2. Objectives
• To provide an overview of the Rescue
Operations program
• To introduce the Rescue capability of SVRS
• To provide an overview of the training that is
required to ride or become part of the
department’s technical rescue team
• Explain the available training
3. What is Technical Rescue?
Rescue is the act of
removing a person from
an area of danger,
confinement or
entrapment.
The “technical” part
implies that special tools,
equipment and/or
training will be necessary
to accomplish the rescue.
4. Examples
• Examples could include:
– An automobile crash where the vehicle is damaged
such that the doors or windows are not usable
– Someone stuck in a sewer
– A window washer who’s equipment has failed and is
stuck on the side of a tall building
– A person in a body of water who needs help getting
out
– Countless other scenarios that a typical ambulance
crew would not be trained or equipped to handle
7. Role of the Rescue Company
• Vehicle Extrication
• Technical Rescue
– Rope Rescue
– Collapse/ Trench
• Water Rescue
– Flat Water
– Swiftwater
• Fireground Support
– Special Service Unit
– Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)
8. Classification of the Rescue Vehicles
• Light
• Medium
• Heavy
VAVRS/ Civil Defense/ Ohio Rescue Manual
9. Rescue Operations at the Regional Level
• Within Loudoun County, the following stations
have Heavy Rescue apparatus:
– 615 (Sterling Recue)
– 613 (Loudoun Rescue)
– 617 (Hamilton Rescue)
– 607 (Aldie VFD)
• Nearby in Fairfax County
– 439 (North Point)
16. The Equipment
• Sterling Rescue’s capability and equipment
make it one of the best-equipped technical
rescue teams in the state. Our equipment is
top of the line and we have unique resources.
• More than a million dollars of vehicles and
equipment are currently assigned to the
division.
17. Rescue Ops Roles/ Responsibility
• Rescue Operations Manager
– Program oversight
• Equipment
– Repairs
– Purchasing
• Performance/ Staffing
– Training Programs
• Inhouse
• Or point of contact
18. Rescue Ops Division Leadership
Rescue Ops
Manager
Water Rescue
Program
Logistics
Firefighter
Training
Rescue
Training
19. What do I need to do to be successful?
• Be self motivated
• Physical Condition
• Team Oriented
20. Recruitment to the Program
• Thanks for your interest!
• The organizational goal is that every
operational member who is interested has
the opportunity to participate.
• Eventually, a staffed squad truck is the goal for
night crews, but day crew members are
encouraged to participate too.
• To meet this goal we will need lots of new,
interested members.
21. What do I have to do to get involved?
• The Technical Rescue Operations (TRO)
Division has identified the minimum training
requirements for members based on the most
common calls for which the rescue is
dispatched.
• The training program is a pathway that
develops the member in a progressive manner
with milestones along the way that recognize
the member’s accomplishments.
22. Any released member can participate!
• Members with interest are encouraged to contact
the Rescue Operations Manager or designee.
• Once you have viewed this presentation you may
ride the squad with permission of your crew chief.
– But…
• You won’t count towards minimum staffing, which is 3 or more
rescue technicians, and you wont be able to fully participate
on calls, but you should participate in any training done by the
crew.
– The expectation is that while riding as 4th (or 5th or 6th),
the member will be working to become a Rescue
Technician by completing the required training.
23. The Big Picture
• Technical Rescue can be
dangerous and
complicated.
• Advanced training is
required.
• SVRS will use the following
designations
– Rescue Technician
– Rescue Technician II
– Rescue Specialist
Technical Rescue Member Progression
Released EMT
or higher
Rescue Technician
Rescue Technician II
Rescue Specialist
24. Rescue Technician
• Rescue Technicians are trained to:
– Make an assessment of the emergency scene
– Recognize the need for additional resources when
necessary
– Perform, under supervision, vehicle extrication and
patient stabilization.
• The required training programs are:*
– HazMat Operations
– Introduction to Technical Rescue
– An approved Vehicle Extrication course
– The Rescue Technician Task Book and Skill Sheets
* Members who completed extrication classes before the VDFP curriculum
reorganization, or who have certifications from entities other than VDFP
should contact the program manager, for specifics on the grandfathering
policy.
25. Prerequisites and Training
• Due to the prerequisite structure of the Virginia
Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) you can’t
take Vehicle Rescue I until you have completed
HazMat Operations and Introduction to Technical
Rescue.
