HERMOSILLO, SONORA

MANUAL OF
SEARCH AND RESCUE
 CAPITULO 1

SEARCH AND RESCUE BRIGADE

The Brigades are groups of people organized and trained for emergencies, who will be
responsible for combating them preventively or in the event of high risk, emergency, accident or
disaster, within a company, industry or establishment and whose function is aimed at
safeguarding to people, their property and their environment.

Search and rescue, search and rescue, is an operation carried out by emergency services, civil or
military, to find someone believed to be lost, ill, or injured in inaccessible areas

The best way to prepare is to have an emergency (or contingency) plan for all buildings and/or
places that are considered high risk (high-rise buildings, shopping centers, warehouses, etc.).
This means keeping up to date plans of these buildings (or sketches), number of people who
could be there, places or elements that may present a danger, etc.

Pre-planning is key to establishing the search and rescue operation as it will establish a guide for
the incident commander.

The physical condition and training of emergency personnel is another important point.

The action of searching and rescuing a person is highly stressful and physically demanding. Let
us remember that this maneuver is carried out in extremely adverse conditions, in the worst case
with almost zero visibility due to smoke, heat from the fire and in places that are absolutely
unknown, therefore, the group designated for this task should be in the best physical condition
and with good training. This training should include knowledge and practice of different search
patterns and rescue methods that can be used.
 CAPITULO 2

SECURITY IN SEARCH AND RESCUE

Emergency personnel must be fine

equipped.

NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT WITHOUT EQUIPMENT

AUTONOMOUS BREATHING CANNOT BE CARRIED
CARRYING OUT THE SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR A
VICTIM.

You must have the complete firefighting uniform:

Reefer,

V Gardener-trousers

V Helmet with ear protector.

V Nun

V Gloves

• Fire fighting boots

V Self-contained breathing apparatus

V Motion sensor (ALLY)

V In addition, it is essential to use or carry an ax and/or

halligan, flashlight, rope (15 meters minimum), radio
transmitter and, if present, a heat-sensitive camera (thermal
camera).
 CHAPTER 3

BEFORE STARTING THE SEARCH AND RESCUE

The head of the brigade in charge must evaluate the affected place and the possible places where
search and rescue operations will be carried out. The safety of search and rescue group
personnel needs to be considered as the first priority. A quick and desperate attempt can have
serious consequences for rescuers, including their death.

In the case of search and rescue brigades, the best trained members should be considered to
make up the group (over the others) and if applicable, NOT establish the group until the trained
personnel arrive.

A quick risk analysis is sometimes necessary to perform .

“Risk a lot to save a lot, risk a little to save a little, and risk nothing to save the
unsalvageable”… .
There have been countless cases in the US in which rescuers have perished in fires trying to rescue victims
in extreme situations. Mexico is not the exception.
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CAPITULO 4

STRATEGY, PATTERNS AND SEARCH METHODS AND

RESCUE

Search and Rescue operations are divided into two phases or stages

The first is called “primary search” or “initial search ”

It is carried out by the group designated for this task in the first set of units that respond to the emergency.
This initial search must be carried out quickly in order to cover the maximum possible surface. This is
because we must remember that the emergency has not yet been controlled, so the smoke, hot gases and the
fire itself are a present danger.

If an attack group has already been deployed (firefighters deploying an attack water line inside the affected
structure) they can take on the initial search task as they work their way to the focus of the fire. In the event
that the search for victims must be aborted for any reason (normally due to the consumption of air from the
self-contained breathing apparatus), the brigade leader must be informed of the places already
investigated/registered and giving the exact location where the victims were found. I leave the operation. In
this way, a second group will be able to restart the search and rescue of people from that point.

“secondary search”
It is focused on a deeper search for victims.

It begins after the primary search is completed and immediately after the emergency has been controlled
and the building has been ventilated (or is being properly ventilated).

