2 Technical Rescue Vehicles and Equipment 2 Objectives

2 Technical Rescue Vehicles and Equipment

2 Objectives (1 of 3) • List the various types of rescue vehicles and their common characteristics. • List the various types of rescue equipment and their functional and operational characteristics. • List the various components of rescue personal protective equipment.

2 Objectives (2 of 3) • Describe the appropriate use of the various components of rescue personal protective equipment. • Describe the method of rope construction used in life rescue situations. • Describe the various parts of the rope.

2 Objectives (3 of 3) • Describe knot efficiency and explain its importance in knot selection. • List knot types and their use in rescue. • Describe how to tie, dress, and secure the assigned knots.

2 Skills Objectives (1 of 2) • Tie the following knots: – Square knot – Figure eight on a bight – Figure eight with a follow-through – Double-loop figure eight – Figure eight bend – Butterfly knot

2 Skills Objectives (2 of 2) – Double fisherman’s knot – Prusik hitch – Water knot – Clove hitch – Load-release hitch (mariner’s hitch) • Properly dress and secure the above knots, bends, and hitches.

2 Light Rescue Vehicles • Equipped for basic rescue tasks • Loaded with hand tools, basic extrication and medical care equipment • Meant for scene stabilization • Able to carry up to five responders

2 Medium Rescue Vehicles • Designed to handle most rescue situations • Loaded with basic to advanced equipment applicable to variety of specialties • Often equipped with other capabilities (generators, air compressors) • Usually involved in following specialty areas: – – Trench and excavation Confined-space Rope Ice/water rescue

2 Heavy Rescue Vehicles • Can handle almost any rescue incident • Have advanced capabilities in multiple areas • Carry wide variety of specialized rescue tools • Often owned by regional, national heavy rescue organizations (USAR)

2 Special-Purpose/Multipurpose Vehicles • Engines, ladder trucks, vans with limited technical rescue equipment • Boom trucks • Small, off-road vehicles

2 Rescue Vehicles Courtesy of Robert Rhea

2 Compressed Air (Breathing Tool) • Stored: installed bottles almost always used for breathing air – Cascade systems, SCBA bottle refill • Generated: air compressors for either breathing or general use air – Breathing air must ANSI/CGA G 7. 1, Commodity Specification for Air filtration requirements

2 Cascade System

2 Air Compressors Courtesy of Eagle Compressors, Inc. Courtesy of Bel. Aire Compressors

2 Hydraulic Pumps (1 of 2) • Power various tools on rescue vehicles • Either built into vehicle or portable • Either powered by vehicle engine or have own engine • Used for vehicle extrication, structural collapse incidents • Examples: spreaders, shears/cutters, rams, saws, jackhammers, pumps

2 Hydraulic Pumps (2 of 2) Courtesy of AMKUS Courtesy of Holmatro, Inc.

2 Generators (1 of 3) • Inverters: – Convert 12 -volt DC vehicle power to 120 -volt AC power for low-power needs • PTO Inverters: – Use vehicle’s engine to drive generator

2 Generators (2 of 3) • Hydraulic: – Use vehicle’s engine to power hydraulic pump which drives generator • Internal combustion engine: – Use separate engine • Portable generators: – Either pull-start or battery-start – Run by internal combustion engine

2 Generators (3 of 3) Courtesy of American Honda Motor Co. , Inc. Courtesy of the Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Berwyn Heights, Maryland

2 Other Electrical Power Accessories • Auxiliary lead cords are necessary to get power to where it’s needed. • Junction boxes when multiple outlets required

2 Junction Boxes Courtesy of Akron Brass Company

2 Lighting Accessories • Portable lights: – Adjustable for elevation • Fixed lights: – Mounted on rescue vehicle – May be adjustable for elevation • Light towers: – Up to 6000 watts; 30 -40 feet (9. 14– 12. 19 m) high – Vehicle or trailer mounted

2 Portable Lights Courtesy of Akron Brass Company

2 Light Towers © Glen E. Ellman

2 Power Winches (1 of 2) • Used for lifting, pulling, and holding operations • Bumper-type mounted permanently in/on • Tow hitch-type attached to vehicle’s tow hitch receiver; removable

