**Chapter V**

**Light Search And Rescue Operations**

***Introduction***

***What Is Search And Rescue?***

The search and rescue function is really two separate activities:

 *Search.* To look through (a place, an area, etc.) carefully in order
to find something missing or lost.

 *Rescue.* To free or deliver from confinement.

***Objectives***

The objectives of search and rescue are to:

 Acknowledge that the most important person in a rescue attempt is the
rescuer.

 Rescue the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time.

 Rescue lightly trapped victims first.

As a volunteer worker, you will confine your efforts to *light search
and rescue;* that is, the relatively uncomplicated extrication of
victims from situations that pose minimal risk to the rescuer.

***The Need For Planning***

Experience has shown that immediately after almost every major disaster,
the first response to trapped and injured victims is by spontaneous,
untrained, and well-intentioned persons paying little or no regard to
personal safety. In some cases, further loss of life is avoided. More
often than not, however, spontaneous rescue efforts result in serious
injuries and compounded problems.

***The Need For Planning** (Continued)*

To avoid the problems associated with spontaneous actions, rescue
efforts should be planned and practiced in advance. The decision to
attempt a rescue should be based on two factors:

 The risks involved.

 The overall goal of doing the greatest good for the greatest number of
people.

This chapter will initially focus on the planning issues surrounding
search and rescue operations, then address:

 Size-up.

 Search techniques.

 Rescue techniques.

You will have the opportunity to practice some of the rescue techniques
in this unit during class. Your instructor may present additional
information that is not included in this Participant Handbook. Be sure
to take careful notes.

***Search And Rescue Resources***

As shown in the figure on page V-5, search and rescue operations require
three components:

 *Rescuers* include trained personnel and volunteers.

 *Tools* depend on their availability and the needs of the situation.
For example, storm or earthquake damage may require tools for lifting
debris whereas flood damage may require boats, ropes, and life
preservers.

 *Time* may be very limited for some victims. The first 24 hours after
a disaster has been called the "Golden Day"that period during which
injured or trapped victims have an 80 percent chance of survival if
rescued.

***Search And Rescue Resources** (Continued)*

![](media/image1.emf){width="3.4784722222222224in"
height="2.6458333333333335in"}

**Figure V-1. Components Of Search And Rescue Operations**

In the aftermath of a disaster, each of these components may be very
limited. CERT search and rescue teams can make their efforts more
effective in the time available through:

 Planning (developing rescue action plans based on probable search and
rescue situations), and practicing implementing those plans.

 Realistic size-up of the situation.

 Careful attention to rescuer safety.

The remainder of this chapter will focus on these factors.

***Planning***

***Introduction***

Planning involves assessing probable needs, risks, and resources before
disaster strikes and developing an action plan that takes these factors
into account. Action plans should be implemented under simulated
disaster conditions to identify their strengths and weaknesses and ways
to improve their implementation.

***Assessing Needs And Risks***

Needs and risks are determined to some extent by the types of
occupancies in the local area. Type of occupancies in this case does not
just refer to houses. It also refers to any place where people might be
during a disaster, including:

 Apartments, condominiums, and mobile homes.

 Industrial, commercial, or office space.

 Schools.

 Places of worship.

 Hospitals and nursing homes.

 Airports.

***Assessing Needs And Risks** (Continued)*

Part of search and rescue planning involves identifying the different
types of occupancies in the local area and asking:

 What does this mean in terms of population density?

 What does it mean for the kinds of rescue efforts that may be
required?

 What are the implications for rescuer safety?

Careful examination of the types of occupancies that may be involved in
a disaster will provide valuable information about the human and
physical resources that may be required and the amount of time that may
be available for search and rescue operations.

***Assessing Resources***

The very first step in search and rescue operations is to identify local
resources *before* a disaster even occurs. Search and rescue resources
may include personnel, equipment, and tools. CERT planners should use
the questions in the table below to guide their resource planning
efforts.

+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| *             | ***Planning Questions***                             |
| **Resource*** |                                                      |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Personnel     |  Who lives and/or works in the area?                |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  During which hours are these people most likely to |
|               | be available?                                        |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  What skills or hobbies do they have that might be  |
|               | useful in search and rescue operations?              |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  What might be the most effective means of          |
|               | mobilizing their efforts?                            |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Equipment     |  What equipment is available locally that might be  |
|               | useful for search and rescue?                        |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  Where is it located?                               |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  How can it be accessed?                            |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  On which structures (or types of structures) might |
|               | it be most effective?                                |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Tools         |  What tools are available that might be useful for  |
|               | lifting, moving, or cutting disaster debris?         |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+

**Table V-1. Search And Rescue Resource Planning Questions**

Considering each of these questions will greatly facilitate search and
rescue operations under disaster conditions.