• Conveniently, those are the classes needed to be
a Rescue Technician
• The classes must be taken in this order:
Introduction to
Technical Rescue
(Online Module
Plus 2 Days)
Vehicle Rescue
Level 1
(2 Days)
HazMat Operations
26. Alternative Options
• The extrication requirement can also be
accomplished by other programs, although their
availability is sometimes limited when compared
with the VDFP offerings.
– The Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
(VAVRS) offers Vehicle Rescue Awareness and
Operations for which HazMat Awareness is the only
prerequisite.
– The Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS)
offers a course called VehExt
– Other programs may be acceptable with approval
27. Rescue Technician II
• The Rescue Technician II is trained for most of
the rescue incidents likely to occur in the
Sterling area.
• These members should be able to lead a
vehicle extrication and supervise other Rescue
Technicians when necessary.
28. Rescue Technician II
• To progress to Rescue Technician II
– Rescue Technician requirements (green)
– Rope Rescue Level 1, Vehicle Rescue Level 2 (both in red),
and a minimum of 1 additional rescue elective selected
from Swiftwater, Rope 2 and Confined Space 1 (blue).
– The lines shown identify the VDFP prerequisite structure.
Equivalent VAVRS classes are also acceptable.
Introduction to
Technical Rescue
(Online Module
Plus 2 Days)
Vehicle Rescue
Level 1
(2 Days)
Rope Rescue
Level 1
(4 Days)
Either may be taken first
Vehicle Rescue
Level 2
(3 days)
Rope Rescue
Level 2
(3 Days)
Confined Space
Rescue
Level 1
(2 Days)
Swiftwater Rescue
(2 Days)
HazMat Operations
29. Rescue Specialist
• Rescue Specialists are trained for just about any
type of rescue incident that could happen in the
area.
• These members will be crew leaders in the
absence of a formally appointed officer and are
generally senior member of the squad.
• Rescue Specialists will have completed all of the
requirements of Rescue Technician and
Technician II, plus the remaining HTR curriculum
from the VDFP (or equivalent) and have
completed Officer I or Crew Leader.
30. Rescue Specialist
• Rescue Specialists must be released drivers of the
Heavy Rescue, complete Officer I or Crew Leader and
the classes below.
Boat Operator
(Online Module
plus 2 Days)
Rope Rescue
Level 2
(3 Days)
Confined Space
Rescue
Level 1
(2 Days)
Confined Space
Rescue
Level 2
(2 Days)
Trench Rescue
Level 1
(2 Days)
Trench Rescue*
Level 2
(3 Days)
*Trench 1, Vehicle 2 and Confined
Space 2 all prerequisites for Trench 2
• In addition Firefighter 1/2 and a FEMA Structural
Collapse Technician class are highly recommended, but
not required at this time.
31. Training Progression Review
• To be a safe productive
member of the team,
members are required to
obtain additional training.
• All members are encouraged
to get involved.
• The training is progressive
and gets more technical at
higher levels.
32. Firefighter Training
• Firefighter training is encouraged, but not a
requirement for participation.
• When the squad is staffed with firefighters it
provides additional capability.
• Members with firefighter certification may
receive different designations
33. Training Progression
With Designations Including Firefighter
Rescue Technician
(RT)
Rescue Technician II
(RT2)
Rescue Specialist
(RS)
Firefighter 1/2
Firefighter 1/2
Firefighter 1/2
Fire-Rescue
Technician
(FT)
Fire-Rescue
Technician II
(FT2)
Master Technician
(MT)
Fire School is optional, but it is strongly encouraged because when R615 is staffed
with 3 or more firefighters it can respond to fire calls. Members who complete
firefighter 1 and 2 will have priority over other members on these types of calls.
34. Loudoun County Requirements for Firefighters
Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Guideline 7.1.1 lists
the requirements to be considered a firefighter in
Loudoun County. The requirements that SVRS
Operational Members are not already required to
have are:
• VDFP or VDEM Hazardous Materials Operations
• NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II
• VDFP Mayday Firefighter Down Operations
• VDFP Liquid Propane Gas Emergencies course*
• NIMS 100, 200, and 700
*This course is currently under revision by the state and
isn’t being offered. The requirement can be waived until
the state starts offering the course again.
35. How to get into FF Class
• If you’re interested in Fire School, start planning
about 4 - 6 months ahead of time. There are 2
per year, one typically starts in August or
September and the other in January or February.
