Now that you’ve created the checklist, complete with initial assessments, plans, and resources, you are ready to begin the Search aspect of SAR.

It will be imperative to recall that Search can be broken down into two processes:

1. Search techniques adapted to the scene size-up & assessment
2. Locating victims

The CERT participant manual discusses voids or spaces in collapsed structures where victims might be entrapped, such as these images:

Lean-To Void

House Collapse

Lean-To 2

Truck Sylmar Quake

Haiti Pancake

Remember, pancake voids are outside of the Light SAR training of CERT volunteers. These kind of structural collapses are considered heavy damage and should not be approached by CERT members. Lean-To Voids, if observed, are also structurally unstable. It is recommended that SAR volunteers take valuables notes and pass that information on to professional responders that are trained and able to approach.

Emphasis is made with CERT members to gather necessary information from bystanders or witnesses who are familiar with the structures in question. Those who are familiar with the building can provide information which might increase the responder’s ability to safely rescue trapped victims. Such information might include:

• Likely number of victims in the structure
• Potential location of victim(s)
• Floor plan(s)/Layout of building
• First-hand observations (i.e. smoke, smell natural gas, cracking of wooden beams, etc.)
• Observation of victims exiting building
• Entry/Exit routes of the building

It is most beneficial to take brief and accurate notes. This will allow the information that you gather to be passed on to another in your absence. Simply committing details to memory may be necessary if resources for note-taking are not available. Be sure to verbally communicate pertinent info to your partner.

Search Methodology

In CERT, rescuers use a methodology that will allow for others to know the location of rescuers. This methodology also prevents double-work from occurring. Duplication of effort wastes time and resources and is easily avoided through proper communication.

House Marking

The above marking is the marking system that was used by rescue teams in response to Katrina’s tragedy. The principle of info is what we use when we are conducting SAR operations in structures. Before entering into a structure, volunteers must determine if it appears to be structurally safe or not in order to search for victims. If it is determined that the structure can be entered to search for victims, the team will make this first mark before entering & record the date & time of entry:

Initial SAR Mark

Once you have completed searching for and extracting any victims & your team has completely exited the structure you will add the crossing leg of the X, and you will then indicate the hazards present or NO ENTRY for unsafe grounds (3 o’clock quadrant), number of live & dead victims found (6 o’clock quadrant), identify your team (9 o’clock quadrant), and write the time that your SAR efforts in that structure were completed (12 o’clock quadrant):

Completed SAR Mark

The matter of accessing & transporting victims will be covered in our next post Search & Rescue (SAR) Part 3/3: Transporting Victims.

Gather Facts

The following are common questions that many CERT field handbooks suggest as you consider your SAR deployment:

• How will the time of day/day of the week/weather affect your SAR efforts?
• Do you know the type of structure(s) you are dealing with & their construction?
• Determine if the structures are occupied, by how many people, vulnerable populations such as young, elderly, incapacitated, etc.?
• Any obvious hazards such as HAZMAT, electrical, water, etc.?

Assess and Communicate the Damage

Take a “hot lap” around the structure to determine:

• Any clear signs of damage that will limit your CERT team’s capabilities?
• Are normal communications channels functioning

Consider Probabilities

You must consider that life-threatening hazards simply remain to be discovered, rather than determine if there are any at all:

• What are the potential life-threatening hazards & where are they located?
• Try to determine likely potential risks or disaster activities that can impact personal safety.

Assess Your Own Situation

It is absolutely critical that you conduct a quick but accurate assessment or your resources:

• What resources (human & equipment) are available for you to attempt SAR?

Establish Priorities

Appropriately established priorities will offer the greatest outcome for the greatest number of victims. Conversely, priorities that are poorly set will likely result in preventable losses:

• Can your CERT team safely attempt SAR?
• Are there any other immediate needs which deserve first-priority?

Make Decisions

Decisions constantly need to be made as part of the continuum of response. The ability to maximize the efficiency of resources will provide the best outcomes possible:

• Where will the deployment of available resources do the most good while maintaining an adequate margin of safety?

Develop a Plan of Action

Now that decisions affecting resources and responder safety have been established, it is time to deploy personnel and the resources they’ll need:

• Determine how personnel and other resources should be deployed.

