Rescue managementAnyone can learn to lead a rescue operation by using a simple model.
The model can also be used as a tool to build an effective evacuation plan for a building or an area. The following items are not necessarily a chronological sequence but a guideline for a rescue operation, where each items can be interchanged or omitted depending on the accidents extent. Make an overview Any rescue operation big or small always begins with the leader creates an overview. First of all, the leader must ensure that he avoid to be injured himself. In addition, the leader make an overview of what has happened, how many people are injured, how big is the damages on the buildings or the area and other possible hazards. These details should later also be used when calling 9-1-1 (US) or 1-1-2 (Europe). Stop the accident / decrease the accidents development The leader must try to ensure that the accident do not develop. A major fire can probably not be extinguished, but it is possible to ensure a slower diffusion by closing windows and doors to reduce the oxygen flow. Acting / paralyzed Major accidents has to be solved by a "team" and the leader must therefore determine which of the bystanders, he can use in the rescue operation. Based on each bystanders reaction to the accident, we can put the bystanders into the following four categories: a) Those who exhibit an appropriate behavior These are those who can lead the entire or a part of the rescue operation. b) Those who respond by being shortly paralyzed Typically people, who have never learned first aid or where it is a long time ago since they have been on a first aid training course. But these people are also characterized by that they will perform a subtask in the rescue operation, if it is exactly defined what to do. c) Those who will respond whit greater psychological reactions d) Those who respond so violently that they lose the control. The last two groups (c and d) should not participate in the rescue operation. The successful leader will use the people from group b to perform psychological first aid to these two groups. The management of different tasks in the rescue operation In major accidents, there are many tasks to be solved depending on the accidents type and extent. eg. evacuation, calling 9-1-1 (US) / 1-1-2 (Europe), treatment of' injuries, delegating responsibility to people to manage the assembly points, finding access routes for emergency vehicles, etc.. The best leader is the one who enters a step backwards, keeps the general view and place other people/bystanders into different "taskforces". Prioritizing the injured people If it is necessary to evacuate the building or area, the first priority is to find out who can be evacuated based on how much injured each person is. We can be in a situation where someone not can be moved without danger for the taskforce. Only when we have placed the injured people safely in he assembly area, we can prioritize the injured people, and here we prioritize the casualties with life-threatening injuries first. Roads for rescue vehicles / escape routes The leader must also have an idea of how the rescue vehicles are coming to the burning building, injured area, assembly points for injured people. He must also have en idea of which escape routes to be used through the building/area by evacuating to the assembly points. Assembly points for evacuated people By evacuation the leader must have an idea of, where he will place the assembly points, where it is safe to be until the rescue vehicles arrive, and where the further first aid can be implemented. Psychological first aid During the entire rescue operation psychological first aid must be given all time and as much as possible. After the rescue operation should all have psychological first aid - also the leaders. Here it can be necessary with a psychological debriefing by a psychologist. |