• Use this time to make sure you are in good
physical shape and to complete the prerequisites,
which are:
– HazMat Operations
– ICS 100, 200, 700
– NFPA 1582 Physical within the last year
36. Water Rescue Training
• Water rescue is a specialty
• Members can choose to
participate as part of the
Water Rescue Team
independently of the other
parts of Rescue Ops
37. Water Rescue Training Flow
• The entry-level course for members
wanting to join the water rescue team is
Swiftwater Rescue Technician.
– Loudoun County requires HazMat
Operations as a prerequisite to the class
when it is taught at the LCFR training
center, but other training entities do not
necessarily require it.
• Members who complete Swiftwater
Technician are eligible to take the Boat
Operator class.
• Ice Rescue is offered in the winter (usually
January or February) through LCFR.
• Other states and organizations have
additional water rescue-related classes
which may be of interest to members.
38. What about driving?
• Any member who has achieved status as a
Rescue Technician may begin working towards
release as a driver of the heavy rescue.
• EVOC III is required.
• Meet with the rescue operations manager to
review expectations and requirements early.
39. Where do I find these classes?
• Unlike your basic EMT class, many of the
Technical Rescue classes are so specialized that
they’re not offered frequently at the LCFR
training center.
• Be aggressive about training opportunities.
• You will likely have to travel out of the area to
complete some of the classes required, especially
those included at the Rescue Specialist level.
With proper authorization, the squad will support
your efforts to seek advanced training.
40. Where do I find these classes?
• Plan ahead. Because of the nature of the
prerequisites you’ll have to complete the classes
in order.
• Check the “Training Corner” on the LCFR website
for classes in Loudoun.
• The VDFP website is also an excellent resource, as
is the VAVRS website. Fire and Rescue
department websites from neighboring
jurisdictions are also a consideration.
41. Types of Other Training Opportunities
• FEMA USAR Class
• Heavy Vehicle Class
• Advanced Rope Rescue and Rigging Classes
• Bus Extrication Program
• Aircraft Fire/ Rescue Programs
• Search & Rescue
42. Knowledge Check
• Next there are some review questions about
the material we have just covered. To
successfully complete this program you need
to get at least 80%
49. Mechanical Systems
• 32 KW Generator
– More than enough to power a large single family
home
• Light Tower
• Winch
– Front (electric) 10,000 lbs
– Rear (hydraulic) 15,000 lbs
• TNT Hydraulic High Pressure Rescue Tool
System
50. Front of Cab
• Radios
– Mobile
– (2) Portable Radios
• Driver and Officer
• SCBA
• Thermal Imager
• Maps
51. Crew Area
• (4) SCBA
– Every seated position
• EMS Cabinet
– AED
– Aide Bag
– Suction
• (2) Portable Radios
• Overhead Storage Areas
• Scott SCBA Pak Tracker
52. Walk-in Area
• 75 ton High Pressure Air Bags
• Refrigerator
• Interior Roll up Area
– Battery Chargers and miscellaneous equipment
• Access to Hydraulic Pumps
• Technical/ Water Rescue PPE Bags
56. Driver’s Side Compartment #3
• Utility Air Reel 250’
• High Pressure Airbags
– 3 ton to 45 ton
• Air tools
– Air Chisel
– Pak Tool
– Impact Wrench
57. Driver’s Side Compartment #4
• Top tray
– (2) Portable Lights
– Extension cords
• Bottom Tray Tool Boxes
– Impact Sockets
– Nail Box
– HazMat Plugs
– Elevator Kit
– Lockout / Tag-out Kit
58. Driver’s Side Compartment #5
• Torches
– Petrogen
– Exotermic Torch
• Electric Demolition Tools
• Electric Cord Reel
• Slings/ Straps
• Hand Tool Box
• Traffic Cones
• Absorbent
59. Rear/ Steps
• Ladders and pike poles
• Winch chains, straps
and blocks
• Winch controller
• Hydraulic Winch
60. Coffin/ Top Compartment
Driver’s Side
• Front Compartment
– Medium Pressure
airbags
– Body bags
– Little Giant Ladder
• Rear Compartment
– Cleanup and Hazmat
Supplies
61. Coffin/ Top Compartment
Officer’s Side
• Front Compartment
– Rope rescue equipment
– Stokes Baskets
– Line Gun
• Rear Compartment
– Paratech Strut
accessories
– Spare SCBA bottles
62. Officer’s Side Compartment #5
• Top Tray
– Tarps
• Middle Tray
