Minimum Extrication Staffing

[391HD]

I am interested in knowing what the minimum number of personnel to staff an extrication team for MVA's is.

Also, what amount of training is required for each team member?

If you're a volunteer organization, do you staff a duty crew or group for this? Not necessarily at the station, but around town and committed to respond to the station in a timely fashion, so the apparatus is rolling in a few minutes after the receipt of an alarm.

Thanks.

[Engine69]

I would work a scene with no less than 3 personnel committed to extrication. One to operate the tools, one for back-up and one to oversee the entire scene from a Command/Safety prosepctive.

Our department does not have a "minimum" training requirement for rescue. In our department, we have several who possess skills in different areas. We assign task on scene based upon the resources (equipment and manpower) that we have on hand.


Our department does not have a set "response crew" on duty. We have two squad crews that alternate duty every other week. On crash calls and holidays both crews respond to ensure enough coverage.

[86Rescuetech]

We ar an all volunteer company who provide fire and rescue service. We do not have a duty crew but are lucky enough to have enough manpower to staff our Heavy rescue and Pumper. This is an open ended question with alot of answers. It depends on the call. It could take as little as four and as many as needed. At least one OIC, one Safety Officer, one F/F on an ABC Extinguisher and one Operations Officer. Then whatever manpower it takes to get the job done. We like to have a back up guy with every power tool that is in service. On training, all of our F/F's need to have PA State VRT to actively participate in Extrication, and be at least 18 years old.

[ffguy083]

I think the number for an extrication TEAM should be at least 8. IC, Safety, 2 on hydraulic tools, 2 for stabilazation (and then assigned hand tools), 1 on an air chisel (so when the hydraulic tool starts tearing you don't waste time ), and one at the tool staging point to troubleshoot problems. That doesn't even address Fire Suppression and EMS.

As far as trng, a TEAM should train at least once a month with some sort of initial trng of about 8 hrs mostly hands on.

Seems like the previous posts were only addressing how many to perform a 30 minute extrication. With this general outline we are performing extrications that used to take 30 minutes or more in less than 10.

[ffguy083]

oops.... not IC, but Rescue Sector Officer... Also need an IC....

[Islander]

We a volunteer department and we usually send 5 - that's the number of seats in our rescue pumper. If we are responding to an MVA outside town limits and need more manpower we call the nearest mutual aid.

We have tags: 1 for Officer, 3 for FFs with extrication training and 1 for trainee. As we respond to the hall we grab the appropriate tag for our level of training. The responding crew must have an officer and cannot have any more then one trainee.

Our extrication training program is approved by the provincial Office of the Fire Commissioner.

Don

[pwc606]

The minimum staffing for us is three.

[smokeyben1]

G'day from down-under, my department runs minimum of 2 on a dedicated heavy rescue which is backed up by rescue pump crew of 4 and a fire protection pump with 4 on board. At my station which is a country station we run as fire rescue pump with 4 on board and a fire protection pump with 4 and can call extra if needed. Stay Safe Guy.

[Looper]

We don't have a set minimum number, although we average 14 personnel on extrications. A minimum of 1 engine and 2 rescue trucks are dispatched to reported entrapments. EMS is handled by another agency -- they will usually send 2 ALS ambulances and a supervisor (total of 5-8 people). If we need more resources, they're not far away.

Our department uses a "rescue squad" approach. The resuce squad consists of 20 members, from all three stations, who are the most experienced (and active). We train several times throughout the year and try to have at least one 3-day extrication class annually. Generally, the Rescue Squad will do the actual hands on work, while other members handle the support functions (fire supression, hazard control, landing zone, EMS, ect.)

[NFfireman23]

We roll every thing we have on every call. Realistically we use about 4 or 5 on a MVA. 1 pump operator, 1 hose man, 2 FF's on the jaws, and 1 white shirt (officer) making sure we smile for the TV cameras

[lutan]

Our service/dept has SOP's for a minimum of 3 members.

Ideally, I believe 5-6 is a good number, although as stated previously, it depends on the incident. We recently did an extremely "technical" rescue had around 11 people working flat out trying to extricate, set up tools, fix faults as they occurred, etc....

I don't think there is definite answer to the question.

[resqb]

We currently run a 3-person rescue in our career dept. Help from a 2 or 3 man engine is usually a few minutes away. well trained people can do alot of damage to a vehicle quickly. Now if we could get those medics to stop telling the hospitals it's gonna be a 45 minute extrication when it takes us ten to 20 to completely disassemble a car...