***Search And Rescue Size-Up***

***What Is Search And Rescue Size-Up?***

As described in earlier chapters, size-up is a continuous analysis of
facts that forms the basis for decision making and planning. Rescues
must be planned and carefully executed to ensure the success of the
rescue and the safety of the rescuer. Like size-up for other disaster
operations, search and rescue size-up continues throughout the disaster
response. It includes seven steps:

 Step 1: Gather facts.

 Step 2: Assess damage to the building.

 Step 3: Identify your resources.

 Step 4: Establish the rescue priorities.

 Step 5: Develop a rescue plan.

 Step 6: Conduct the rescue.

 Step 7: Evaluate your progress.

Each of the size-up steps will provide information that may be critical
to search and rescue efforts.

***Step 1: Gather Facts***

Let the facts of the situation guide your search and rescue efforts.
Consider the types of structure and construction, location, and severity
of damage, as well as environmental conditions and hazards, the probable
number of victims, and their conditions. Because the search and rescue
situation continually changes, gather facts about the situation on a
continual basis and revise plans as needed. Some of the questions that
CERT search and rescue personnel must answer during fact-gathering are
included in the table below. The answers to these questions will enable
you to complete size-up Step 2: Assess Damage To The Building.

+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| ***Planning   | ***Questions***                                      |
| Factor***     |                                                      |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Time of       |  How does the time of day/week affect numbers of    |
| Day/Week      | people possibly trapped in the area?                 |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  Where are the victims likely to be (e.g., home,    |
|               | work, in bed, on the road)?                          |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  How much daylight is available for search and      |
|               | rescue effortsor, if none:                          |
|               |                                                      |
|               | \- How long will it be until sunrise?                |
|               |                                                      |
|               | \- Is artificial lighting available and practical?   |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Occupancy     |  Where are potential victims likely to be in the    |
| Type          | structure?                                           |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  How many potential victims are likely?             |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Construction  |  What types of construction have been affected?     |
| Type          |                                                      |
|               |  What are the implications for search and rescue?   |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  Is the age of construction significant?            |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Weather       |  What is the current and forecast weather?          |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  How will the weather affect rescue efforts?        |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  How will it affect victims?                        |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  How will it affect rescuers?                       |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| Hazards       |  What and where are the general hazards in the area |
|               | (e.g., utilities, natural hazards, hazardous         |
|               | materials)?                                          |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  What steps are necessary to mitigate these         |
|               | hazards?                                             |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  How long will mitigation efforts take?             |
|               |                                                      |
|               |  What effect might the delay have on the victims?   |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+

**Table V-2. Planning Factors For Search And Rescue Fact-Gathering**

***Step 2: Assess Damage To The Building***

There are no hard and fast rules for assessing damage. However, the
damage categories in the table below will serve as a reference point for
defining your primary search and rescue mission. In Chapter VI, you will
learn more about formulating rescue strategies based on structural
damage assessment.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  ***If Structural Damage Is . . .*** ***Then The CERT Mission Is . .
                                      .***

  **Light:** Superficial or cosmetic  To locate, triage, and prioritize
  damage, broken windows, fallen      removal of victims to designated
  plaster; primary damage to contents treatment areas by the medical
  of structure . . .                  operation teams.

  **Moderate:** Questionable          To locate, stabilize, and
  structural stability; fractures,    immediately evacuate victims to a
  tilting, foundation movement or     safe area while [minimizing the
  displacement . . .                  number of rescuers inside the
                                      building]{.underline}.

  **Heavy:** Obvious structural       To secure the building perimeter
  instability; partial or total wall  and control access into the
  collapse, ceiling failures . . .    structure by untrained but
                                      well-intentioned volunteers.
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

**Table V-3. CERT Mission By Structural Damage Category**

Afteror in conjunction withthe damage assessment, CERT search and
rescue personnel must consider probable amounts of damage and rescue
requirements based on the type and age of construction.

***Step 2: Assess Damage To The Building** (Continued)*

Experienced search and rescue personnel can anticipate probable amounts
of damage following a disaster event based on the severity of the event
and the types of structures involved. The table below presents examples
of the types and degree of damage likely to be found in various types of
structures after an earthquake.

