Technical Rescue
After Members pass the OTC1 the are Generalists and then they can do the OTC2 and specialise and become Rescuers.
The C Squad Rescue Section is where members become RESCUE TECHs and then if they pursue it, SAR TECHS (STX 1 to 2). They are awarded these positions after achieving required knowledge, Skills, medical qualifications, passing technical rescue assessments and fitness tests. If they join with these skills, like Fire Fighters with a Technical Rescue background, then the route is much faster to Rescue Tech, and can sometimes be done concurrently as many have Technical Rescue skills. Our SAR TECH (STX) program is slightly unique so there is a learning curve on that one but members are excited to do it! AFter achieving the Rescue Tech and with additional experience, deployments, training and skills they can go for SAR Tech (STX or ST1, ST2 or ST3 in sequence.) Then other Tech Rescue disciplines and specialist SAR knowledge and skills are covered. |
ERT SAR Rescue Tech Badge Award worn on left arm
The minimum qualification to achieve this is passing the OTC2 and having Rope Rescue and other Tech Rescue with a first responder medical training certification. STX (SAR TECH) badge worn on Right arm when awarded
(Both Rescue Techs and SAR Techs are awarded levels 1 to 3.) |
“Technical Rescue" is defined by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) as the application of special knowledge, skills, and equipment to safely resolve unique and/or complex rescue situations.”
They list a good 20 or so specialist subject for structured presentation and standardization. This is adopted by most professional Fire Departments in North America and others who have adopted it. In the standards NFPA 1006 and NFPA 1670 they list three levels in each subject, which are 1) Awareness Level, 2) Operations Level and 3) Technician Level.
Many other countries like the United Kingdom have similar standards run out of very credible sources such as the Fire Service College (Moreton on the Marsh) and Outreach Rescue, in Wales.
In "Search and Rescue" you need to be able to perform the "rescue" component when called up. In ERTSAR Rope use is a skill that we use in most all disciplines and expect early on. Even if you are not a "Rope Rescue Technician" as many would be, the basic understanding of types of ropes and knots and how to use these systems are a fundamental basic skill.
ERTSAR recognises the NFPA standard and many others, like "Moreton" and "Outreach" as providing the standards needed to work in our Technical Rescue Section.
SUBJECTS
The NFPA 1006 2021 Edition lists
They list a good 20 or so specialist subject for structured presentation and standardization. This is adopted by most professional Fire Departments in North America and others who have adopted it. In the standards NFPA 1006 and NFPA 1670 they list three levels in each subject, which are 1) Awareness Level, 2) Operations Level and 3) Technician Level.
Many other countries like the United Kingdom have similar standards run out of very credible sources such as the Fire Service College (Moreton on the Marsh) and Outreach Rescue, in Wales.
In "Search and Rescue" you need to be able to perform the "rescue" component when called up. In ERTSAR Rope use is a skill that we use in most all disciplines and expect early on. Even if you are not a "Rope Rescue Technician" as many would be, the basic understanding of types of ropes and knots and how to use these systems are a fundamental basic skill.
ERTSAR recognises the NFPA standard and many others, like "Moreton" and "Outreach" as providing the standards needed to work in our Technical Rescue Section.
SUBJECTS
The NFPA 1006 2021 Edition lists
Chapter 4 Tower Rescue
Chapter 5 Rope Rescue * Chapter 6 Structural Collapse Rescue * Chapter 7 Confined Space Rescue Chapter 8 Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue Chapter 9 Heavy Vehicle Rescue Chapter 10 Animal Technical Rescue Chapter 11 Wilderness Search and Rescue * Chapter 12 Trench Rescue Chapter 13 Machinery Rescue Chapter 14 Cave Rescue Chapter 15 Mine and Tunnel Rescue Chapter 16 Helicopter Rescue Chapter 17 Surface Water Rescue * Chapter 18 Swiftwater Rescue * Chapter 19 Dive Rescue Chapter 20 Ice Rescue Chapter 21 Surf Rescue Chapter 22 Watercraft Rescue * Chapter 23 Floodwater Rescue * Many members have the disciplines above due to their various rescue backgrounds but the ones we have trained in are listed in BOLD. An asterisk * shows the ones we commonly do. |
Rescue Technicians in ERTSAR are expected to be able to combine disciplines, as you see here. The Rescue Tech on Rope is also a USAR Tech breaching an external wall.
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VIDEO CLIP
A short video of one of our regular Rope Rescue training sessions taught by our training partner at Advanced Rescue
A short video of one of our regular Rope Rescue training sessions taught by our training partner at Advanced Rescue