue.
Recruitment
Any SAFR Members in good standing with the department and the community (no active points) can apply to become a part of HRO. If their application gets accepted they then need to pass a training to become a HRO Member.
Rank Structure
Head of HRO - The Head of HRO runs the Subdivision and is responsible for keeping Policy and Procedures up to date, as well as handling disciplinary matters regarding HRO. This position is currently held by Mario M. 277.
HRO Firefighter - A HRO Firefighter is a trained member of HRO. They are trained to the level of HAZMAT Technician and Swift Water Rescue Level II Technical Rescuer, as well as having specialized training in Technical Rescue and Rope Rescue meaning they can fully deal with any arising situation that fits within the responsibility of HRO.
Hazmat
In a Hazardous Material situation, you can come across Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, and Nuclear agents which are also known as CBRN (pronounced C-Burn). Because of the high-risk and danger relating to all radioactive and nuclear agents and chemicals you will have to be trained to handle it in different situations utilizing 2 different certifications.
The best way to handle any HAZMAT incident, in general, is by starting uphill and upwind from the initial incident and going from there. Setting up containment zones is up to the initial Incident Commander and depends on what kind of substance is in play.
Hazardous Materials Aware
All fire personnel should be aware of what to do in a Hazardous Materials incident. At this awareness level, the firefighter involved can take part in decontamination and are only able to go as far as the warm zone and will not handle any hazardous substance directly. They can also set up the containment area of the incident and identify what substance it could possibly be if there are any markings.
Hazmat Technician
In this level of training, the Technician will be able to handle and mitigate a Hazardous Materials incident at the source. They are able to travel into the hot zone and physically contain the incident. This includes the rescue and recovery of victims in the hot zone to bring them back to the decontamination area so they can be decontaminated and treated.
Zones
In a Hazardous Materials incident, The scene is broken down into three Zones: Hot, Warm, and Cold. Each zone is specified by the threat level of contamination and what can be done.
Cold Zone: The cold zone consists of everywhere upwind and where there is zero threat that there will be any contamination to people or property in this area and this is the area in which command will be as well as where apparatus will be placed here.
Warm Zone: The warm zone is the area in which there is a risk of contamination and the buffer between the hot and cold zone. The Warm Zone is where HAZMAT Aware personnel can travel during a HAZMAT level A incident.
Hot Zone: The Hot Zone is the direct area in which the incident is and where all the work will be done. The only personnel to go into the Hot Zone during a HAZMAT level A incident are the HAZMAT Technicians with proper PPE and tools. Technicians coming out of the Hot Zone will be decontaminated after.
Decontamination
Decontamination, or Decon, will take place in the warm zone and can be done by anyone at the awareness level and above and the PPE worn will be that of the same level or one level below the Technicians that are going to mediate the incident. The way to properly decon is with hoses and brushes to make sure those individuals that are going from Hot to Cold zone get all contaminants off of them. A proper decon corridor can be set up with an engine with small hose lines. It is up to the Incident Commander on where the corridor will be set up initially.
PPE
There are three levels of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that are delegated to HAZMAT. They are Level A, B, and C.
Level A: This is a fully encapsulated suit that covers the entire body; not allowing anything to get under it. In order to wear Level A, you must be HAZMAT Tech trained. These suits are designed to go into the Hot zone to mitigate a HAZMAT incident. In-game, they will be the blue in color mop suits with SCBA due to there not being a true Level A in GTA.
Level B: These suits are not fully encapsulated but cover all skin on the person. The person in a level B suit will wear an SCBA outside of the suit and isn’t fully encapsulated. Level B’s are designed for HAZMAT incidents that are less likely to cause harm to the skin. This suit is mostly used for lighter HAZMAT incidents that may not require a Level A suit or will mostly be used in decon.
Level C: These suits aren’t suits. Level C consists of station uniform or bunker gear. Which are worn on non-hazardous spills such as a gas leak or a gas spill. They may be used in decon if the HAZMAT Techs are in a Level B suit.