Take Action

• Execute your Plan of Action

Evaluate Progress

Acting on your plans requires constant review and evolution so as to adapt to an ever-changing environment and personnel. Responder safety is paramount. It is imperative for responders to not get fall into the trap of “tunnel vision”. This refers to a mindset that de-escalates the actual threat simply because more responding personnel and resources arrive on scene.

• Continually size-up the situation to identify changes in the scope of the problem, the safety risks, and resource availability.
• Adjust strategies & tactics as necessary.

Part 2b/3 will discuss some details in conducting the physical aspect of Search Operations.

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Personal safety is an on-going process, not a static event. Such considerations must be implemented before, during, and after responding. I have often thought of personal safety in terms of arriving on-scene and deciding if I can respond, given what’s happened or not happened. Now, I understand more fully that a responder should never “feel at home” on-scene and must stay aware for his own and partner’s safety: situational awareness.

From the CERT Field Operating Guide (FOG) No. 573 (pg. 24):

Priorities of CERT Search and Rescue:

• The safety of CERT members
• Life safety for victims and others
• Protection of the environment
• Protection of property

Goals of CERT Search and Rescue:

• Rescue the greatest number in the shortest amount of time
• Rescue lightly trapped victims first

Effective Search and Rescue:

• Effective Size-up (see Size-up Checklist)
• Rescuer safety
• Victim safety

The FOG then goes on to make this point:

Safety Considerations: Regardless of the severity of structural damage, rescuer safety must be the primary concern. The two most frequent causes of rescuer deaths are disorientation and secondary collapse.

Here are some more points that I learned, along with a little expansion on the topic:

Primary Concern is Rescuer Safety

If you’re a prepper, then hopefully you have learned to appreciate redundancy. Redundancy allows us to master the fundamental principles of life. As complex as the world is, all of that complexity is based on basics. It is the repetitiveness of a particular message, such as safety, that will remind us to never attempt a rescue near a downed electrical line. It is that same redundancy that reminds us to activate EMS when we’ve observed someone grab his chest and fall unconscious to the ground, or in shouting “CLEAR” while visually confirming that no one is touching a victim who is receiving the effects of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). Remember, don’t become part of the problem by becoming another victim!

Buddy System

The buddy system is an excellent way to maximize the presence of human resources. Having a buddy, or two, ensures an extra set of eyes, ears, and able-bodied effort to assess the scene and provide feedback beyond the inherent limitations of an individual. It will be crucial that both “buddies” actively follow the principles of rescuer safety in order to maximize the benefit of collaboration.

Beware of Hazards

Many hazards do not present themselves in a clear and obvious way. Electrical conduits such as power lines, lethal vapors or gases such as carbon monoxide, pyrotechnic devices such as airbag inflators, and similar hazards do not shout out, “I’m a danger, watch out!” unless responders have educated themselves to the latent threats inherent in each one. It is beneficial for all consumers to learn more about the basic threats posed by the items which make our lives more convenient, as long as they are working properly!

Safety Equipment

It never ceases to amaze me how something so simple as wearing goggles, gloves, or helmets, can seem such a burden to folks who should be wearing such equipment because of the nature of their activity. It is easy for individuals to develop “superman” or “superwoman” syndrome after having repeated an activity hundreds of times without incident. Need I remind us all that all it takes is just-one-time? Safety equipment is designed to protect us/reduce risk from that 0.0001% of circumstances when things go wrong.

Support Teams

If you’ve ever watched an active response to a wildland fire, or a serious structure fire, then you’ve no doubt seen support teams staged somewhere on-scene assisting exhausted responders, providing them with water, food, and medical treatment. CERT members often form part of those support teams, helping refresh other responders and offer support in many ways.

With the previous points in mind, an appropriate Scene Size-Up becomes the object of study and practice.

Size-Up Checklist

1. Gather Facts
2. Assess and Communicate the Damage
3. Consider Probabilities
4. Assess Your Own Situation
5. Establish Priorities
6. Make Decisions
7. Develop a Plan of Action
8. Take Action
9. Evaluate Progress

-TBG

Part 2/3, Search and Rescue: Physical Search, will discuss the Size-up Checklist more fully and cover the physical search process of SAR.

Catastrophic events affect more than human lives; they endanger the lives of many of our family companions: pets. In consideration of the same kinds of events against which we prepare ourselves, our families, and our communities, those of us with pets hold the responsibility to provide for their needs and safety as well.

