By Alan M. Petrillo
Fire departments can face confined space rescue situations at any time. There are times, however, when those events are of a larger magnitude than the departments might be prepared for. That's when having firefighters properly trained in confined space work and the right kinds of equipment for the job come into play to rescue victims and secure the scene.
Scene Assessment
Kent Freeman, owner of California Health & Rescue Training, says fire department confined space teams typically should run through the tactical priorities when faced with a confined space event. They have to assess the survival profile of the victim by yelling to get a verbal response or using some type of physical stimulus, he says, as well as use monitoring equipment to assess the atmosphere viability in the space, including getting a reading at the place where the victim is located.
Ventilating the space is important, he maintains, and can be accomplished, depending on the scenario, with a standard smoke ejector like those found on many engine companies or axial and centrifugal fans with ductwork. "They might need to use either a positive or negative pressure system," Freeman observes, "or even a combination of the two."
Tom Fox, director of operations for Leader North America, says that in addition to search cameras and communications equipment used in confined space-the LeaderCAM and LeaderCOM units-Leader also makes the V-Box, an extractor-blower conversion kit that transforms a ventilation fan used in confined space work into an extractor.
Fox says a ventilation fan is positioned inside the V-Box, connects to a duct with quick fasteners, and "canalizes the flow of air for powerful ventilation of confined spaces." He notes that 1.5-horsepower electric fan can move 12,000 to 13,000 cubic feet of air through the flexible ducting. The V-Box can accommodate 16-, 18-, 20-, and 21-inch-diameter fans," he says, adding, "more and quicker air movement is an advantage."
Communication
Communications systems and respiratory protection also are "must-have equipment" in confined space rescues, Freeman points out. "Many fire departments use 800-megahertz (MHz) radios, but that range is terrible for confined space because of its lower wattage," he says. "They use a computer to match people to talk on a frequency, and often the signal can't get out. The radios have to be switched to simplex mode during a confined space event to be able to talk radio to radio."
Freeman says he's found that departments are better off carrying two sets of portable radios-an 800-MHz and a very high frequency (VHF) radio that can transmit farther in confined space situations.
"Never enter into a confined space without first discussing your communications and backup communications systems," Freeman says. "The backup can be rope signals, tapping and rapping signals or codes, or PASS alarm systems. Always work from the high end to the simpler low end. Often the simpler is good because we encumber our entrant with a lot of gear and equipment."
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Technicians use a three-piece davit arm
made by Capital Safety that allows for more
room around the space being accessed
compared with a tripod. The davit arm
breaks down into sections that pack up
easily in rescue or ladder trucks.
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Respiratory Protection
The most expensive piece of confined space equipment, Freeman says, is the respiratory