Hazmat markings and classes
There are 9 different classes of hazardous materials which are:
Class 1 Explosives (EOD deal with some Class 1)
Class 2 Gasses
Class 3 Flammable Liquids
Class 4 Flammable Solids
Class 5 Oxidizing Substances
Class 6 Toxic & Infectious Substances
Class 7 Radioactive Material
Class 8 Corrosives
Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
Hazard numbers (from HAZMAT placards on transports): number assigned to the class, number twice = double the hazard, 0 = no further danger (as number must be 2 or 3 characters long) added X: Dangerously reacts with water.
Link: UN and/or NA codes (NA codes are identical to UN codes, though a material that does not have its own UN code may be assigned a NA code) (https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cfs/technical-documentation/code-list/CFS-1300_17.pdf )
Example on how to correctly read the orange HAZMAT placards on transport vessels (Hazard number on top, UN or NA number on bottom: Ex: 33/1203: 33 = Highly Flammable liquid. 1203 = Gasoline.
Another method for identifying HAZMAT are so-called “704-Codes”, which are typically found on the side of containers that contain HAZMAT. They contain four symbols in differently colored fields that form a diamond, each indicating the severity of a different type of hazard. A guide on how to read them is found below.
Search and Rescue
Search & Rescue is looking for and extricating people from dangerous areas that are difficult to reach. This can be split into four main civilian sub-fields; mountain rescue, ground search and rescue, urban search and rescue in cities, and air-sea rescue over water. In SAFR, we work in two of the sub-fields listed; Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) and Ground Search and Rescue (GS&R). We group the mountain rescue with GS&R.
Ground Search and Rescue (GS&R)
Ground Search and Rescue is the search for persons who are lost or in-distress on land or inland waterways. People may go missing for a variety of reasons. Some may disappear voluntarily, due to issues like domestic abuse. Others disappear for involuntary reasons such as mental illness, getting lost, an accident, death in a location where they cannot be found or, less commonly, due to abduction.
They are the characteristics of the following items that affect the detection process:
Establishing the Command Center
The search object
The operating environment
Laying out the search track
Planning to place search objects
Sizeup
The first step is to gather facts and make decisions on the course of action. Factors include what types of structures are involved, the extent of damage, the layout of the building(s) involved, what hazards are present (such as downed power lines, natural gas leaks, flooding, animals, hazardous materials, or a structure susceptible to additional collapse during the rescue).
Search
Searchers should use a buddy system or two in, two out system and have backup teams available. Techniques for searching for potential victims are based on identifying possible locations of victims, or areas of entrapment. Areas of entrapment inside damaged structures are called voids. There are several types of voids, such as the pancake void (multiple floors of a building have collapsed diagonally onto each other), and the lean-to void (a single wall or floor has collapsed diagonally against another wall). Voids can also include spaces where victims may have entered for self-protection during a disaster - such as under desks or in bathtubs or closets.
Rescue
Trapped victims are removed and medical aid rendered as necessary. The triage system can be used to prioritize medical aid with those needing immediate attention aided first. Removal or stabilization of debris is often necessary to remove victims. This can be accomplished using leverage to lift the object or cribbing (constructing a rectangular wooden framework known as a box crib underneath the object to be stabilized).
Is a subset of technical rescue that involves the use of rope, be it steel or cable rope, or more commonly used nylon, polyester, or other type of rope. Anchoring includes using specialty anchors, as well as things as simple as a length of chain, cable, rope, or webbing wrapped around a pillar, tree, boulder, or such.
Vehicle Extrication
Is the process of removing a vehicle from around a person who has been involved in a motor vehicle collision, when conventional means of exit are impossible or inadvisable.
A delicate approach is needed to minimize injury to the victim during the extrication. This operation is usually accomplished by using chocks, bracing, and 42 jacks for stabilization and hydraulic tools, including the Jaws of Life.
When operating at a motor vehicle accident or car fire, you will want to position the apparatus at an angle prior to the incident so as to create a block to protect your crew from traffic as they are working. Make sure you are able to formulate a reason as to why the specific lanes you are blocking need to be blocked and provide this reason to LEO if they ask. If there is no reason, don't block the lane and/or let LEO open it. If the rescue is also responding, they will want to pull past or alongside the scene and position the vehicle in front of or next to the scene so they are protected by the blocking apparatus and close to the scene, as a lot of the equipment is heavy and cannot be taken too far from the truck.
Always be on the lookout for any additional hazards such as fluids down on the roadway, downed power lines, etc. Also consider other responding units when you are positioning the apparatus so they will be able to access the scene as well.
