Training Notebook ❘ By TIM O’CONNOR
Firefighter basic training programs cover essential functions, none more important to the successful protection of life than aggressive search techniques. Search techniques have traditionally been taught following the theory that you are best suited to find victims on your hands and knees, holding onto your partner, maintaining contact with the wall, and following the walls in a left- or right-hand fashion. Thanks to much research by firefighters looking to improve the craft and the way in which we teach and operate, we now know that a different approach is more beneficial. Targeted search, oriented search, and vent-enter-search (VES) have been found and supported by data to be much more successful than “old” practices.
- Search Mission Prep: Size-Up, Methods, and Tools
- Primary Tools for Primary Search
- Searching Sense
- Making the Case for Search on the Modern Fireground
Being in Position
When performing a search, you must be in a position to aggressively feel and interpret items you encounter. We now know that 72% of the first 2,000 rescues submitted to the Firefighter Rescue Survey were completed with limited or zero visibility. Being taught to crawl on both knees using one hand to maintain contact with the wall and search with a tool does not allow you to appropriately perform a search. For better results, keep one hand on the wall and stretch out the opposite arm and leg into the room; this keeps you in a more upright position, allowing for visual information such as layout, conditions, and orientation to be incorporated into your search (photo 1).
(1) Photos by author.
If you are searching in limited visibility, stop every now and then and put your head on the ground for a moment. Perform a life, fire, layout (LFL) scan to gather more intelligence on the area you are searching. The victims for whom we are searching are more than likely going to be on the ground or under couches and beds. If we can recognize these pieces of furniture quickly, we can target them as an area of high probability for locating a victim. Beyond finding locations to target, the LFL can assist with orientation of the search crew. Remaining oriented while searching increases the safety of the search team as well as the speed in which they cover ground. Faster searches lead to an increased chance of survival for any trapped occupants.
Targeted search techniques are based on the theory that most people are creatures of habit and follow a predictable pattern. These patterns have been supported by data and show us areas of probable success in which we should start or focus a search. High-probability areas include bedrooms at any time of the evening or overnight, communal-gathering areas such as family rooms and kitchens during the day, and means of egress at all times of day. Data collected by www.firefighterrescuesurvey.com has shown these areas to have success locating victims and leading to successful rescues, with a combined 73% success rate. Size-up findings should be coupled with this basic breakdown to create the targeted areas most suited to the incident on which you are operating. If you find a window with smoke pushing out, place that room at the top of your search priority. Any victim located in that room is in extreme danger, and time is of the essence to remove him.
Search Options
Targeted search considerations and a search size-up commonly lead to VES options. VES has been around for years, but it has recently been the source of much debate. VES is used for immediate access when information points to the probable location of a victim in a specific location or when access to the interior is delayed because of fire conditions. Traditionally used for bedroom searches, VES can be used in any window opening.
When performing VES, it is imperative that you enter the window as low as possible. Entering head-first allows you to keep a lower center of gravity and a slimmer profile. It also allows for faster orientation once you are inside, as you don’t have to flip over. After entry, you must locate the door to the area. Before closing the door to isolate the area, perform a quick sweep just outside the door. If nothing is found, close the door and begin your search back toward the window. With the door closed and the window open, conditions should improve during your search.
An oriented search means performing your search independent from other members on the search team while remaining in voice or visual contact. This technique allows one crew to cover a wide area simultaneously. This search is widely beneficial to search multiple bedrooms at the same time. To perform this, the crew would locate the bedrooms and split, with one member entering one room and the other member entering a second bedroom. The officer will position in an area between the two rooms being searched and act as the orientation point for the searching members. The officer monitors the progress of the search with the thermal imaging camera and as well as conditions in the area, ensuring the safety of the searching members. When the rooms are cleared, the members return to the officer, and the crew moves on to another grouping of rooms or area to be searched (photo 2).
(2)
When you find someone during a search, what do you do next? Notify the finding of a victim with an urgent transmission to command. If you need additional personnel to help remove the victim, ask for it. Notifying command allows for tracking of the search status, emergency medical services to be ready and waiting at the point of removal, and everyone to know you are coming through and to clear the way. After notifying, search around the victim quickly for additional victims before getting into position to carry or drag. Many multiple fatality events and rescues have occurred with victims found extremely close to each other. A parent may have been overcome attempting to rescue his child and they may be located close to each other.
Victim Removal
How do you remove the victim once you have found him? In the interest of speed and survivability, get outside of the fire environment by the most direct route. This most commonly is not the way in which you entered; almost every room in a residential structure has a window. It is not a bad idea to remove him by a window if it can be found faster and make removal faster than dragging him back through the building. This is especially true if a heavy fire condition was present in the building; the environment may cause more injury because of high heat and debris, through which you will have to drag the victim. Causing more injury after finding a victim is the exact opposite of what we are trying to do.
Searching has traditionally been a tenet of the fire department. It is something that is done at every fire and has resulted in the saving of a life. As is true with all aspects of our occupation, improvements can be made. With research study after research study being conducted and published, reaffirming what works and helps us change what doesn’t, we are in a lucky time. As such, we have changed and reshaped search operations into the aggressive, coordinated search for life that our citizens deserve.
TIM O’CONNOR joined the fire service at age 14 as a volunteer at a small-town department, continuing to serve throughout high school and college. He then began as a career member in 2014 as a full-time firefighter/EMT. O’Connor has served with various departments as a volunteer, holding many ranks. He is also a past deputy chief and training officer. O’Connor has written articles for various fire service publications and has taught classes at conferences across the United States. He is an instructor for the Delaware State Fire School and the lead instructor for Back to Basics Firefighter Training. O’Connor has an associate degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University.
