This document discusses the concept of survivability profiling, which is examining a fire situation to determine if civilians can survive the fire conditions and whether it is safe for firefighters to attempt rescues. It describes how quickly fires can become deadly due to high temperatures and smoke. The human body can only withstand temperatures up to 212°F. Scene size-up, reading smoke conditions, and a 360 walkaround are important for survivability profiling. Polls show the public does not expect firefighters to risk their lives for unsurvivable rescues. Survivability profiling aims to balance rescue efforts with firefighter safety.

1. Lieutenant Eric Cash
Waynesboro Fire Department
B.S.
Nremt-paramedic
ccemt-paramedic
Vfoa
Survivability Profiling

2. What is
Survivability
Profiling?
Are the victims
savable?
The importance
of scene size-up
Saving
firefighters lives
Steven Marsar
Captain, FDNY
Developed from research for
Executive Fire Officer project
Article first debuted in Fire
Engineering December 2009

3. Survivability Profiling
The art of examining a situation and making an
intelligent and informed decision based on known
events, or circumstances, to determine if civilians
can survive existing fire and smoke conditions and to
determine whether to commit firefighters to life-
saving and interior operations
Steven Marsar

4. Survivability Profiling Asks?
What is visible during the scene size-up?
Are people suspected or known to be trapped?
Is there a reasonable assumption that they may still
be alive?
Should we slow down and attack the fire first and
complete the searches when it is relatively safe for
our operating forces to do so?

5. The Human Body
What temperature does skin burn?
What is the maximum temperature the body can
take?
How does hypoxia effect the body?

6. The Human Body
What temperature does skin burn? 130 0
F
What is the maximum temperature the body can
take? 212 0
F
How does Hypoxia effect the body?

7. Human Survival
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
states that the upper limit of human temperature
tenability is 212°F
Flashover normally Occurs at 1,100-1,500 0
F

8. Power of Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailp

10. Firefighter Line Of Duty Deaths
Year Number of LODD
2000 105
2001 105
2002 101
2003 113
2004 119
2005 115
2006 107
2007 118
2008 118
2009 90
2010 85
2011 46* As of June 25, 2011

11. Size-up Report Example
When does scene size-up
start?
First arriving unit report
should include?
 Number of stories
 Building construction type
 Victim locations
 Fire conditions
 Smoke conditions
 Offensive / Defensive attack
 Commanding officer
Lt Cox on location of 2
story wood frame
residential structure, no
victims visible, fire
showing from sides C
and D division 2. Heavy
black smoke from the
eaves. Operating
defensive attack, Lt Cox
has command.
Scene Size-up

12. Scene Size-up
Importance of a 360 walk around
Developing survivability profiling instincts

13. 360 Walk Around

14. Survivability Profiling

15. Survivability Profiling

16. Survivability Profiling

17. Survivability Profiling

18. Survivability Profiling

19. Survivability Profiling

20. Survivability Profiling

21. Survivability Profiling

22. Survivability Profiling

23. Survivability Profiling

24. Survivability Profiling

25. Survivability Profiling

26. Survivability Profiling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ7B542OSF8&fea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwLENqdVdeg&fea

27. Reading Smoke – Survivability Profiling

28. Reading Smoke – Survivability Profiling

29. Reading Smoke – Survivability Profiling

30. GO OR NO GO?

31. GO OR NO GO?

32. GO OR NO GO?

33. GO OR NO GO?

34. GO OR NO GO?

35. GO OR NO GO?

36. Citizen Poll
VFOA research project
Over 300 Faculty, student and parents were asked
two questions:
If your house was on fire would you expect me to die
trying to put the fire out? And/or rescue anyone
inside?
If I told you that no one was alive inside your home
due to fire conditions, would you expect me to die
trying to put the fire out? And/or recover anyone
inside?

37. Citizen Poll Answers
If your house was on fire would you expect me to die
trying to put the fire out? And/or rescue anyone
Inside?
39% YES
56% NO
5% Did not answer

38. Citizen Poll Answers
If I told you that no one was alive inside your home
due to fire conditions, would you expect me to die
trying to put the fire out? And/or recover anyone
inside?
6% YES
91% NO
3% Did not answer
* Not a single parent or faculty member stated YES

39. 16 Life Safety initiatives
1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change
within the fire service relating to safety;
incorporating leadership, management,
supervision, accountability and personal
responsibility.
3. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk
management with incident management at all
levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning
responsibilities.

40. New Detroit Fire Policy
http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/28237570/index.