Thank you Glenn! What a great field trip.
Here are my notes that I made and answers to the questions the team had put together for Glenn.
1st step in Search and Rescue is to find life.
2nd step in Search and Rescue is to stabilize the building to make the rescue as safe as possible.
Next step is get people out!
Upgrades
How do you determine who to rescue?
Rescue Units
One problem Glenn would like to see solved here in this area of greater Victoria is Inter Municipality Cooperation. Right now they do not communicate or cooperate. If they were to work together for planning, training, etc it could go a very long way in effective and efficient rescue.
Thank you Glenn!
Glenn Cooper
Team Commander
CFB Esquimalt USAR Team |BFC Esquimalt ELSARMU
Base Construction Engineering | Genie construction de la base
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt | Base des forces canadiennes Esquimalt
National Defence | Défense nationale
PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Victoria, Canada V9A 7N2
[email protected]
Here are my notes that I made and answers to the questions the team had put together for Glenn.
1st step in Search and Rescue is to find life.
- One method for this is to use Canines.
- We met Moxie. The Search Canines are trained to search for Live bodies, articles and cadavers. In order to learn the scent of cadavers they have extensive training with the smell of hair, teeth and body fat. Moxie is trained in up to 18" of rubble. Some canines are trained to dig through and search in up to 20 feet of rubble.
- The second method of finding life is technology (this is where your UAV would fit in!)
- They have their DELSAR probe which is an acoustic sensor. They place the probes all around the building and can narrow out sounds by filtering out other noises. These probes can pick up very light sounds through rubble and buildings.
- This kit also came with 2 way communication probes that they can drop into buildings to provide communication between rescuers and victims.
- Another technical device they have is a camera which can extend 25 feet into a building. It can use a infrared head or a regular camera head. On the head attachment there is also lights and a 2 way speaker so rescuers can talk to victims. These are very robust and have endured much hard use. They are also waterproof.
- These cost around $25,000-$30,000.
- Glenn did mention that back in 2006 he did use a scanner that utilized microwaves to 'see' through concrete. The monitor looked something like a satellite monitor and could pick up fine movements like even breathing. (a bit more expensive)
- Before any rescuers will be sent in they must determine life. If using dogs they must have a second opinion and will utilize another dog or a technical conclusion. If tech they can rely on just one siting.
2nd step in Search and Rescue is to stabilize the building to make the rescue as safe as possible.
- We viewed many types of shoring.
- One type was built for the purpose of holding up a side of a building. When building this type of shoring if it is a tall building then they actually build the first unit and then climb and tie themselves off and build the next story and next story.
- Another type built to hold up an entrance (vertical)
- Another type holding a room from collapsing inward (horizontal)
- And another type built to hold both up and down and side to side and built as a safe zone in the event of aftershocks or further collapse. If collapse starts rescuer's and victims will be put in the shoring area to give a very safe area.
- All the shoring has been specifically engineered and is built on site. There are handy reference guides that lists exactly how to build (number of nails and everything) and the time it takes to build and assemble each unit.
- The reasons they use wood: lots of it, easy to cut, easy to attach together, lots of people know how to work with but
- Main reason is Wood talks; it will let you know when it is reaching capacity and about to break with lots of warnings and signs. It cries (moisture and sap will come out) then it may start popping and cracking (especially at the knots) and then it starts splitting which signals get out!
- There are sensors that are put on every shore to assess how the wood is holding up and will alarm when it is hitting a point to signal evacuation and imminent collapse.
Next step is get people out!
- After area is stabilized for rescue, rescuers will go in and retrieve victims. When they will be climbing through small spaces they may be hooked up to oxygen for assistance with breathing.
- Holes will be cut through concrete and through walls to help get in and out of areas. These holes are minimal as to not affect the stability of the structure and are generally done in triangle shapes for this reason (also that shape fits a stretcher with a person on it.
- When cutting through concrete they will use a diamond carbide saw blade.
- WHen trying to get large pieces of concrete out and off people they can use reinfornced air bags that can hold a very high amount of weight and provide lift.
- They will sometimes when accessible and available use cranes and other equipment.
- When no equipment will use poles and rods to lift and leverage.