+--------------+----------------------------+---------------+--------+
| ***          | ***Description***          | ***Probable   | **     |
| Construction |                            | Damage        | *Sever |
| Type***      |                            | Areas***      | ity*** |
+--------------+----------------------------+---------------+--------+
| S            |  Wood frame               |  Masonry     | Light  |
| ingle-Family |                            | chimney       |        |
| Dwelling     |  Pre-1933                 |               | Mo     |
|              |                            |  Utilities   | derate |
|              |  Hillside                 |               |        |
|              |                            |  Foundation  | Heavy  |
|              |                            | movement      |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |                            |  Utilities   |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |                            |  Porches     |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |                            |  Unique      |        |
|              |                            | hazards       |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |                            |  Ground      |        |
|              |                            | failure       |        |
+--------------+----------------------------+---------------+--------+
| Mul          |  Up-and-down and/or       |  Soft first  | Mo     |
| tiple-Family | side-by-side living units  | floor         | derate |
| Dwelling     |                            |               |        |
|              |                            |  Utilities   |        |
+--------------+----------------------------+---------------+--------+
| Unreinforced |  Pre-1933 construction    |              | Heavy  |
| Brick        |                            | Ar            |        |
|              |  Lime or sand mortar      | ched/recessed |        |
|              |                            | windows and   |        |
|              | "King Row" or "Soldier   | doors         |        |
|              | Row" (bricks turned on     |               |        |
|              | edge every 5-7 rows)       |  Walls       |        |
|              |                            | collapse,     |        |
|              |  Reinforcing plates       | then roof     |        |
+--------------+----------------------------+---------------+--------+
| Tilt-Up      |  Large warehouses and     |  Roof        | Heavy  |
|              | plants                     | collapses,    |        |
|              |                            | then walls    |        |
|              |  Concrete slabs lifted    |               |        |
|              | into place                 |               |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |  Walls inset              |               |        |
|              | approximately 6-8 inches   |               |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |  Lightweight roof         |               |        |
|              | construction               |               |        |
+--------------+----------------------------+---------------+--------+
| High-Rise    |  Steel reinforced         |  Broken      | Light  |
|              |                            | glass         |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |                            |  Content     |        |
|              |                            | movement      |        |
|              |                            |               |        |
|              |                            |  Exterior    |        |
|              |                            | trim/fascia   |        |
+--------------+----------------------------+---------------+--------+

**Table V-4. Probable Severity And Type Of Damage Based On Construction
Type**

***Step 3: Identify Your Resources***

In this step, the rescue team identifies all of the resources, such as
personnel, equipment, and tools, that are available to assist in
rescuing victims.

***Step 4: Establish The Rescue Priorities***

Once resources have been identified, the rescuers must determine what
the priorities are for the situation at hand. For example, in a certain
building there may be water rising, with victims trapped inside. In that
case, the priority becomes getting out those victims who can be easily
reached and removed without putting any rescuers at risk.

***Step 5: Develop A Rescue Plan***

Next, the rescuers decide specifically how they are going to complete
the tasks that they have determined are the highest priorities. In the
example just cited, the plan might be, "Joe, you and Bill do a quick
search of the first floor. John and Sue, gather up all the loose 2 x 4
lumber you can find and break it into lengths of 3 feet and 6 feet.
Sally, you will keep in voice contact with Joe and Bill when they go
inside. Any questions? Great, let's get started."

***Step 6: Conduct The Rescue***

Once the plan has been developed, the rescue team puts it into action
and begins the rescue.

***Step 7: Evaluate Your Progress***

This is the most important step from a safety standpoint. The rescuers
must continually monitor the situation to prevent any harm to the
rescuers. Also, they determine if their plan is working, and if not, how
it can be changed to make it work.

***Safety Considerations***

In assessing your own situation and making decisions about search and
rescue strategies, rescuer safety must be the primary concern. The two
most frequent causes of rescuer deaths are *disorientation* and
*secondary collapse*. The following are guidelines for safe search and
rescue.

 *Buddy System.* Always work in pairs, with a third person acting as a
runner.

 *Hazards.* Be alert for hazards, such as sharp objects, dust,
hazardous materials, power lines, leaking natural gas, high water, fire
hazards, and unstable structures. If water is present, check the depth
before entering. Never enter rising water.

 *Safety Equipment.* Wear safety equipment and clothing appropriate to
the task. In search and rescue operations, the equipment will include:

\- Helmet or hard hat.