Small animals vs. Large animals

The differences in accommodations will vary between the sizes of pets or livestock that you and I have. Cats, small dogs, birds, and other smaller companions can be easily placed in carriers that allow for transportation and safe handling. Larger animals such as horses or livestock require their owns considerations and specific plans for care, evacuation & transport, feeding, and attention. Any animal that requires special care or baseline medical attention will require an added amount of time and attention in an emergent event. It is extremely important that provisions be made for such animals in advance, before any emergency or disaster actually occurs.

If both you and your immediate neighbors have horses/livestock, it would benefit you both greatly if you established a coordinated response effort ahead of an actual event. The same collaborative principles apply to smaller pets/animals. The power of your response network is what will increase the likelihood of surviving a catastrophic event with minimal injury and/or loss.

The County of Los Angeles suggests an evacuation plan for animals that includes the following points:

• Before an emergency occurs, make arrangements to shelter your animals at two different & distant locations.
• Large animals should be evacuated from the premises as soon as an EVACUATION WARNING is given – recall that an EVACUATION WARNING is a non-mandatory precursor to an EVACUATION ORDER which is mandatory.
• Maintain your truck & trailers in proper working order, fueled, and accessible. Be sure to pre-designate others to manage the evacuation in case you are absent.
• Know the person(s) who will be evacuating your animals/pets and have their contact info: phone number, driver’s license, residence, determined flee-to location(s), etc.
• Know exactly where the animals/pets will be taken.
• Work with your neighbors ahead of time to provide contingency plans for evacuating the animals/pets of those who might not be home when an event happens.

ESPFocus.org is an online resource provided by the County of Los Angeles, CA. ESP stands for Emergency Survival Plan. Their PDF on Pet Preparedness shares the following points:

• Create a get-away plan.
• Secure appropriate lodging in advance: Know where you and your pet will be going after an emergency.
• Develop alternate plans: Have pre-planned boarding information for your pets in case you are sick, injured or have to evacuate during a disaster.
• Keep current documentation: Maintain current records such as medical history and identification for every pet. This information is especially useful when your pet is missing or is taken to a shelter. You also might consider having a microchip implanted in your animal by your pet’s veterinarian in case you get separated.

ESPFocus also recommends the following considerations:

After the crisis has passed, it may be some time before
you can return to your home, so be prepared for a stay of
several days or even a week or two. Keep in mind that
even if your house is intact and you are allowed to return,
the area may not yet be safe for your pets.

Risks after a fire include burned or cut paws, eating or
inhaling toxic substances or residues, escaping because
of downed fences or other damage, loss of shelter and
shade, and a lack of water supply, power supply, and other
services. Many similar risks will be present after an
earthquake or other disaster.

Keep in mind that when animals return to a changed
landscape, they may be upset, disoriented, and easily
stressed. Give them as much calm and normalcy as you
can, and follow similar rituals whenever possible.

Pet Preparedness 101: Part 2/2 will cover more specifics of supplies, tools, and useful resources to strengthen your pet preparations.

-TBG

Until this week’s training, I had never used a fire extinguisher to extinguish a significant size flame. The fuel source of this particular fire was gasoline and it was performed under the supervision of professional fire personnel and with enough resources to secure a “controlled burn”. In contrast to a controlled burn, the term conflagration denotes an uncontrolled burn, such as in a structure fire or a wildfire or blaze. This fire extinguishing experience increased my respect for firefighters and provided first-hand exposure to the amount of heat generated in a small, controlled burn.

We watched videos that described historically significant events and tragedies involving structure fires and losses of life, such as the Station Fire on Rhode Island, February 2003:

Having lived in Southern California in my younger years, I have experienced earthquakes of varying magnitudes including the Whittier Narrows quake of 1987 and the Northridge quake of 1994. I have witnessed firsthand how scenes and groups of individuals can become chaotic in an instant when the earth moves. This chaos is what has led to so many losses of life in structure fires such as the Station Fire. When enclosed locations are populated beyond capacity and poorly lit, these are the basic ingredients for a tragedy, although a tragic event may not occur.

