search and rescue challenges in Venezuela
Many people are focused on the ongoing search and rescue operations in Venezuela. With that in mind, I thought I’d give you some background information on the United States capabilities and the challenges that come with collapsed buildings and trying to rescue survivors.
There are a number of international teams that maintain some form of urban search and rescue capabilities. These include France, Iceland, Chile, Mexico, China, Portugal and yes, even El Salvador. Countries with an internal risk of earthquakes are the ones that maintain a capability.
The United States has 28 teams across 19 states. Teams are made up of local first responders and other professionals that bring expertise. So while fire has the most members of a team, there are doctors, structural engineers, dog teams, and may include law enforcement. Teams may vary in size from 45-84 with most being about 70 team members.
There is a dedicated cache of equipment that is assigned to this mission. Tents, rescue equipment, food, water and all the other materials needed for the team to be self-contained in supporting themselves and not a burden to the host nation/jurisdiction. A total of 50-70K lbs of supplies are available for deployment. They have to be able to be shipped by air or driven on organic vehicles that are part of the equipment maintained by the team.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the funding agency and manages the funds and upgrades to equipment. Teams cannot self-deploy and only deploy when a mission request is authorized by FEMA.
There are two teams that have been used for international deployments like the one we are seeing in Venezuela. The first to normally be deployed comes from Fairfax County, VA. The other “international team” is with Los Angeles County Fire Department.
What do they do when they arrive on the ground at the scene of a disaster? First and foremost, they need to affect coordination with the nation or jurisdiction where they will be providing support. It is the nation that provides them operational directions on where to proceed and conduct rescue operations.
When on scene they must make an assessment of the building and what has been done so far on that site. Then they need to figure out where to try and make entry into a building that has perhaps completely pancaked. The safety of the team members is paramount. They don’t need to have more deaths or injuries. As they work they have to make determinations as to the structural hazards as they enter the building. Other considerations include hazardous materials that may be present. Stabilizing the structure or pathway into the collapsed structure is very important. Most of the work is done with hand tools and specialized equipment that is hand operated. Listening devices are used at times to listen for anyone who is trapped. Large machinery is normally not used at all during the early phases of the operation.
Other observations for you:
Normally there is a “Golden Hour” for surviving a traumatic injury. For search and rescue operations they use a 72 hour Golden Hour. People cannot survive very long without oxygen, water and food. There have been instances of people surviving longer. In Bangladesh there was a young woman in a clothing factory that collapsed who survived 17 days…but she had a source of water from a broken pipe and food. The will to live is another huge factor in people who do survive entrapment.
After the 72 hours it usually becomes a recovery operation.
While we have these very specialized teams, the majority of rescues are made early in an event by neighbors and even passerby’s, who risk their lives. They can be killed! A nurse died responding to the Oklahoma City Bombing as just someone who showed up to help.
