Have you heard about what an urban search and rescue team could do for you and your community? Also known as USAR or Urban SAR, these teams deal with a wide range of life-threatening situations, some of which will have already claimed lives. These may be natural disasters, trenches that have collapsed or issues in the mines. Knowing who to call when something unexpected occurs and results in the need for medical stabilisation or victim recovery could mean the difference between life and death. Take the following things into account to ensure you are choosing the best team to locate, extricate and initiate specified services in your area.
Staff and Volunteers
It is difficult to predict how many people will be required to manage an urban search and rescue project. Because of this, not only will a carefully selected team of staff be chosen to manage the situation but also, volunteers will be encouraged to assist with the operations. Volunteers could be from any area and of any age. Their background might be varied but they will all share one aim – to control the situation and help anyone who is involved.
Rapid Response
The rapid response team (RRT) that work for an urban search and rescue service will be an experienced group of health care providers. They will be good at managing time and when they are alerted about an emergency or disaster that has affected communities, they will respond at a rapid rate. In the event that the very early symptoms of clinical deterioration are noticeable, the patient’s condition will be monitored in a different environment, such as at a hospital or medical healthcare clinic. The work carried out by a RRT could save lives and could prevent the deterioration of a person’s condition.
The Reputation
Any urban search and rescue service you choose to do work with should boast a strong reputation. They should have worked in the industry for a good number of years and be well-established in their geographical location. A website is a must, as well as ease of communication with the urban search team. The task force should comprise of at least 100 members, all of whom should understand technical search strategies and be up-to-date with working at high angles or in confined spaces. Ask as many questions as possible before putting the number of a rescue service in your phone book, because reputation is everything.
