VICTIM REMOVAL
FIRE FOCUS
The five methods of removing victims, in priority order, are interior stairs, horizontal exits, fire escapes, ladders, and lifesaving rope. Following are some guidelines for safe evacuation by fire escape and ladder.
WINDOW
When a victim in a window is to be removed with an aerial ladder, the ladder should be placed two inches above the windowsill. Do not extend the ladder tip more than six inches into the window opening. This accomplishes two things: (1) The weight of the victim and rescuers will result in the ladder’s resting on the sill and (2) by not extending the ladder more than six inches, the window opening will not be blocked and will be available for entering and exiting.
If two rescuers are available, the first one to ascend should enter the window and then assist the victim out of the window. teet first, to the other rescuer. The second firefighter then w ill guide the victim down the ladder; they will descend in unison while the firelighter maintains a distance of one rung between the victim and himselt. Should the victim panic, the firefighter should use his body to press the person into the ladder. Firefighters should continuously talk to and reassure the victint. Removal is not complete until the victim is on the ground, not the turntable. As is the case with fire escapes, carry all children.
When operating the aerial at an extension of more than 40 feet, both beams of the ladder should be able to rest on the sill. Avoid a “cantilever”— the resting of only one ladder beam on the sill—that occurs when operating at a severe angle to a window. The weight of rescuer(s) and victim on a cantilevered aerial extended more than 40 feet could cause the ladder to twist, dumping the people.
FIRE ESCAPE
Removing a victim(s) by fire escape usually is not a problem as long as the person is ambulatory. The preferred direction of travel is downward toward the street, but sometimes fire conditions necessitate removal to the roof. The stairs connecting each level of the fire escape are similar to sets of stairs in common use. so descending them will not be a problem.
The top and bottom levels, which are vertical ladders, present problems, however. Traversing these vertical ladders is difficult even for people without injuries. To assist the person descending the ladder, position yourself one or two rungs below the person and straddle the person’s body with your arms. If the person starts to panic, lean into the ladder and hold this position until the person calms down. Always carry children when descending vertical ladders.
II’ you have sufficient manpower, it is preferable to use a fire department ladder instead of the fire escape drop ladder. A fire department ladder, when properly placed, affords easier climbing due to stability, wider rungs, and improved angle.
If the victim is unconscious, place him between yourself and the ladder, face to face, with the upper body “draped” over one shoulder. This way, you will have control of the victim’s body; and should the body start to slip, you will be able to regain control by leaning into the ladder. A guiding hand from both above and below will keep legs and arms from getting entangled and can assist you in taking the victim onto the roof.
