Light Search and Rescue
The search and rescue function is really two separate activities:
Search: To look through in a place or in an area carefully in order to find something missing or lost.
Rescue: To free a trapped victim from confinement or under the rubble.
Search and Rescue operations require three components:
- Rescuers include trained personnel and volunteers.
- Tools depend on their availability and the needs of the situation. For example, storm or earthquake damage may require tools for lifting debris whereas flood damage may require boats, ropes, and life preservers.
- Time may be very limited for some victims. The first 24 hours after a disaster has been called the “Golden Day” that period during which injured or trapped victims have an 80 percent chance of survival if rescued.
Survival rates for persons trapped in collapsed structure.
- 30 Minutes 91.0% Survive
- 1 Day 81.0% Survive
- 2 Days 36.7% Survive
- 3 Days 33.7% Survive
- 4 Days 19.0% Survive
- 5 Days 7.4% Survive
The Golden Day of Survival
Objectives of Search & Rescue
The objectives of search and rescue are to:
- Safeguard the life of a rescuer - acknowledge that the most important person in a rescue attempt is the rescuer.
- Rescue lightly trapped victims first in order to rescue the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time.
- As a volunteer worker, confine your efforts to light search and rescue; that is, the relatively uncomplicated extrication of victims from situations that pose minimal risk to the rescuer.
