Annexes
Annex A: Road Map for USAR National Capacit
y
Community Based
munity Risks /
Individual
Rescue Needs
Responder
Undertake
(volunteer)
specific skills
Asses
Conduct own training
s
need
Com
s
Collective Risk Assessment and identify needs
Organise resources and response requirements
Determine type of team
Develop specific skills and competencies
Develop training requirements using INSARAG First
Responder Training Package
Technical Rescue Team
J1
LOCAL
Awareness Level: This level represents the minimum capacity of organisations that provide response to technical
search and rescue incidents. The support zone (or cold zone) is the area of a site that is free from incident hazards
and may be safely used as a planning and staging area. All members of a technical rescue/USAR team must be
trained to this level to operate safely in a cold zone.
Operations Level: This level represents the capacity of organisations to respond to technical search and rescue
incidents and to identify hazards, use rescue equipment, and apply limited techniques specified in this standard to
support and participate in technical search and rescue incidents. The transition zone (or warm zone) is the area
between the exclusion and support zones. This area is where responders enter and exit the exclusion zone. All
members of a technical rescue/USAR team must be trained to this level to operate in a cold and/or warm zone.
Appropriate protective clothing is required in this zone.
Organised First Responders
2.
Rope Rescue
Rope techniques are a basic underlying skill for most other types of rescue. Most rescuers will be familiar with basic rope
techniques and knot tying as part of their induction curriculum.
An awareness of rope skills can be taught to rescuers in only a day. It could include topics such as rope characteristics,
strengths, basic knots, hardware, hazards to be aware of when using rope, and dangerous techniques to avoid. An operations
level could cover rope rescue techniques. Rescuers could be taught basic techniques of rappelling, rigging, belaying, safety,
anchoring, and simple mechanical advantage systems. Additional operational techniques could include patient packaging, low
angle evacuations, and simple pick-off manoeuvres. This could be taught in two days.
A detailed technician level programme could be conducted in approximately one week, covering basic and advanced rigging
techniques, anchor systems, belays, simple and complex mechanical advantage systems, and advanced patient extrication
techniques and stokes basket operations. Low and high angle rescue techniques, including telpher and tyrolean systems, could
also be included.
The specialist level course could include advanced techniques for helicopter operations, ladder operations and bridging
techniques, and other topics. It should require practical and teaching experience. Urban rope techniques could be incorporated
for areas where high angle rescues may be adapted to an urban environment.
Sample course topics:
Course objective
History of rope rescue
Rope rescue applications
Rescue philosophy
Safety
Types of rope
Types of equipment
Types of hardware and technical gear
Communications
Knots, hitches, and anchors
Lashing and picketing techniques
Simple and complex mechanical advantage systems
Belay techniques
Litter rigging and evacuation techniques
Traverse techniques
Incident command
Self-rescue techniques
EMS and patient care considerations
Helicopter operations
Personal equipment:
Helmet
Sturdy boots
Harness
Clothing (appropriate for terrain and weather conditions)
Hazard recognition
Resources
Atmospheric monitoring
Incident command
Retrieval systems
Rope and hardware and technical equipment
Helmet