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Success
When natural disasters like blizzards and hurricanes occur, they can leave destruction and devastation in their wake. In these situations, rescue teams need to be ready with the right equipment to keep themselves safe as they work in the aftermath.
At the same time, rescue workers need to effectively help others in need. This can be a challenging task thanks to large piles of debris and other materials blocking their path, but devices that help handle and lift those obstacles can be vital to rescuers’ success.
To help you learn how effective search and rescue equipment can be for your team , we’ve outlined the scenarios in which search and rescue teams are essential, the necessary equipment for these situations and, finally, additional tools your team can rely on to clear hazardous debris after a storm.
Situations That Require Rescue Teams After Large Storms
Rescue teams may be called in to assist after large storms for multiple reasons, including:
- Search and rescue for trapped and injured people, including people stranded in their vehicles, homes or other structures
- Assist with recovery efforts, which can include clearing debris, repairing infrastructure and more
- Support animal rescue efforts, which can include searching for livestock trapped in damaged structures
In these situations, rescue teams may be essential not only for the expert training and skills they possess, but also for the specialized search and rescue equipment at their disposal. The wreckage after a storm can hide a person from view, as well as immobilize them. It can also contribute to power outages by disturbing electrical lines. For these reasons, having the right emergency rescue equipment on-hand, as well as the experts who can best operate them, can help communities save people and rebuild after serious storms.
The Essential Equipment
When your team receives the call to help after a storm, they may find themselves in need of emergency rescue equipment that helps them enter and navigate damaged, dangerous spaces. The right equipment can also help them rescue people in need.
In these situations, a rescue device system can be essential for both safety and success.
There are several types of systems that can come in handy when teams need extra help. First, descent device systems can aid rescuers who must vertically enter spaces affected by storms. For instance, if a tree falls into a building and damages both the power supply and normal entryways, descent equipment can be just the piece of emergency rescue equipment to help a responder lower into the structure and locate the shut-off for the electric or gas lines. These systems, which typically have a lifting ratio of two-to-one, can also help rescue workers efficiently lift smaller debris when searching for trapped or injured victims.
Rescue kits with an emergency rescue safety hoist could also be necessary after severe weather. Featuring 60 feet of galvanized wire rope and an extendable, telescopic handle, these wire rope hoists are often durable, as well as lightweight and portable. As a result, a single rescue worker can easily attach them almost anywhere on-site.
In addition, wire rope hoists have extensive applications. Just a few of these include:
- Rescuing accident victims: by hooking a harness to the device, a rescue worker could vertically send the wire down to a victim unable to climb out of their location. Once the victim has put on the harness, the rescuer would be able to retract the line, bringing the victim to safety.
- Removing trees and other obstructive debris: when trees are too big to pull off a blocked roadway by hand, rescue teams can loop the retractable wire from the wire rope hoist around the tree trunk, then hook the device’s snatch block pulley to a vehicle the worker can use to drag the fallen tree away, eliminating the obstacle. Teams could also use this emergency rescue safety hoist to grip heavy collapsed walls that may be trapping a victim and pull the wall down, away from the person in need.
- Moving wrecked automobiles and trucks: roads can become slick in severe storms, causing cars and trucks to slide off the road. When this happens, rescue teams can hook the wire rope hoist’s line to a vehicle’s chassis, while attaching the other end to either a rescue vehicle or a stationary anchor point. At this stage, teams would be able to easily pull the car from a ditch or embankment without the risk of falls or injury due to slippery terrain.
Additional Equipment for Debris Removal
While a kit with an emergency rescue safety hoist can help teams remove debris more easily, there are times when the rescue kit alone may not be enough. In these situations, rescue workers should also consider having some of the following tools they can use attached to the hoist, or in conjunction with it, as they clean up after storms:
- Ropes and slings
- Cutting tools
- Rakes and shovels
- Grappling hooks
Tractel Debris Removal Solutions
When looking to supply your teams with high-quality search and rescue equipment in compliance with OSHA and CCOHS standards for debris removal, as well as regulatory bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency or FEMA, you need the support of experts known for providing affordable, safe and innovative solutions.
At Tractel®, our specialists can provide guidance and help you get the right equipment for the right purpose. Please contact us today to get assistance in choosing the right debris removal equipment for your rescue teams.