\- Goggles.

\- Dust mask.

\- Whistle (e.g., Clog rescue whistle) for signaling other rescue
workers.

\- Leather work gloves.

\- Clothing appropriate for the weather (e.g., protection from cold or
rain).

\- Sturdy shoes (preferably steel-toed).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Remember, a dust mask offers protection only against airborne
  particulates. It will not filter harmful materials such as carbon
  monoxide or other hazardous materials.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 *Rotate Teams.* Have back-up teams available. Monitor the length of
exposure of active teams. Be alert to signs of fatigue. Establish
regular search and rescue shifts or rotate personnel (as a team) as
needed. Have teams drink fluids and eat to maintain themselves.

***Evacuation***

Evacuation is the organized withdrawal from an area for purposes of
protecting the safety of the area's inhabitants. In the event that
evacuation becomes necessary, use the following steps as guidelines to
ensure safety and organization.

  -------------------- --------------------------------------------------
  ***Step***           ***Action***

  1\. Determine the    Determine whether there is a need for total or
  need                 partial evacuation.

  2\. Identify a       Select an area that is free of hazards and easily
  relocation area      accessible.

  3\. Communicate      Communicate to everyone involved the need to
                       evacuate and the locations of shelters.

  4\. Predesignate     Designate routes from the area to be evacuated to
  routes               the area of relocation. Consider alternatives.

  5\. Report the       Be sure to inform emergency management personnel
  evacuation           about the evacuation to avoid unnecessary
                       duplication of effort and risk.
  -------------------- --------------------------------------------------

**Table V-5. Guidelines For Safe Evacuation**

***Conducting Search Operations***

***Introduction***

Once the decision is made to initiate search operations within a
specific structure or area, CERT members must systematically inspect the
area for victims, as assigned by the CERT Area Team Leader. This
involves two processes:

 Locating potential victims.

 Employing search techniques appropriate to the operation.

By following these processes, search operations will be more efficient,
thorough, and safe and will facilitate later rescue operations.

***Locating Potential Victims***

The first step in locating potential victims is to gather any additional
information required for the specific structure or area. This requires
searchers to conduct a "mini-size-up" to gain more precise damage
information and develop priorities and plans. Detailed information about
a structure, together with information about the type of construction,
will provide information about areas of entrapment. Inspecting a
structure by taking a lap around it will also provide useful
information.

*Areas Of Entrapment*

Locating victims in and around a damaged structure generally means
finding the areas of entrapmentor *voids*in which they are concealed.
There are several types of voids to look for.

 *Pancake Voids.* Pancake voids (most common in pre-1933 buildings) are
small voids throughout a structure that are created by weakening or
destruction of load-bearing walls and the resulting collapse of floors
onto each other. Pancake voids are the most difficult and time-consuming
to search. An illustration of a pancake void is shown in Figure V-2 on
the following page.

*Areas Of Entrapment (Continued)*

![](media/image2.emf){width="3.3645833333333335in"
height="1.9895833333333333in"}

**Figure V-2. Pancake Void**

 *Lean-To Voids.* Lean-to voids are created when a collapsed wall or
floor is resting against an outside wall, creating a pocket of space. A
victim trapped in this type of void has the greatest chance of being
alive. An example of a lean-to void is shown in the figure below.

![](media/image3.emf){width="3.3645833333333335in"
height="1.9895833333333333in"}

**Figure V-3. Lean-To Void**

*Areas Of Entrapment (Continued)*

 *"V" Voids.* These voids are created by a "V" collapse of a floor or
wall: the middle collapses and the ends lean against the outside walls.
Upturned heavy furniture or materials may be concentrated near the
center of the floor. A drawing of a "V" void is shown in the figure
below.

![](media/image4.emf){width="3.1590277777777778in"
height="1.8451388888888889in"}

**Figure V-4. "V" Void**

 *Individual Voids.* Individual voids are spaces into which the victim
may have crawled for protection. For example, victims might be found
under desks or in bathtubs.

After identifying the possible areas of entrapment, the next step is to
determine the potential number of victims and identify the most probable
areas of entrapment. Some of this information may be known through
preplanning, but some may need to be obtained by other means, such as by
talking with bystanders. When talking with bystanders, get as much
information as possible. (For example, how many people live/work here?
Where would they be at this time? What do you know about the building
layout? What have you seen or heard? Has anyone come out?) Realize that
bystanders may be traumatized by the event, however, and may tend to
exaggerate potential numbers or may not remember eventsor even building
floor plansaccurately.