2 Power Winches (2 of 2) © Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman.

2 Booms/Gins • Gin pole: – One pole attached to vehicle, with stabilizing cables attached on either side • A-frame: – Two poles connected at working end; base of each connected to vehicle, creating “A” shape • Booms: – Telescoping beam that can be rotated 360 degrees

2 Selection of PPE • • • Hazards present Operating environment Weather Available equipment Type of incident and duration NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents and SOPs

2 Body Protection • Must provide: – Maneuverability/comfort – Concealment of all body parts to neck, wrists, ankles – Visibility appropriate to situation

2 Body Protection Examples (1 of 2) • Structural fire fighter’s clothing (USAR) • Coveralls and work uniforms/battle dress uniforms (BDUs) • Chemical-protective clothing • Wet, dry, and ice suits (water rescue)

2 Body Protection Examples (2 of 2) Courtesy of M&T Fire and Safety, Inc. © Tim James/The Gray Gallery/Alamy Images

2 Head Protection (1 of 2) • Must meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910. 135, Head Protection, and NFPA 1951 or 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting requirements • Must have substantial chin strap, adjustable suspension system • Examples of helmets: fire fighters’, hard hats, climbing, water • Hoods are often worn under helmets.

2 Head Protection (2 of 2) Courtesy of PMI West Courtesy of PMI

2 Eye and Face Protection (1 of 3) • Must conform to ANSI Z 87. 1 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910. 133, Eye and Face Protection • Examples include: – Respirator face piece – Goggles – Safety glasses – Helmet and welding face shield – Diving mask

2 Eye and Face Protection (2 of 3) Courtesy of Captain David Jackson, Saginaw Township Fire Department

2 Eye and Face Protection (3 of 3) Courtesy of Robert Rhea

2 Hearing Protection (1 of 2) • Must comply with ANSI S 3. 19; reduction rating of at least 20 decibels • Use routinely to prevent permanent hearing damage • Examples include: – Ear plugs – Ear muffs

2 Hearing Protection (2 of 2) © Byron Moore/Alamy Images © Andrew Ammendolia/Alamy Images

2 Foot Protection (1 of 2) • Protects and supports feet • Provides traction on poor surfaces • Must meet appropriate NFPA and ANSI standards, plus OSHA 29 CFR 1910. 136, Foot Protection • Examples include: – Steel toe and shank work boots – Fire fighters’ boots (bunker boots, 8 - to 10 inch [203. 2– 254 mm] fire/rescue safety boots)

2 Foot Protection (2 of 2) © Oneuser/Shutter. Stock, Inc.

2 Hand Protection (1 of 2) • Rescue gloves with synthetic body, leather components: – Rope work • Leather gloves: – Firefighting • Latex gloves: – Protection from contamination from body fluids, some chemicals

2 Hand Protection (2 of 2) © Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman.

2 Respiratory Protection (1 of 2) • APR: – Filters air particles, gases (dust mask) • SCBA: – Protects against almost all airborne contaminants • SAR/SABA: – Supplies breathing air via air line

2 Respiratory Protection (2 of 2) • Rebreather apparatus: – Recirculates user’s exhaled breath • SCUBA: – Designed to work underwater

2 Other Protective Equipment • Elbow and knee protection • Personal lighting • Personal alert safety system (PASS) devices

2 PASS Device

2 Four Categories of Rescue Tools • • Search Scene stabilization Victim access/extrication Victim packaging

2 Hand Tools (1 of 2) • Striking tools: – Hammers, punches • Leverage tools: – Rotating and prying tools • Cutting tools: – Saws, chopping, snipping/shears, knives, chisels

2 Hand Tools (2 of 2) • Lifting/pushing Tools: – Screw-type jacks (bar screw jacks, house or trench screw jacks) – Ratchet lever jacks (high-lift, farmer’s jacks) – Cam-type jacks (Ellis jacks, jack wrenches)

2 Pulling Tools (1 of 2) • Poles and hooks extend rescuer’s reach, increase power exerted on object • Manual winches used for lifting, pulling, or both: – Chain hoist – Lever hoist – Come-along – Pass-through cable hoist

