Fire and Rescue Services forming part of the New Dimension USAR Capability will be required to plan and deliver urban search and rescue training.
In order, to achieve an effective and integrated response to major and catastrophic collapsed structure incidents, it will be necessary for all levels of responder to work within a co-ordinated structure. Personnel within each level will need to understand their roles and responsibilities. They must also understand the types and periods of training that will be required for their particular role.
Training provision within USAR will concentrate primarily on the Technician and Advisor roles. It is however recognised that Level 1 and 2 responders (Firefighters) are equally important to the successful conclusion of these incidents, and will also require additional training, to complement the more specialist roles.
USAR Technicians will be required to complete a range of training modules, in a sequential process, commencing with core and primary skills and progressing onto specialist secondary skills. Technicians will need to complete both core skills and primary skills in order to respond with USAR vehicles and equipment.
Skills Training
Core skills training for Level One Responders is delivered via a multimedia package entitled, USAR Awareness. This package is available to all Fire and Rescue Services, and is designed to be used at a local level. The core skills training CD-ROM is available to all Fire and Rescue Service personnel and encompasses the following elements.
- Introduction to the national USAR system
- Hazards and risks at structural collapse incidents
- Initial attendance - actions
- Signs and types of collapse
- USAR processes and responsibilities
Other core skills modules that will need to be developed include:
- Fire Control awareness
- Trainee firefighter awareness
- Command awareness
Further information on the training to USAR Technician 1 and 2 can be found on page 2.