Finally, determine the normal exit routes from the building. Some
victims may have become trapped while trying to escape.

After gathering the additional information, CERT members will be able to
plan search priorities and implement the search.

***Search Methodology***

An effective search methodology:

 Is systematic and thorough.

 Avoids unnecessary duplication of effort.

 Provides for documentation of search results.

Experienced search and rescue personnel have found the search procedures
listed below to be effective.

*1. Call Out.* Begin the search by shouting something like, "If anyone
can hear my voice, come here." If any victims respond, give them further
directions such as "Stay here" or "Wait outside" (depending on the
condition of the building). Be sure to ask victims for any information
they may have about building damage or about others trapped in the
building.

*2. Be Systematic.* Use a systematic search pattern to ensure that all
areas of the building are covered. For example:

 *Bottom-Up/Top-Down.* Searching from the bottom of the building up
and/or from the top down is well suited to multi-story buildings.

 *Right Wall/Left Wall.* Moving systematically from one side to the
other is well suited to single-floor structures and avoids repetition.
The wall is the rescuer's lifeline. (See Figure V-5 on the following
page.) If you or your partner become disoriented, reverse your steps,
staying close to the wall until you get back to the doorway. Throughout
your search, maintain voice contact with your partner so you do not get
separated.

***Search Methodology** (Continued)*

![](media/image5.emf){width="6.669444444444444in"
height="3.2194444444444446in"}

**Figure V-5. Systematic Room-Search Pattern**

*3. Listen Carefully.* Stop frequently and just listenfor tapping
sounds, movement, or voices.

*4. Triangulate.* Triangulation enables rescuers to view a single
location from several perspectives. Three rescuers, guided by victim
sounds, form a triangle around a designated area and direct flashlights
into the area. The light shining from different directions will
eliminate shadows that could otherwise hide victims. Triangulation is
illustrated in Figure V-6 on the next page.

*5. Use The Buddy System.* Working together, two rescuers can search a
structure more effectivelyand provide an additional measure of safety
to each other. Buddies should also use a web belt to connect one
another, especially in dark or smoke-filled areas.

***Search Methodology** (Continued)*

**Figure V-6. Triangulation**

***Search Methodology** (Continued)*

*6. Mark Searched Areas.* Marking searched areas prevents duplication of
efforts and identifies where rescuers are and have been. Make a single
diagonal slash on or next to the door just before entering. Make an
opposite slash (creating an "X") when all occupants have been removed
and the search of that area is finished (as shown on the left side of
Figure V-7 below). As shown on the right side of Figure V-7, the four
quadrants of the "X" can be used to indicate the initials of the
searcher (left quadrant), the time/date of the search (top quadrant),
personal hazards (right quadrant), and number of victims still inside
(bottom quadrant). Use a zero if no victims are found. Put a box around
the "X" if it is not safe to conduct search and rescue efforts in the
room or building

*7. Document Results.* Keep complete records both of removed victims and
of victims who remain trapped or dead, then report this information to
emergency agencies when they reach your CERT (as described in Chapter
IV).

Following these steps will avoid duplication of effort and will help
rescue operations.

![](media/image8.emf){width="6.942361111111111in"
height="2.790277777777778in"}

**Figure V-7. Marking Searched Areas**

***Conducting Rescue Operations***

***Introduction***

Rescues involve three primary functions:

 *Creating a safe rescue environment.* Creating a safe rescue
environment may involve lifting objects out of the way, using tools to
move objects, shoring up walls, and removing debris.

 *Triaging or stabilizing victims.*

 *Victim removal.* Search and rescue teams will remove victims
immediately from moderately damaged buildings to a safe zone. Medical
teams will remove victims from lightly damaged buildings, after
head-to-toe assessment and treatment.

This section will focus on creating a safe environment and victim
removal.

***Creating A Safe Rescue Environment***

The goals of victim rescue operations are to:

 Maintain rescuer safety.

 Triage in lightly damaged buildings.

 Stabilize (airway, bleeding, and shock) and evacuate as quickly as
possible from moderately damaged buildings, while minimizing additional
injury.

None of these goals can be achieved without first creating as safe an
environment as possible prior to beginning extrication. There are,
therefore, certain precautions that CERT rescuers must take to minimize
the risk involved in rescue efforts.

