Rapid Intervention Teams Preparing to make a difference

Rapid Intervention Teams “Preparing to make a difference” Matthew Ratliff, Sterling Heights Fire Department, MI Michigan Fire Service Instructor mratliff@sterling-heights. net

Preparing to use this program: • View the “RIT: The Denver Drill” video on DVD #1 prior to delivering this program • Review RIT Lesson Plan and Objectives • Review other supporting material Ø RIT Job Aid Ø RIT SOG Examples • Review training video “Rapid Intervention Team Drills” on DVD #1

Regulatory Standards • OSHA 1910. 134 (g)(3) – Procedures for IDLH atmospheres • NFPA 1561 FD Incident Management – Shall provide for the rescue of individuals operating at emergency incidents. • NFPA 1500 – Provides for the requirement of a R. I. T. • NFPA 1407 – Standard for Training Fire RIC • NFPA 1710 – Standard for Career Fire Departments • NFPA 1720 – Standard for Volunteer Fire Departments

R. I. T. Requirements • • Team members must be well disciplined Level headed Able to think and act under pressure Must be able to follow through with an assignment • Should have a wide variety of experience, such as: – Collapse rescue – Rope/ Rigging – Specialized search techniques

Recent LODD • NIOSH F 2007 -16 – Disoriented Firefighter • NIOSH F 2007 -29 – Rapid Fire Progression • NIOSH F 2008 -06 – Unknown Firefighter Distress The above LODD reports can be found on this CD under “RIT” and can be printed for class review and discussion.

Company Officer Role • Command Ops. – Accountability – Communication • Size-up – Construction – Occupancy • Location – Residential – Commercial/Industrial • Training – RIT – Rescue • Tools – Personal – RIT • Experience – Minimum Firefighter – Minimum RIT

Personal RIT Equipment – Flashlight – Webbing/Rope – Radio – Spanner Wrench – Door wedge – Wire cutters/Tin Snips – Utility knife – Hacksaw – Pry bar/Wonder bar – Hammer

Staged RIT Equipment • Pick and Flat Head axes • Pike poles • Multi-purpose Circular saw • Ventilation chain saw • Haligan bar • Sledge hammer • Mechanical Advantage • Thermal Imaging Camera – Search rope – Webbing – Stokes/SKED – 1 ¾ inch Prestretched charged hose line – Emergency SCBA – Ground Ladders – Dry erase board – ALS equipment

R. I. T Staging Equipment • Fire resistive/Heavy Construction – Metal Cutting saws – Torch – Truck Operations – Communications – Lifting Equipment – Shoring Equipment – Extrication Spreaders/cutters

Four Phases of Rescue (L. A. S. T) • 1 -Locate: – Visual – Audio – Rope – Electronic • 2 -Access – Evaluate problems – Determining access routes – Breaching Techniques – Rope Techniques – Shoring Techniques – Hazard mitigations

L. A. S. T Acronym • 3 -Stabilize – Discovery Factors – Evaluating Medical Conditions – Emergency Life support – Patient Transfer devices • 4 -Transfer – Lifting objects – Cutting objects – Removal Methods • Horizontal • Vertical • Stairs • Windows

RIT Practical Training • Locating lost or trapped FF • Staging removal devices and mechanical advantage systems • Stairway removal and Denver Drill • Wall Breach and victim removal • Hose slide and victim hoist • SCBA air tank changeover