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Search. How Does Your Department Do It?
Since Capcity brought up VES I thought I'd continue along the same lines. There are multiple ways to search. I'd like to know what technique your dept uses, why and have you ever used any other techniques,do you use others depending on the company or situation.
My Dept. the Truck or Squad goes to the seat of the fire and searches outward.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by 55 TRUCK on
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This is a common search technique. Right or Left hand command is notified. Now I'll ask why?
If you know the fire is in the C,D corner why do a right or left hand search? When you can go directly to the seat of the fire then search.
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Permalink Reply by John on
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For us it depends on who arrives first and what the scene size up is, if people are presumed inside the engine company will search, and depending on the layout of the structure will determine whether we do a right hand or left hand search, and as well as if we take a tag rope with us.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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This is a common search technique. Right or Left hand command is notified. Now I'll ask why?
If a search team goes in through the same entry as the hoseline, telling IC right or left can help with accountability and or another search team. If the search team says going left and call a MAYDAY, IC, RIT, etc has a better chance of knowing their location, or at least a way to access.
If you know the fire is in the C,D corner why do a right or left hand search? When you can go directly to the seat of the fire then search.
Why not? If starting at the point of entry, most likely a doorway or egress point, a search team may come across someone who was trying to make their way out.
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We incorporate several different techniques depending on structure size, type, construction, use, and so forth. A common search will be a crew of 2 or 3, a line may be used, it may not. We will utilize a TIC and do a controlled sweep, looking up, down, right, left, to do a methodical scan of the room. The old standby right or left hand search is also used and even a search line where we can search a large area quickly.
For us, anyone can be utilized for search, an engine company, truck, or ambulance company can be utilized.
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You do a quik search as you make your way to the seat of the fire. moving scanning sweeping. The people trapped nearest the fire at the greatest risk. These are the ones who have or will succumb to the smoke and super heated gases. The ones on the periphery of the fire are at the least risk.
All we are doing is reversing the search. Going from the fire out.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Left hand/right hand search (and notification) works if you're searching above the fire, in which case it's a crap shoot which direction you go since direct fire and superheated gases aren't as much an issue and victims may be anywhere. On the fire floor, 55 Truck's way makes more sense.
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The people trapped nearest the fire at the greatest risk. These are the ones who have or will succumb to the smoke and super heated gases. The ones on the periphery of the fire are at the least risk.
I can understand the concept, however, I don't necessarily agree here and there are some factors. First is the type of building on fire, if this is an apartment complex, it makes sense to work outward from the involved unit. If this is a house I don't agree with working from the seat outward. If this is a larger structure like mill, mall, box store, greatest chance of rescue may be closer to egress points.
The biggest issue is TRIAGE. Who really has the best chance for survival, the person closer to the point of egress, or the person closer to the seat? Yes, the person closer to the seat is at greater risk, but what do you think is happening to the victim closer? They are still being exposed to heat and smoke, why make their chances of survival less, to go to the seat? Why pass them up if working towards the seat? It is one thing if you have staffing to pass off a rescue, but it isn't always the case.
Another issue can be what was searched. Doing systematicaly from the point of entry, you go left or right, you should know what is covered and you also know how you got to this point. If say following a line to the seat and working outward, do you really get the same situational awareness?
Type of search can play a part as well. Here we have the benefit of having a TIC on every pump and truck, so we can do a quick scan while going in. An attack crew on a line can come across a victim, radio it in, and a rescue team can make the grab. Just because we are attacking the fire doesn't mean we aren't searching as well.
Info obtained on scene also plays a part in determining how to search. If everyone is accounted for, then search efforts don't have to be as intense as if someone were missing or it is assumed the building is occupied. If it is reported a person is in an upstairs room, VES may be in order, if on the fire floor, go to the last known location, etc. Conditions present will also dictate how a search is done, if searching with a line (charged or uncharged), using a rope to work off of, using TIC, etc.
Bottom line comes down to how a place does things. Going to the seat and working out may be how your dept trains and does things. There are just many factors to consider vs promoting one way vs another.
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