*Know Your Limitations*

Many well-intentioned volunteers have been injured or killed during
rescue operations simply because they did not pay attention to their own
physical and mental limitations. As a CERT rescuer, you must know your
limits and monitor your condition. Take time to eat, drink fluids, rest,
and recuperate so you can return with a clear mind and refreshed energy.
Remember: *Fatigue leads to injury.*

*Follow Safety Procedures*

Always protect yourself by wearing and/or using the safety equipment
required for the situation and following established procedures,
including:

 Working in pairs.

 Never entering an unstable structure.

 Following recommended procedures for lifting and carrying.

Lifting should always be done in a way that protects the rescuer's back
from strain or other injury. To lift safely:

 Bend your knees and
squat.![](media/image9.emf){width="2.810416666666667in"
height="1.8979166666666667in"}

 Keep the load close to your body.

 Keep your back straight.

 Push up with your legs.

Proper body position for lifting is shown in the

figure to the right.

**Figure V-8. Proper Body Position For Lifting**

*Follow Safety Procedures (Continued)*

Never put your own safety in jeopardy. You can only be valuable as a
rescuer if you remain healthy and uninjured.

*Identifying Tool And Equipment Requirements*

Rescue tools may be anything that can be used to find and reach victims
or to move large objects out of the way. Tool and equipment requirements
will vary somewhat depending on the type of disaster and rescue
requirements. Identify probable tool and equipment requirements during
planning so that appropriate tools and equipment will be more readily
available when needed.

*Leveraging And Cribbing*

When a large object such as a collapsed wall or heavy debris needs to be
moved in order to free victims, leverage and cribbing may be used.

 *Leverage* is obtained by wedging a lever (pole or other long object)
under the object that needs to be moved, with a stationary object
underneath it to act as a fulcrum. When the lever is forced down over
the fulcrum, greater force is obtained to lift the object. (See pages
V-43 and V-44 in this book.)

 A *crib* is a framework of wooden or metal bars used for support or
strengthening. *Box cribbing* means arranging pairs of wood pieces
alternately to form a stable rectangle. In a disaster situation, debris
may be available to use for cribbing. (See page V-45 in this book.)

Leveraging and cribbing are used together by alternately lifting the
object a little (using the lever) and placing cribbing materials
underneath the lifted edge to stabilize it. The process should be
gradual: *"Lift an inch  crib an inch."* When leveraging and cribbing
one end of an object, make sure that you are not creating an unstable
condition at the other. You may have to leverage and crib both ends.

When sufficient lift is achieved, remove the victim, reverse the
procedure, and lower the object. *Never leave an unsafe condition.*

*Removing Debris*

When you must remove debris in order to locate or extricate victims, a
"human chain" may be used. Have volunteers line up so that they can hand
debris from one person to the next, away from the rescue site. The chain
should be located so as not to impede victim removal or restrict any
path of travel. Wear leather gloves to protect your hands. Your hands
are your most important rescue tool.

***Removing Victims***

Basically, there are two main methods of removal that rescuers can
employ to get victims out of a structure. They are:

 Self-removal or assist.

 Lifts and drags.

*Self-Removal Or Assist*

Ambulatory victims may be able to get out, with or without assistance,
once obstacles are removed. Even when a victim is capable of
self-removal, provide assistance and support as the victim vacates the
area to avoid the possibility of additional injury.

*Lifts And Drags*

If a victim cannot get out on his or her own, size up the situation to
determine the most appropriate means of removal. The extrication method
selected depends on the number of rescuers available, the strength and
ability of the rescuers, the condition of the victim, and the general
stability of the immediate environment.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Unless there is a condition that threatens rescuer safety (e.g., the
  building is on fire, or collapsing, or filling with water), do
  [not]{.underline} use these types of victim removal if you suspect a
  closed head, neck, or spine injury. Victims with injuries to the head
  or spine should be stabilized on a backboard (as described in Chapter
  IV) before removal. Remember to use in-line stabilization.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

*Lifts And Drags (Continued)*

 *One-Person Arm Carry.* If you are physically strong, you may be able
to lift and carry a victim by yourself. Reach around the victim's back
and under the knees, and lift. The victim may be able to assist by
placing an arm around your shoulder.

![](media/image10.emf){width="3.477777777777778in"
height="5.067361111111111in"}

**Figure V-9. One-Person Arm Carry**

*Lifts And Drags (Continued)*

 *One-Person Pack-Strap Carry.* To accomplish this carry:

\- Stand with your back to the victim.

\- Place the victim's arms over your shoulders and grab the hands in
front of your chest.