Upgrades
- After most large earthquake around the world teams will be sent in to learn from it. After the California earthquake of 1989 much was learned about building. Although rebar is better than just concrete as concrete just crumbles, up and down rebar alone will not hold in crumbling concrete and the building/bridge will just collapse around the rebar. They learned that is they wrap the rebar around the upright pieces of rebar it will reinforce further by creating a cage around the concrete that will crumble but will still hold up the structure. (saving LOTS of lives!)
- Much of the seismic upgrades that Victoria has been doing (schools, building etc) involve things learned from previous earthquakes that will give them the capacity to withstand an 8.0-9.0 earthquake. (Withstand does not mean it will still be able to be used after the earthquake it just means that it will allow stability for evacuation saving lives)
- We do know that some foundations are better than others to build on. Here is Victoria we already checked where we lived in these zones. There is bedrock (which is the safest) through to sand or water beds (least safest). A shock wave going through bedrock or volcanic rock continues at the rate it was traveling where as in the instance like sand the effects of the shockwave become magnified making it very unsafe. There is also liquefaction to consider too which can have a house sink a few feet.
How do you determine who to rescue?
- The mission is to do the most good, rescue the most people in the shortest time possible.
- They would first determine the areas of highest density of life along with the easiest to get into.
- Then the order of rescue is opposite to that which we see at the emergency room where it is most critical to least. In a rescue it is least critical to most.
- The first batch of rescuers go through to assess and label people for rescue. They have slips for this a nd a triage colour system. Green, Yellow, Red and Black.
- Green is MINOR this means that they are conscious and mobile with no life threatening injury. These are the first to be rescued. Children are always a green (as long as not fatal)
- Yellow is DELAYED this means generally that they are concious but immobilized in some way (a broken arm, leg etc) These rescues take more assistance and are therefore second in priority.
- Red in IMMEDIATE which means that they are breathing but can't move (they may be unconscious, severely trapped etc)
- Black is Deceased of Expected which means if they are not already dead that it is likely that they will. In an event of a major disaster hospitals are not in our 10 minute range as they are when things are online and it takes quite some time to receive medical attention. If a rescuer takes the time to sit with a victim in this condition they may be sitting with them for an hour which could of been many other lives in comparison.
- We were shown the triage tags that rescuers use.
Rescue Units
- In Victoria there is one Light Unit team. There is talk of a Heavy Unit but is not here yet.
- In Vancouver there is a Heavy Unit team along with other units.
- Spread across Canada are 4 Heavy Unit Teams in total.
- The federal government just cut funding from $2,000,000/year to nothing for Rescue Units here on the island.
- This unit is through the Department of Defense. It operates as a Medium Unit but is not Victoria's it is federal.
- A Light Unit has the capability of rescue in wood structures, brick structures but no concrete. They do not have the training nor the equipment.
- A Medium Unit and Heavy Unit are mostly the same apart from the number of rescuers int heir team. Both units can rescue in concrete and have advanced equipment and training. A Medium Unit will have 30-50 rescuers whereas a Heavy Unit will be around 100 rescuers.
- These Rescue Units are dispatched for Earthquakes, floods, Intense storms and construction accidents or extreme events.
- The Victoria and Vancouver teams are the oldest in Canada. In the past they did lots of training together and try to keep their equipment interchangeable (batteries, heads, probes, wiring etc)
- All equipment is boxed in large black totes for quick accessibility and mobility. Even everything on the walls of the trailers is magnetized for quick transport.
- All equipment, food, rations etc is kept in storage units stored safely above tsunami reach.
- In the event of a disaster this rescue until will first check in on their loved ones if needed and then report to location for dispatch.
- They are under the command of the admiral and are a task force that is dispatched as needed.
One problem Glenn would like to see solved here in this area of greater Victoria is Inter Municipality Cooperation. Right now they do not communicate or cooperate. If they were to work together for planning, training, etc it could go a very long way in effective and efficient rescue.
Thank you Glenn!
Glenn Cooper
Team Commander
CFB Esquimalt USAR Team |BFC Esquimalt ELSARMU
Base Construction Engineering | Genie construction de la base
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt | Base des forces canadiennes Esquimalt
National Defence | Défense nationale
PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Victoria, Canada V9A 7N2
[email protected]