2 Pulling Tools (2 of 2) Copyrighted image courtesy of CMC Rescue, Inc.

2 Hydraulic Tools • All use compressed hydraulic fluid via high pressure hoses • Powered hydraulic tools include: – Spreaders, shears/cutters, rams, construction industry tools • Nonpowered hydraulic tools include: – Rabbet tool, “porta-power” units, bottle jacks, air-overhydraulic jacks

2 Pneumatic Tools • Cutting and nailing tools include: – Air chisels, air hammers, impact hammers, shears, reciprocating saws, rotating pneumatic saws • Lifting tools include: – Low-, medium-, high-pressure air bags • Other tools include: – Jackhammers, impact tools, hammer drills, air knives, air vacuums

2 Electric Tools • Cutting tools include: – Circular saws, chainsaw, reciprocating saw, rebar cutter, plasma cutter • Lifting/pulling tools include: – Vehicle-mounted and portable winches and hoists • Drilling/breaking tools include: – Variable-speed, reversible drills, hammer drills, rotary hammers, demolition hammers

2 Fuel-Powered Tools • Cutting tools include: – Chainsaws, rotary saws, cutting torches, exothermic torches • Nailing tools include: – Nailing guns

2 Monitoring/Detection Equipment (1 of 5) • Atmospheric monitoring: – Multi-gas meters measure O 2, combustible gases, toxic gases • Power detection: – AC power locators determine whether a wire or machinery is energized

2 Monitoring/Detection Equipment (2 of 5)

2 Monitoring/Detection Equipment (3 of 5) Courtesy of Hot. Stick USA, Inc.

2 Monitoring/Detection Equipment (4 of 5) • Movement detection: – Devices identify smallest motion within structure – Include transit and theodolite

2 Monitoring/Detection Equipment (5 of 5) Courtesy of Robert Bosch Tool Corporation

2 Search Equipment (1 of 2) • Lighting: – Area lights, hand lights, helmet lights, chemical light sticks • Visual Aids: – Thermal imaging camera, specialized search camera

2 Search Equipment (2 of 2) • Audio Aids: – Microphones, probes • Other Equipment: – GPS for wilderness search/rescue, structural collapse, miscellaneous

2 Stretchers/Litters • Stretchers include: – Collapsible, scoop, basket • Immobilization and combination devices include: – Full and half backboards, half board in veststyle • Tripods and offset high points

2 Stabilization and Shoring Tools (1 of 2) • Cribbing creates stable base for load: – Stacked wood, composite, or plastic pieces • Shoring used where vertical distances too great for cribbing or load requires horizontal or diagonal support: – Wood, pneumatic, manual screw

2 Stabilization and Shoring Tools (2 of 2) • Sheeting used to stabilize a trench wall; must be strong and able to withstand pressures exerted by trench wall and shoring: – Wooden planks or trench panels, birch or Norwegian fir plywood – Commercial steel or aluminum

2 Other Specialty Tools (1 of 2) • Elevator tools: – Key ways, interlock release tools • Ice and water specialty equipment: – Personal protection suits, breathing devices, boats, sleds, collars, personal flotation devices, beacons, throw bags, ice awls, boot studs

2 Other Specialty Tools (2 of 2) • Rigging equipment: – Slings, clamps, shackles, and clips • Safety equipment: – Reflective vests, cones, fire line tape, barriers, lockout/tagout kits

2 Rope Equipment • Software includes: – Life safety rope, accessory rope, webbing, harnesses • Hardware includes: – Carabiners, pulleys, friction devices, edge rollers, other accessories made of steel, aluminum

2 Life Safety Rope • Used solely for supporting people • Required whenever rope needed to support person • Never used as utility rope • Must meet NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services • Rated for either one- or two-persons

2 Synthetic Ropes vs. Natural Fiber • Generally stronger • More resistant to rotting, mildew so age, degrade less quickly • Less prone to melting, burning • Absorb less water • Can be washed and dried • Some float on water

2 Synthetic Fiber Characteristics • Nylon most common for life safety ropes – High melting temperature, abrasion resistance, strong, and lightweight • Polyester second most common for life safety ropes • Polypropylene – Lightest synthetic fiber, but weakest, hard to knot, low melting point