\- Hoist the victim onto your back by bending forward slightly, so his
or her feet just clear the floor.

![](media/image11.emf){width="6.252083333333333in"
height="4.372222222222222in"}

**Figure V-10. One-Person Pack-Strap Carry**

*Lifts And Drags (Continued)*

 *Two-Person Lift.* The two-person lift is also called the "Georgia
Street Carry."

\- Rescuer 1: Squat at the victim's head and grasp the victim from
behind around the midsection. Reach under the arms and grasp the
victim's forearms.

\- Rescuer 2: Squat between the victim's knees, facing either toward or
away from the victim. Grasp the outside of the victim's legs at the
knees.

\- Using safe lifting procedures, rise to a standing position, lifting
the victim. The victim can then be walked to safety.

![](media/image12.emf){width="4.416666666666667in"
height="3.457638888888889in"}

**Figure V-11. Two-Person Carry**

*Lifts And Drags (Continued)*

 *Chair Carry.* This technique requires two rescuers:

\- Place the victim in a straight-back chair (e.g., a wooden kitchen
chair).

\- Rescuer 1: Facing the back of the chair, grasp the back uprights.

\- Rescuer 2: With your back to the victim's knees, reach back and grasp
the two front legs of the chair.

\- Tilt the chair back, lift, and walk out.

![](media/image13.emf){width="4.606944444444444in"
height="4.041666666666667in"}

**Figure V-12. Chair Carry**

*Lifts And Drags (Continued)*

 *Blanket Carry.* The blanket carry requires at least six rescuers to
provide stability to the victim, with one person designated as the lead
person.

\- Lay a blanket next to the victim.

\- Tuck the blanket under the victim, and roll the victim into the
center of the blanket.

\- Roll up the blanket edges toward the victim, to form tube-like
handles on each side of the victim.

\- With three rescuers squatting on each side and grasping the "handle,"
the lead person checks the team for even weight distribution and correct
lifting position.

\- The lead person calls out, "Ready to lift on the count of three: one,
two, three, *lift.*"

\- The team lifts and stands in unison, keeping the victim level, and
carries the victim feet first.

\- To lower the victim, the lead person calls out, "Ready to lower on
the count of three: one, two, three, *lower.*"

 *Improvised Stretchers.* A variety of materials can be used as
improvised stretchers, which can be carried by two rescuers. For
example, your instructors will demonstrate how to make a stretcher from
poles and jackets.

*Lifts And Drags (Continued)*

 *Drag.* Drag the victim out of the confined area by grasping either
under the arms or by the feet and pulling across the floor. Remember to
use safe lifting procedures. Both dragging techniques are shown in the
figure below. One rescuer can also use the *blanket drag* (shown in the
figure on the following page) by wrapping the victim in a blanket,
squatting down and grasping an edge of the blanket, and dragging the
victim across the floor. By carefully assessing the situation and the
victim's physical condition, then using correct removal techniques, CERT
members can remove entrapped victims safely.

![](media/image14.emf){width="5.272222222222222in"
height="4.293055555555555in"}

**Figure V-13. Correct Drag Techniques**

*Lifts And Drags (Continued)*

![](media/image15.emf){width="9.014583333333333in"
height="4.165972222222222in"}

**Figure V-14. Blanket Drag**

***Summary***

***Introduction***

Search and rescue are two different activities that should be planned
carefully and practiced in advance. The decision to attempt a rescue
should be based on:

 The risks involved.

 Achievement of the overall goal of doing the greatest good for the
greatest number.

The objectives of search and rescue are to:

 Maintain rescuer safety at all times.

 Rescue the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time.

 Rescue the lightly trapped victims first.

CERT members are restricted to *light search and rescue.* Their mission
when dealing with heavily damaged structures is to:

 Isolate the area.

 Warn others.

***Search And Rescue Resources***

The three main resources required for search and rescue operations are:

 Rescuers.

 Tools.

 Time.

Each of these resources may be very limited. Planning, accurate size-up,
and careful attention to rescuer safety will be critical.

***Conducting Search And Rescue Size-Up***

As in other CERT operations, size-up is a critical first step. Search
and rescue size-up follows the same basic process as for
fire-suppression or medical operations. Size-up continues throughout
response efforts and provides valuable information about how search and
rescue efforts should proceed.

Should size-up indicate that total or partial evacuation is necessary,
the CERT mission is to ensure safety and organization during the
evacuation.

***Conducting Search Operations***

Once the decision to begin search operations is made, CERT members must
systematically:

 Locate potential victims.