The goal is to ensure that no place has been overlooked (floor, room, etc.) and that no victims have been left
inside the building. Normally this stage is carried out by a group other than the one that carried out the
primary search. The reason is because the first group might retrace the search pattern they have already
done, that is, searching in the same places again and overlooking others.
 MEMBERS OF
THE
SEARCH
GROUP
The number of
members of the group

A group of similar
number must be
established once the
search and rescue
search should not exceed 4, with 3 being the optimal number and 2 the group enters the
minimum. building

This team's function is to rescue or go to the aid of the B & R group in case they find themselves
in trouble (trapped, disoriented, support to care for a large number of victims, etc.). If the Rapid
Intervention Group is activated, the Incident Commander must establish another Rapid
Intervention Team in order to have a rescue group ready.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE DETERMINATION OF THE

SEARCH PATTERN TO CHOOSE
Three factors can determine the search pattern:
First

The information that the occupants provide. People leaving the building (or house) can know if
there are still other people inside who have not left and their approximate location (floor and office
number, for example).
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Second

When entering the door, start to the right or left. The chosen direction can determine the surface
covered depending on the distribution of the different areas on a floor (number of rooms (offices),
their relative size and their shape).

Third
The third factor is The step followed
due to the water attack (lines of
groups). If these groups
someone reports problems, the
being in a rescue search and follow
group, they will be the line to them.
able to get water
until they reach always easy to
find attack in the
This is not the case
where multiple
lines are inside.

EXAMPLE OF SEARCH
USING THE HAND
RIGHT
 WHEN YOU START THE
SEARCH
When starting the search, the group must choose a direction,
left or right, when entering.

You will also need to use a reference point to stay oriented. A

very useful and always present reference point are the walls
of the building. At least one member of the team must stay in
contact with the wall. To return to the initial place of entry, you
only have to retrace your steps, that is, if you chose to go to
the right to return to the entrance, you only have to turn 180
degrees and now return with your left hand touching the wall.
Group members must maintain visual, auditory or tactile
contact (hand on foot in the case of searching in a row, by
means of a rope, etc.). Let us remember that during this
maneuver there are many noises coming from the fire,
extinguishing work, machines outside (bomb cars), the noise
of the self-contained breathing apparatus and other factors, therefore it is essential to maintain
the integrity of the search and rescue team. .

In cases of poor visibility conditions, caution should be taken with shorts, ladder boxes and other hazards
such as weakening floors and ceilings. Using tools such as the ax and/or halligan that you must have, you
can detect by the sound of the floor if a hole or cavity is found or if the floor has been damaged.
weakened. By moving on your hands and knees you can extend one leg and use your foot to determine if
there are cavities or obstacles.

Even though the rooms and floors should be searched as much as possible, it is worth mentioning that
searching in places such as bathrooms, closets, under beds, behind doors, kitchen cabernets, etc. It is
important. This is because many people, upon finding their escape route cut off by fire and smoke, will look
for other ways to get out. Furthermore, children tend to hide in the aforementioned places.

Personnel searching for victims must periodically stop, stop and hold their breath for a few seconds and
listen for noises and sounds that could come from someone (cries for help, rhythmic knocks, cries, moans
and, in the case of trapped firefighters, sounds of the motion sensor alarm (ALLY).

CAPITULO 5

SEARCH METHODS

Position in line or in line :

In this method two or three members stand one behind the other with the first as the group leader or guide.
The guide will maintain orientation with one hand on the wall and the others may rely on the foot or
autonomous equipment of the member in front of them. With the arm and foot free, fan movements can be
made towards the opposite side of the wall to increase the search area, even so the registered surface is
minimal.
 IS
IMP
OR
T.A.
NTE
SIE
M.P.
RE
MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH YOUR COMPANION

PARALLEL TRAINING
Parallel position : With the leading member of the group in contact with the wall (or reference point), the
other member (or others) using a rope can position themselves parallel to the first. The rope can have a ring
at both ends and insert a hand through it (in the guide's free hand) and thus remain connected. It can also be
attached to autonomous equipment. In this way it is possible to reach further places in the case of large
rooms. An adaptation to this method is to use the water line (hose) as a reference and advance over it
(always with the other member(s) in parallel). Tools (axes or hooligans) can also be used to extend the
scope of the search.

CHAPTER 6
MOBILIZATION OF INJURED PEOPLE
Method by taking the victim under the arms.
This method is useful when the victim is of relatively small to normal size (weight less than 65 70 kg.).
The victim is held under his arms while the rescuer crosses his hands over his chest.
Rescue method using a sheet or blanket .

This method must be carried out by two rescuers. Using a

sheet, the victim is placed in the center. Each rescuer is
placed at one end of the sheet. You can tie a knot in each
corner of the sheet for better support. This method is very
useful for overweight victims.

DRAG TECHNIQUES
FIREFIGHTER DRAW
SHRAFFLE DRAG