Trench and Confined Space Rescue

[mcfd 39]

We are a small community in southeast Illinois. I work not only on our fire department but our water department as well. I am interested in training our fire department in trench collpase and confined space rescue operations. Where do I start? Illinois Dept of Labor? Fire Service Institute? Any Suggestions?

[ADSNWFLD]

Start with IFSI, Get someone into TRA, Technical rescue awareness and teach that to everyone. Then you can start working on all of the other classes. Illinois is revamping all of the technical rescue classes to better match NFPA 1670. So it is a good time to start. While you are picking up the state classes the confined space/trench awareness class is stil out there. Find someone who has it and present that to your department, it is a good reference and will teach responders how not to get in trouble.

E-mail if you have trouble finding some of this.

Good Luck

[nonameFF]

Try a FEMA USAR team in your area
http://www.fema.gov/usr/usrtask.htm

or
http://www.fema.gov/usr/index.htm

[MetalMedic]

If you have the means to get out to Northeast Ohio, the Wayne County Regional Training Facility has a confined space rescue training area. You can contact them at 330-698-FIRE to see about when classes will be offered. Currently, the next class will be at the annual Regional Fire School on September 29-30th. The Fire School has a website at http://welcome.to/FireSchool .