– Electric “Smoke Ejector”
– Submergible water
pump and hose
• Bottom Tray
– Gas powered fan (PPV)
– Portable Electric
Generator
63. Officer’s Side Compartment #4
• Saws and saw
accessories
– Top tray
• Spare Blades/tools
– Bottom Tray
• 2 rotary (K12 -type) saws
• 2 gas powered chainsaws
• 1 electric chainsaw
• Premixed fuel, oil and
servicing tools
64. Officer’s Side Compartment #3
• Top Tray
– Portable lights
– Extension Cords
• Bottom Tray
– RIT pack
– Large area search kit
– Rebar cutter
65. Officer’s Side Compartment #2
• Hydraulic Reel
• Electric Reel
• Paratech struts and
accessories
• Pedal cutter
• Battery-powered
Sawzall and Drill
• Cribbing
66. Officer’s Side Compartment #1
• Cribbing
• TNT cutters and combi-tool
• Hooks and poles
• Spikes for picket system
• Shovels, axes, halligan
bar, sledge hammer
• Rabbit tool
• Large pipe wrenches
• Bolt cutters
• Fire Extinguishers
67. Front Bumper
• Electric Winch
• Connection for
Hydraulic tool
69. Purpose
• Support our Technical Rescue Ability with
additional equipment
• Back Up for the Heavy Rescue
– Maintenance
– Out of Service
• Primary Tow Vehicle for TRT trailer
• NOVA TF-8 Deployment
• Snow Removal Capability
81. Street Side Compartment #1
• EMS Equipment
• Personal Protective gear
bags (harnesses,
helmets, gloves)
• SCBAs (3)
• Fire Extinguisher
• Controller for Light
Tower
82. Snow Plow
• 10’ Highway Myers Plow
• EZ Pro Mounting
Assembly
– Connection points on the
vehicle
• Stored
– Sugarland facility
• Operations
– only during Heavy
snowstorms
92. Utility 615
• 2003 Ford Excursion
– Four Wheel Drive
• Winch
• Function
– Primary Tow Vehicle
Boat 15
– Off Road Response/
WO&D Bike Path
– Adverse Weather
93. SERV 625
• 2012 Ford F350 Pickup
– Crew Cab
– Four Wheel-Drive
• Winch
• Rear Enclosed Cap
94. Rescue Chase Program
• The purpose is to supplement the staffing and
the capabilities of available personnel
• This program is a Privilege NOT a Right
– Can be removed or suspended for any reason at
any time
• Permission obtained by the Shift Crew Leader
• Vehicle must remain within the Primary
Response Area
• Prudent Response Judgment
95. Gator
• Shared Asset with
Special Events Team
• Rescue Operations
– Off Road Rescues
– Equipment Hauling
• Special Events Trailer is
equipped with
– Ropes/ Hardware
– Helmets/ Harnesses
– Stokes Basket
Editor's Notes
The Rescue Operations program can be classified into three subcategories. There is a lot of overlap. When we talk about heavy rescue as a discipline, and not as a vehicle classification, we’re typically referring to vehicle extrication, including light and heavy vehicles. Water rescue covers any type of rescue in or around water or a flooded area, and technical rescue covers rescues that require rope and rigging, are in confined spaces or trenches or collapsed buildings.
All three of the subspecialties have training associated with them. Using the Virginia Department of Fire Programs courses as examples, the entry level courses for all three disciplines are HazMat Operations and Introduction to Technical Rescue (modules 1 and 2). After those two courses are complete, Vehicle Rescue 1, Rope Rescue 1 or Swiftwater Rescue are all possibilities. Since vehicle extrication is the most common type of rescue performed, most members primarily work on the heavy rescue courses first (Vehicle 1 and 2). But, other members prefer to work on the water rescue courses (Swiftwater Rescue, Boat Operator, Ice Rescue). The Technical Rescue courses can be started after the entry-level courses too, but this is less common. The arrows on this slide show the prerequisite structure of the VDFP courses, but there are other entities that offer similar training, like the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads. They may have different prerequisites and the course names can be slightly different, but SVRS considers them equivalent.
Like EMS, we generally have no idea when the next call will be, but we can anticipate calls when inclement weather strikes, whether it be a severe snowstorm, flooding, a hurricane, or even an elevated homeland security threat level. The Rescue Operations program is equipped to respond to all of these types of events.