An interesting comment was made by one of our instructors (paraphrasing mine):

There are some people that mistakenly subscribe to what they call “the rule of thumb”. They suggest that as long as you are able to stand far enough away from a disastrous event so as to be able to place your thumb in front of your dominant eye and obstruct the view (contain the event by visibly blocking it from your view), then you are at a safe distance…that’s wrong and those people are mistaken! You can bet I’ll be a few thumbs’ distance behind those people with all their thumbs.

That instructor was right, especially with an event like this one:

In this week’s class, we also covered:
• Various methods of carrying victims out of an area
• ABCDE fires
• Appropriate situations & how to turn residential gas off
• Obtain & properly maintain/check smoke & carbon monoxide detectors regularly
• Hazmat in home
o Separate ammonia from bleach

Below is a fire classification chart that I found at SafetyPosterShop.com:

-TBG

-TBG

How to Assess a Situation

When arriving at the scene of an emergent event, one of the easiest ways to avoid injury and “becoming part of the problem” is to perform a rapid visual assessment of the environment. The point here is to never enter into an unsafe environment. It may be necessary, for example, to visually assess the situation from inside your vehicle. The best help that you can offer in such a situation is to secure your own safety first, and then report as much information as possible to professional emergency responders. Their job will be to secure the area, determine appropriate response/entry, evacuate the area, search/rescue/treat victims, and prevent injury to service personnel.

In an ideal situation, another trained individual would accompany you to the scene where you can determine the appropriate response.

The Priority of Personal Safety

Personal, Partner, and Patient safety cannot be overemphasized. This is why firefighters and police officers are instructed to make entry into a threatening situation only when estimated risk is manageable AND they have the appropriate personnel support such endeavors. Two common sayings you will hear in regards is, “Don’t become part of the problem”, or “We don’t need another victim”.

The Importance of Incident Documentation

As with medical procedures performed in controlled settings, appropriate responses to emergent scenes require the documentation of facts, actions taken, and observed responses. A professional paramedic friend of mine said it simply, “If you didn’t write it down, then it didn’t happen.” The documentation of the number of victims, observable threats, actions taken, and the progressive events helps to relay the gravity of the situation to other responders and for future study, post-event. Debriefings are post-event meetings that allow responders to discuss the event and to begin analyzing it in hopes of learning from it for future events. In this way, more appropriate responses can be created and practiced. Documentation also lends itself to legal review in cases where responders are required to testify about their actions on-scene.

Intro to MCI (Mass Casualty Incidents)

This portion of the training is designed to provide responders with time-sensitive responses to incidents involving several victims. Psychologically, the algorithmic flow of responder actions appears insensitive and heartless, allowing victims only brief attention from the responder until he/she categorizes the victim and then moves on to the next victim. During this section of training, the harsh reality of “doing the greatest good for the greatest number [of people]” struck me. This truly was an eye-opener for me personally!

Triage

This word comes from the French infinitive “trier”, meaning “to sort”. To perform a triage, responders establish priority of medical attention to affected victims & “tag” them accordingly. Fundamentally, the triage operates with the understanding that in an MCI, appropriate resources and personnel will be limited from helping each victim with the same urgency and quality of care as others.

RPM- Respiratory, Perfusion, Mental status

Once a responder has begun to perform assessments on victims of an MCI, they first determine if the victim is breathing on their own. If not, the responder can attempt to reposition the airway in hopes of facilitating spontaneous breathing. If no respirations are present, then the responder will attempt one more re-positioning. If the second attempt to open the airway is unsuccessful in obtaining respirations, then the victim is tagged with a black morgue tab from the triage card.

There are several other possible outcomes to initiating a START. The example of the morgue tag is the worst-case scenario flow of running the algorithm. For other possible outcomes and more info, read THIS (downloadable PDF).

Several more points were discussed in last night’s class including:

• Permission to assist on conscious vs. implied consent on unconscious
• Rolling unconscious victim over (log roll)
• Checking for breathing (open airway)
• Different Types of Bleeds (Arterial vs. Venous)
• Controlling bleeding (non life-threatening wound)—covered bleeding a lot
• Basic Wound Dressing
• The Reality of Tourniquets
• Pool Water a No-No: balance of the water, commercial chemicals used, plaster, metal, etc.
• Burns (1st, 2nd, 3rd degrees)
• Heat Loss Prevention from Hypothermia

I will detail the bullet points above in a follow-up post…but now, back to studying the material for the next class!

-The Berkey Guy