If you are going to be working on a vehicle for a while, stabilize it with cribbing (lift it slightly and set it on cribbing so it isn’t on it’s suspension anymore) to minimize movement in and of the vehicle.
Swift Water Rescue
Swift Water Rescue (SWR) is a subset of technical rescue dealing in white water river conditions. Due to the added pressure of moving water, swift water rescue involves the use of specially trained personnel, ropes, and mechanical advantage systems that are often much more robust than those used in standard rope rescue. The main goal is to use or deflect the water’s power to assist in the rescue of the endangered person(s), as in most situations there is no easy way to overcome the power of the water.
General Safety
All personnel near the water’s edge are to wear a personal floatation device (life vest) as well as a SAR Helmet.
All personnel near the water’s edge should tie themselves off to avoid being ripped away by the water themselves
The above two points apply especially to personnel that enter the water. If personnel enter the water they must be tied off and someone must be manning the line on shore in order to pull them back in case of emergency. They must also be wearing a wetsuit.
If possible given staffing, only SWR-qualified personnel are to be near the water's edge
The water is calmer near the edge than it is at the center - do not underestimate the power the water can have and rather be safe than sorry.
Assistance
If a SWR call gets called out, call for Port Authority/Dive Team and Medflight assistance, along with any other units that you deem may be useful, early - they bring extra assets that can multiply the chances of success greatly.
Don't be afraid to call for units if you are unsure whether they will be required - a unit getting canceled while en route or leaving the scene without being needed is better than losing a victim because the required assets were not on scene. If you think a certain unit may grow the chances of success call for them ASAP - if need be even before first units get on scene.
There may not always be all of the requested assets available, in which case you have to make do with what you are given.
Risk Algorithm
In order to ensure safety - both of our personnel and the victim - a low to high risk algorithm is used to choose a rescue technique. The algorithm is:
"Talk", "Reach", "Wade", "Throw", "Helo", "Row", "Go", and "Tow"
Talk - The highest standard of safety can be achieved by talking the victim through performing a self rescue, and thus not putting personnel into danger. Ask the patient to swim perpendicular to the flow of water if safe to do so, direct them towards sandbanks where they can stand on their own, etc.
Reach: Use a long, sturdy object like a pike pole, or your arm if the patient is close enough, to reach out to the victim, have them grab onto it and pull them to safety with it.
Wade: Wade into shallow parts of water and try to conduct a “reach” or “talk” rescue from there if possible.
Throw: Throw a buoyant object, preferably a life ring, to the victim, that is attached to the rope. Use this object to keep them afloat and somewhat secure them in place until other rescue measures succeed, or use the rope to pull them to safety if safe to do so.
Helo: Make use of a helicopter with a winch to lower a rescuer to the Patient and extract them that way (i.e.: Medflight)
Row: Use a Boat (Otter or PA Boat) to reach the victim and pull them aboard, or use the boat to get a rescuer in a beneficial position in order to complete one of the above rescue methods.
Go: Have a rescuer, secured by a line so that they can be pulled back to safety in case of emergency or so that shoreside personnel can assist in getting them and the victim back to shore, enter the water and grab hold of the victim. From there the rescuer can return to shore/safety with the victim by either performing a self-rescue or stepping up to a “Tow” rescue.
Tow: In the case that “Throw” or “Go” rescues have occured, use lines to pull the rescuer and victim back to safety.
In case of an unconscious victim, it is almost always necessary to perform a “Go and Tow” rescue. This is commonly referred to as live bait rescue.
Do not waste time with methods that have little chance of success. If one method is not working, move on to the next point in the algorithm.
Self-Rescue/”Talk” and “Go” rescues
If you cannot reach shore in one go, try to find sandbanks and other shallow parts where you can safely catch a breather, as fighting the force of water for a long time can be extremely exhausting.
Swimming perpendicular to the flow of water can get you to shore quickly, although you must beware of downstream hazards as you will almost certainly be pushed some distance downstream.
If the force of water makes a self-rescue near impossible and there are no hazards like waterfalls of rock formations moving downstream may take you to calmer waters where you can more easily swim ashore. Before attempting this you should be reasonably certain that it is safe to do so and will actually take you to calmer waters.
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