 Employ appropriate search techniques.

***Conducting Search Operations** (Continued)*

Locating potential victims requires CERT members to conduct a
"mini-size-up" of areas of entrapment and potential number of victims.
After locating potential victims, CERT members will implement a search
methodology that:

 Is systematic and thorough.

 Avoids unnecessary duplication of effort.

 Provides documentation of results.

***Conducting Rescue Operations***

Rescues involve three functions:

 Creating a safe environment.

 Triaging or stabilizing victims.

 Removing victims.

The goals of creating a safe environment are to maintain rescuer safety
and to remove victims as quickly as possible while minimizing additional
injury. A large part of maintaining rescuer safety is for every CERT
member to recognize his or her personal limitations and follow
prescribed safety procedures.

Once the environment is stabilized, victims can be removed in a number
of ways, depending on their condition, the number of rescuers available,
the strength and abilities of the rescuers, and the stability of the
immediate environment. Sometimes, a victim may be able to get out once
obstacles are removed. Leveraging and cribbing may be used for debris
removal. When victim removal is required, CERT members must assess the
situation and select the extrication method that is best suited for the
situation. Victims with head or spine injuries must be stabilized to
avoid additional injury. In these cases, EMS personnel should be called
in if possible.

***Assignment***

Before the next session:

 Read and become familiar with Chapter VI: Disaster Psychology And Team
Organization in this Participant Handbook.

***Additional Reading***

The reference below is available if you would like to know more about
the information in this chapter.

California Fire Service, Training And Education Services. [Fundamentals
Of Heavy Rescue]{.underline}. 1987.

**Additional Materials**

**Chapter V**

***Scenario V-1***

At 10:00 on Tuesday, August 9, an earthquake (magnitude 5.9) shook
Memphis, Tennessee. During the quake, the electricity in your
neighborhood went out. On the way to the staging area at the local high
school, you notice considerable damage, including several broken water
mains, building collapses, and what looks like heavy structural damage
in a local strip shopping center. When you arrive at your staging area,
you can see that the west wing of the elementary school has partially
collapsed.

Discuss the scenario with the group to answer the following questions:

 What does this scenario tell you about the probable density for the
affected area?

 What kinds of search and rescue operations are probable?

 What, if any, are the constraints that search and rescue personnel may
face in this scenario?

 Can these constraints be overcome within the established CERT mission?
If so, how?

***Scenario V-2***

After reaching the staging area, you check in with the Logistics Team
Leader, who assigns you to search and rescue team 2. Although CERT teams
cannot venture into the section of the school building that has
collapsed, search and rescue team 2 will be searching part of the east
wing of the building to determine if there are victims in that area.
Because your child once attended the school, you know that the building
is heated by natural gas. You also remember that a storage shed for the
school district's tractors is located about 50 feet outside the east
wing of the school.

Discuss the scenario with the group to answer the following questions:

 What does this scenario tell you about the facts that must be
gathered?

 What impact could these facts have on search and rescue operations?

***Leveraging/Cribbing Operation***

1\. Conduct a size-up of the scene: gather facts, identify hazards, and
establish priorities.

2\. Have one person in charge and formulate a plan of action based upon
the information you have received. Identify [how]{.underline} and
[where]{.underline} to lift and crib.

3\. Gather necessary materials for lifting/cribbing operations: lever,
fulcrum, cribbing blocks, spacers/wedges.

4\. Use cribbing materials to stabilize the object prior to lifting.
(Set the foundation of the box crib.)

5\. Distribute crib materials as necessary to be readily accessible
during the lifting operation.

6\. Prepare to lift the object: assemble the lever and fulcrum at the
previously identified location.

7\. Have someone available to handle the victim.

8\. Initiate the lift, using the lever and fulcrum for mechanical
advantage.

9\. As the object is lifted, add cribbing as needed; build on the
foundation of the box crib.

10\. When the object is adequately supported, remove the lever and
fulcrum. The victim may then be removed.

11\. Reinitiate the lift and begin removing cribbing materials,
reversing the process by which the crib was built.

12\. Progressively lower the object to the ground.

13\. Reassemble the lifting/cribbing supplies to be available for
additional operations.

***Arrangement For Leveraging/Cribbing Operation***

![](media/image16.emf){width="6.125in" height="4.895833333333333in"}

***Box Cribbing***

![](media/image17.emf){width="4.772222222222222in"
height="5.416666666666667in"}