Citation

Milen D. Fire Eng. 2006; 159(12): 28-31.

Affiliation

Science Program, Ivy Tech. Community College

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Penn Well Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The fire departments are considering Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT) with personnel training and leadership management, to ensure personnel safety in emergency fire operations. RIT focuses the training on tools and equipment, search and rescue operations, breathing apparatus and firefighters low on air, ropes and knots, and packaging and removing the downed firefighter trapped inside a structure. A RIT bag consists of tools such as ladders, hooks, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCAB), halligans, axes, hoses, nozzles, sledgehammers, ropes, saws, handlights, and the means of communication. RIT training must specify a benchmarking system that the team employs on entering a structure so that the Incident Commander (IC) can monitor its progress. Locating and acquiring a structure for demolition, its structural integrity, and identifying the structural hazards, are the important component of a realistic RIT training.

Language: en