2 Rope Construction (1 of 2) • Kernmantle construction reduces abrasion • Dynamic rope: elastic, stretches when loaded – Mountain climbing safety lines • Static rope: stretches less – Most technical rescue situations

2 Rope Construction (2 of 2)

2 Rope Strength • Life safety ropes rated to carry specific amount of weight per NFPA 1983 – Loading 300 lb (136. 1 kg) person; safety factor 15: 1 • Personal escape rope – Support weight of 300 lb (136. 1 kg), safety factor 10: 1

2 Other Software • Webbing (flat and tubular forms) is used for many rescue applications. • Slings are used to wrap around object to create an anchor. • Looped straps (etrier, foot loop, multiloop) • Specialty straps (pick-off, adjustable, loadrelease)

2 Linking Hardware • Carabiners attach pieces of equipment together. • Triangular screwlinks are used for multiple -direction loading. • Rings are used for constructing multipoint bridles for stretchers. • Rigging plates are used for attaching multiple items to anchors.

2 Other Hardware • Lowering devices: – Figure eight plate, brake bar rack • Mechanical advantage systems: – Pulleys, (hand power) winches • Ascent (grab) devices: – Cam (Gibbs) ascender

2 Life Safety Harness • Class I: – Designed for emergency escape with oneperson load • Class II: – Designed for rescue where two-person load may be encountered • Class III: (full body harness) – Designed for rescue where two-person loads or inverting may occur

2 Rope Terms (1 of 2) • Hitches: used to attach rope around object or another rope • Knots: used to form loops • Bends: used to join two ropes together • Safety knots: used to secure ends of ropes to prevent them from coming untied

2 Rope Terms (2 of 2) • Working end: part of rope used forming knot • Running end: part of rope used for lifting or hoisting load • Standing part: rope between working end and running end • Bight: formed by reversing direction of rope to form U bend with two parallel ends • Loop: formed by making circle in rope

2 Safety Knot • Also called overhand knot, keeper knot • Used to secure leftover working end of rope or webbing to standing part • Ensures primary knot will not come undone • Always used to finish other basic knots • Review steps in Skill Drill 2 -1

2 Loop Knots (1 of 2) • Used to: – Secure a person during rescue – Secure a rope to a fixed object – Identify the end of a rope stored in a rope bag • Figure eight: – Review Skill Drill 2 -2 • Figure eight on a bight: – Review Skill Drill 2 -3

2 Loop Knots (2 of 2) • Figure eight with follow-through: – Review Skill Drill 2 -4 • Double-loop figure eight: – Review Skill Drill 2 -5 • Figure eight bend: – Review Skill Drill 2 -6 • Butterfly knot: – Review Skill Drill 2 -7

2 Square Knot • Used in some victim packaging systems • Always back up with safety knot: – Review Skill Drill 2 -8

2 Double Fisherman’s Knot • Used to create prusik loop, or join two ropes • Single fisherman’s knot used as safety knot by some organizations • Self-tightening; does not require safety knot: – Review Skill Drill 2 -9

2 Water Knot • Used to create loop in webbing used for various purposes (anchors, load-release hitches) – Review Skill Drill 2 -10

2 Hitches (1 of 2) • Used to secure working end of rope or webbing to solid object • Clove Hitch – Review Skill Drill 2 -11 for clove hitch in open – Review Skill Drill 2 -12 for clove hitch tied around object

2 Hitches (2 of 2) • Prusik hitch: – Review Skill Drill 2 -13 • Load-release hitch (mariner’s hitch): – Review Skill Drill 2 -14 to tie load-release hitch – Review Skill Drill 2 -15 to release load-release hitch

2 Properly Dressing Knots • Tighten and remove twists, kinks, and slack from rope. • Ensure finished knot is firmly fixed in position and easy to inspect. • Secure loose ends with safety knots to ensure primary knots cannot be released accidentally.

2 Summary (1 of 2) • Rescuers must know how to select, use, and maintain all equipment properly. • Rescuers must use PPE and be familiar with the different types available. • Rescue organizations should have a selection of rescue equipment for efficient and safe operation for the vast majority of incidents.

2 Summary (2 of 2) • Rope rescue equipment includes hardware and software combined to make systems for raising/lowering rescuers and victims. • Rescuers use knots in various situations.