IV d. Structural Collapse

Description:

Interactive seminars taking the rescuer through the phases of structural collapse, size-up and the mitigation processes available to the rescuer.

We place emphasis on risk/reward decision-making with an overview of applicable building construction, rescuer responsibilities and a review of actual collapses. Practical sessions will be mandatory, utilizing basic horizontal, vertical and raker shores.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course the participants will be able to:

- Recognize the basic building construction types in their own districts. 

- Understand why buildings collapse.

- Identify the different types of collapse.

- Identify the tools capable of assisting in a collapse both high and low tech.

- Understand and apply the incident management system to structural collapse.

- Create and shore a building, using vertical, horizontal, and raker shores successfully.

IV e. Tunnel Rescue

Description:

A 40 hour training course that will introduce the rescuer to the dangers associated with Tunnel Rescue, O.S.H.A. regulation 1926.800, underground tunneling, equipment needs, and the procedures necessary to perform a safe rescue and recovery.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course the participants will be able to:

- Recognize the basic types of self-contained breathing apparatus and identify the principles of their use and maintenance.

- Prepare for use a 4-hour self- contained breathing apparatus and perform routine maintenance and inspection of the SCBA.

- Identify the physical properties and characteristics of gases they may encounter during rescue and recover work.

- Identify where the gases are normally found, how to test for them, and the meaning of their findings.

- Prepare for and perform underground explorations under rescue and recovery conditions.

- Provide team members with recommended procedures for rescuing survivors and recovering bodies following a tunnel disaster. 

- Understand the Incident Management System as it pertains to tunnel rescue. 

V. Domestic Terrorism

V a. Domestic Preparedness Training

Description:

These classes are designed to increase the depth of knowledge of responders confronted with the challenges created when a terrorist incident involves the employment of chemical, biological, or radiological agents (all of which are hazardous materials), collectively known as NBC agents. Following its completion, your students should be able to:

Objectives:

Following its completion, your students should be able to:

A. Identify the correct operations level defense response actions to be taken in the event a terrorist employs an NBC agent.

B. Identify relevant personal protective and detection and identification equipment that might be employed in response to employment of an NBC agent.

The focus of the Domestic Preparedness Training Program is on NBC material, and because these materials were invented primarily for military use, much of the terminology associated with them is military in nature. These agents were specifically designed to injure or kill, and as a result, will affect the procedures employed to address hazardous materials incidents.

The course takes approximately four hours and will concentrate on five blocks of instruction:

"Responder Actions" will focus on Operations Level defensive actions responders should take to minimize hazards, both to themselves and the general public.

“Downwind Hazard Prediction" will provide responders a quick and rapid method for predicting the boundaries of the downwind vapor hazard associated with a release of any of the chemical agents into the atmosphere.

"Protective Equipment" will provide an overview of protective equipment and the types of equipment required for each type of agent. It will also address the limitations of self-protection when using Structural Fire Protective Clothing ("SFPC) and self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

"Detection and Identification Equipment" will provide an overview of the various types of detection and identification equipment available, what these items detect, what a positive indication means, and the cost of these systems.

"Emergency Decontamination Techniques" (strip, flush, cover) will address the types of contamination, the effect, the toxicity these agents will have on decontamination operations, minimum safe distances, and organization of the decontamination site.

This class will also address EMS considerations after emergency decontamination.