Urban search-and-rescue (USAR) involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.

Urban search-and-rescue is considered a multi-hazard discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of hazards including earthquakes, cyclones, storms and tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials releases.

Types

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USAR Task Forces are often categorized for standardization Depending upon the classification of the task force, there can be close to 70 positions. But to be sure a full team can respond to an emergency, USAR task forces have at the ready more than 140 highly-trained members. A task force is often a partnership between local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, federal and local governmental agencies and private companies. In the United States, these can be federally endorsed teams [http://www.fema.gov/usr/usrtask.shtm or state teams activated through mutual aid agreements.

Equipment

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USAR task forces are expected to be totally self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of a deployment. The equipment cache used to support a task force can weigh more than 60,000 pounds and is worth more than $1.4 million US. USAR task forces can:

• Conduct physical search-and-rescue in collapsed buildings
• Provide emergency medical care to trapped victims
• Utilize search and rescue dogs to find survivors of the collapse
• Assess and control utilities and hazardous materials
• Evaluate and stabilize damaged structures

External links

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Emergency Management Academy of New Zealand is a provider of urban search and rescue.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency USAR Web Page
• South Carolina USAR Task Force

See also

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• USAR Teams
• Search and rescue dog
• Search and rescue

Emergency services