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Purpose
To establish guidelines, ensuring an organized and systematic plan is evolved during a rescue situation.
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Background
The St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) shall respond to incidents requiring the use of rope rescue systems to access and/or retrieve victims. This shall be accomplished through the use of specially trained and designated Rope Rescue Teams.
These Teams may be assisted by other SJRFD members.
A SJRFD Rope Rescue Technician must be present to advise of the practical skills required of the Rope Rescue Team at all Rope Rescue interventions.
This POG replaces POG # 06-01-02, “High Angle Rescue”, dated 2012/02/22.
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Policy Statement
1. The criteria for determining a rope rescue shall include but not be limited to:
· Any rescue beyond the reach of normal firefighting equipment.
· Any rescue where the steepness or slipperiness of the terrain requires rescuers to be tethered in case of falls, including low-angle rescue.
· Any time that a victim must be raised to any height.
· Any time Command deems that the Rope Rescue Team would be advantageous to the safe mitigation of an incident.
2. Operations shall be treated as rescue situations unless death is obvious or highly probable.
3. No rescuer or equipment shall be put in danger to recover a body in which signs of death are obvious.
4. A SJRFD Rope Rescue Technician must be on-scene to act as the Team Leader for all rope rescue interventions.
Actions
When a call is received indicating that a potential rescue may have to be performed, the following shall occur:
1. The 911 Dispatcher shall immediately:
a. Tone out the nearest Engine and Rescue to assess and assist.
b. Notify the on-duty Platoon Chief and OIC (Central).
c. Notify the Chief Officer.
d. Notify the MCC (ambulance dispatch) of SJRFD response.
e. Notify the RNC.
2. The on-duty Platoon Chief and/or OIC (Central) shall review the list of “On Duty” High Angle Rescue personnel, in the event they are required to be picked up and transported to the rescue scene.
3. The most qualified Rescue Technician as decided by the rescue team members, once on site, should assume the title Rescue Team Leader and evaluate the situation.
4. The Rescue Team Leader on site may request a response time gauged to the life hazard of the incident (e.g., a rapid response would be required if a person were clinging precarious to a ledge in imminent danger of falling to his/her death. Victim retrieval would not require a rapid response).
5. The Rescue Team Leader in consultation with the on-duty Platoon Chief or the OIC (Central) shall determine the number of Recue personnel required on site.
6. Once the initial site evaluation has been carried out and it has been determined that a Rescue Team will be needed, the High Angle Rescue Trailer and Team members will be transported to the scene. Team members shall report to Rescue Command (IC) who will in turn assign them to the Rescue Team Leader.
7. The Rescue Team Leader shall designate the following responsibilities to arriving personnel.
a. Quartermaster
b. Safety Officer
c. Haul Captain
8. Rope Rescue Technicians working directly over water are required to wear Personal Flotation Devices.
9. Requests for a helicopter shall come from the Rescue Command (IC) in consultation with the Rescue Team Leader. The request shall go directly to the Chief Officer, who will in turn contact Eastern Health and Air Services.
10. In the event that a high angle rescue requires the use of a helicopter, only those personnel specifically trained for this work will participate in activities involving the helicopter. On-ground personnel shall take their direction from the Safety Officer on board the helicopter.
11. When the use of a helicopter is required, the Helicopter Pilot, the Helicopter Safety Officer, and the Rescue Team involved in the rescue shall all switch to the EMO channel.
Note 1
While rank plays a very important part of the SJRFD daily operations, it should not have a negative effect on the operations of Speciality Teams where from day to day the expertise on any given team may be a person of lesser rank.
Note 2
All Operational Guidelines are provided as a guideline only and may be altered by the OIC to meet extenuating circumstances.
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Approvals
Fire Chief/Director
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Responsibility
St. John’s Regional Fire Department
POG #06-01-02
Approved by:
_________________________________________ ________________________
Jerry F. Peach Date
Fire Chief
Director of Regional Fire and Emergency Services
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Appendix/Appendices
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