TRAINING
MANUAL
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TRAINING
MANUAL
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This training guide has been produced to assist brigades in the training and preparation of commanders and their respective units, which form part of the United Kingdom Fire Service Search and Rescue Team. It should not be viewed as a full comprehensive training manual. Development of the team and personal training needs will naturally evolve through experience.
It is appreciated that resources within brigades will be limited and the application
of training will differ to some extent from brigade to brigade. However, the
aims and objectives of all participating brigades should be common, thus providing
a minimum standard throughout the teams which will accommodate the interchange
of units and the maintenance of competence and self-support whatever the scenario.
In preparing this training guide the inherent abilities of the British Fire
Service are recognised. Therefore, this guide is to prepare personnel and commanders
to deal with the conditions likely to be met at a major disaster in a climate
or enbironment foreign to the majority. To ensure all personnel have an appreciation
of these needs, core principles have been developed.
Individual members of a unit should be assessed to determine their fitness for
the tasks they may be called upon to carry out. This can be confirmed during
the selection process by means of a two to four day assessment in arduous conditions.
The assessment should cover areas such as:
The ability of the individual to communicate with other members of their
unit and team in an effective manner, and to recognise and accommodate cultural
differences within the unit or team. It is unlikely that this can be fully
tested with the larger team until much later in the development of the individual.
However, a good indication of the individual’s skill in this area should
be obtained during assessment at unit level.
It is essential the stamina levels of individual is high and is able to
be maintained, or that training is available to raise and maintain stamina
levels so the units/team have the ability of sustained effort (see below).
The need for a fit and healthy team is obvious. Individuals may appear to
be fit however, any weaknesses will be highlighted or aggravated during
periods of high physical activity and deprivation of both sleep and the
normal social and welfare provision.
During disaster scene activities these stresses may be excessive due to the type of work being carried out, the environmental conditions prevailing and the frustrations that such activities create. Consequently, assessment and training should simulate conditions enabling individuals to experience these stresses in a hostile environment.
Assessors should be satisfied that individuals would make a substantial contribution to the specific unit, and team as a whole. Care should, of course, be exercised during assessments. It should not be the intention to produce "superhumans", rather, to identify personnel with the physical and psychological fitness for the task or the ability to quickly attain the standard with the assistance of the assessors/trainers. Recourse to Brigade Medical Officer, occupational health departments or PTIs should be considered where appropriate. The need for such fitness has been identified through past experience at disaster scenes and during extended realistic exercises.
Experience has shown that the final preparations and travel arrangements have a demanding physical and mental effect on the participants. As the first 48 hours of disaster are probably the most critical, teams should be capable of sustained concentration and effort during this period, with the minimum amount of rest.
As DCOL9/1992
indicates, a maximum of 30 personnel together with a Field
and Team Commander will complete a full Team. However, smaller Teams are more
likely to be deployed. Therefore, each unit should be self-sufficient and,
to this end, it is advised that all member of a unit have a basic knowledge
of the core requirements of a SAR team.
3.1 First Aid – St John’s/Red Cross or equivalent standard
All personnel must be capable of basic first aid enabling them to give immediate assistance to fellow rescuers or casualties at disasters or when assisting in humanitarian aid following incidents of war or famine etc
3.2 Basic Management
Personnel should be conversant with the use and types of equipment, including tentage, stoves and personal hygiene equipment they may be expected to use on mobilisation. It is essential there is no delay in setting up team or unit bases through lack of competence in the use of equipment.
3.3 Rescue from Collapsed Structure Techniques
Individuals should have an understanding of the techniques for rescue from collapsed structures including the methods and equipment available for searching and locating casualties, and the best methods of accessing and removal of casualties in the safest manner.
3.4 Casualty Management
Casualties of a natural disaster will require immediate support on arrival or after rescue, and it is imperative they are stabilised to prevent further deterioration. In the absence of medical support teams this task will fall to the SAR team.
Communications at a disaster, as for any incident, are essential if the
units are to be effective. Therefore, all personnel should be aware and
have knowledge of the equipment provided. Additionally, knowledge of other
communication systems which may be encountered when working with other agencies,
will be an advantage.
Experience has identified the need for personnel to have a basic understanding of mechanical engineering to facilitate the repair and maintenance of their equipment and the restoration of plant and machinery on site, including vehicles that could be of assistance in rescue, or in restoring and stabilising the immediate area for the benefit of the local population.
