Confined Space Equipment - Hurricane Irene Shows the Need for Rescue Preparedness

Hurricane Irene Shows the Need for Rescue Preparedness


Although we in the UK are thousands of miles removed from hurricane Irene and its devastating consequences, we can nonetheless learn a lesson from a storm that swept up the eastern shores of the United States. That lesson is the need for emergency rescue preparedness. Like the thousands of emergency agencies throughout the U.S. that continually train and prepare for such disasters, similar teams in the UK do exactly the same thing. And at a moment’s notice they are ready to spring into action.

Just a day before hurricane Irene slammed into the States, a local Baltimore newspaper commented about preparations that were under way. They mentioned Maryland fire fighters specifically trained in water and confined space rescue checking all of their equipment and reviewing safety and rescue procedures. One particular fire unit was giving an extensive amount of time to ensuring its confined space rescue davits were in perfect working order in case they should have to deal with victims in collapsed houses and the like.


Training Is Key

Using the Maryland fire fighters and their confined space rescue davits as examples, it can never be said enough that training is the key to successful rescues. The best equipment in the world is useless if workers do not know the proper way to use it. They need to know how to correctly assess a disaster location, the health and risks of the victims, and how to best utilize the equipment available. Only through hours of training is this possible.

Though it may seem that emergency preparedness training is much to do about nothing, the idea is to make the skills learned second nature to rescuers. In other words, they need to be able to set up a rescue area quickly and effectively without having to pull out an installation manual or watch a video. In the case of confined space rescue davits, they need to go together quickly and seamlessly. The rescue team needs to get in, get set up, and get about the business of victim extraction.


Confined Space Rescue Is Tricky

Though all types of emergency rescue have their own measures of difficulty, confined space rescue is a bit trickier than the rest. In confined spaces a rescue team must extract a victim as quickly as possible without causing further injury or harm. Knowing exactly how to assess the situation, and specifically which equipment to use, is one of the hardest parts of this type of rescue. Thankfully, confined space rescue davits remove at least one concern from the equation. When properly set up and used, these systems make extraction much easier and safer to do.

Next time you hear a news report outlining mock drills or emergency situations being undertaken by a rescue unit, be thankful they are undergoing this training. In doing so they are ensuring they are prepared in the case of a local disaster. And if you should ever need their services, you'll be grateful they are prepared.