In addition to the unit requirements there has to be a specialist spread of
skills within a team and, to this end, each unit should endeavour to have
at least one member with competency in the following areas:
The identification of the needs of the group or individuals and to support
materially or with guidance from available agencies such as British Red
Cross, medical support team, etc., via the Field Commander. When a doctor
attends with the Team some of these responsibilities will be devolved.
To provide medical assistance to a doctor and assist in the welfare of the
Team. The EMT will be able to ensure greater effectiveness in medical situations
for either, or in the wider scenario of a disaster, assisting with humanitarian
help to refugees.
Closely aligned with both the above is a need for someone to be capable of identifying realistic food requirements with the most beneficial dietary provision to team members, enabling them to maintain their effectiveness and well being. This will include safe preparation, storage procurement.
A knowledge of internationally available military food rations is considered
desirable as is an appreciation of ‘living of the land’ using natural resources.
Discipline in hygiene is paramount, and designed personnel should be available
to advise in this area. They should be capable of giving guidance to personnel
in hostile environments, such as when not to shave for fear of infection
or when to avoid communal feeding to prevent communal infection.
4.4 Water Engineering
The ability to provide water supplies to either support a SAR team or for humanitarian aid to the local community. This skill should include the ability to identify contaminated water and the methods of improving its quality. Close liaison with Red ‘R’ in repect of Training will assist to produce the necessary skills.
4.5 Drivers and Motor Vehicles repair – ‘mechanic’
The ‘mechanic’ should be capable and experienced in the vehicles they may expect to encounter. They should be capable in the repair of more serious damage or breakdown.
4.6 General
As training and experience is gained, consideration should be given to a number of other areas:
Languages and an appreciation of other cultures, with the possible development of a multi-lingual phrase book incorporating search and rescue terminology.
Familiarisation with differing form of transport i.e. helicopters.
5.1 Team and Unit
The relationship and compatibility of units will be a vital element of successful deployment. Combined training should be developed as soon, as is practicable. It will be necessary for every unit to play some part in the development of the team, which in turn may encourage ownership. There should be regular exchanges between units of the team within the rota group.
5.2 Liaison with other agencies
To develop contacts with other agencies working under the auspices of DFID, exercises of a multi-disciplined nature should be organised to include Red ‘R’, the British Red Cross and military units who may welcome the opportunity to exercise specialist units.
5.3 Field and Team Commander
Field and Team Commanders should take every opportunity to identify with their particular team/unit, and to play a full role in understanding the individuality and culture of their team. This is particularly important for Field Commanders who will work closely with the team on the ground. It would be of benefit to arrange specialised seminar and briefings for Field and Team Commanders locally.
5.4 Testing of provision
It is anticipated that arrangements within brigades will be tested to confirm all the necessary procedures are in place. On some occasions these will be purely paper exercises but, on others, a full National response will be required for exercises in the UK or abroad.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ARDUOUS CONDITIONS: Rough terrain environments not normally encountered by the individual such as, The Black Mountains, The Peak District, The Cairngorms etc.
ASSESSORS: Qualified instructors/examiners in specific assessment areas such as Mountain Leaders, Counsellors, Physical Training Instructors, etc.
COLLAPSED STRUCTURES: Any structure that has partially or completely changed from its original intended construction.
COMMANDERS:
Team – The designated officer in overall charge of the operation, normally of Assistant Chief Officer rank.
Field – The officer with responsibility to assist and support the Team Commander and take command of units in the field, normally of Divisional Officer rank.
Unit – Responsible for a Unit, comprising 5 personnel, normally of Station Officer rank.
CORE PRINCIPLES: The minimum standard at which a person may qualify as a member of the SAR team.
DFID: Department for International Development, (formally ODA, Overseas Development Agency).
EMT: Emergency medical technician: a person qualified in medical matters over and above initial first-aid treatment.
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT: See; arduous conditions.
MAJOR DISADTER: A man-made or natural disaster that is beyond the scope and resources of that particular country’s military and emergency services.
SELF-SUFFICIENT: The ability of a team or an individual to sustain their life for a period of two weeks without outside assistance.
UNIT: A SAR team which may consist five or more members, drawn from brigades and/or made up with specialists from other fields of expertise such as. Doctors, Nurses, Engineers, etc.