Lift out Window – Coglinese Drill

ONE MAN - REACH AROUND LIFT

• The victim is found, mayday is given and the victim is moved to the window with their feet facing the window.

• The victims’ SCBA is removed:

1. This gives enough room for the rescuer to get to the back of the victim.

2. At this point the victim will only be in the smoky environment for a few more moments the advantage of having the lower weight and ability to reach around the victim out weighs the disadvantage of breathing smoke.

• Performing the lift:

1. Sit the victim up.

2. The rescuer places himself behind the victim.

3. The rescue places his arms under the victims’ armpits reaching through to the victims’ chest area.

4. Grasp the victims’ forearms and pull them into their chest.

• Lifting:

1. The rescuer should squat behind the victim.

2. When lifting use your legs, not your back.

3. Lift victim straight up and place over windowsill.

4. Outside rescuer should take victim and move down ladder.

• Reasons why this rescue might not work:

1. Victim too large to lift.

2. Rescuer to fatigued to perform lift.

3. If any of these problems arise you must wait for another rescuer.

TWO MAN - LIFT OUT OF WINDOW

• The victim is found, mayday is given and the victim is moved to the window using a drag.

• The victim is moved to an area about 3 feet from the window, the SCBA is removed and his arms are folded over his chest.

• The victim is turned and moved to the window on his back with his rear end at the base of the window and his legs straight up against the wall. This is accomplished with the 2-man spin and a slight drag to the base of the window.

• The outside rescuer announces his arrival to the window. He preps for the receiving of the victim when placed on the windowsill.

• Preparing for the lift:
  
  

1. R 1 and R 2 get on either side of the victim, facing each other

2. The rescuers’ inside hand (nearest the wall) reaches down and grabs the bottom edge of the victims’ fire coat on the outer shell.

3. The grab should be as far under the victims’ legs as they can grab; the grab should be by the back pockets at a minimum.

4. The rescuers’ outside hand grabs the firefighters’ coat at the collar.

• The lift:

1. The rescuers squat down prepping to lift with their legs, not their back.

2. The ready/ready/go command is given.

3. Both firefighters lift the victim to the window. If needed the outside knee of the rescuers can be used to add extra boost to the lift.

4. REMEMBER TO HOLD ONTO THE VICTIM.. HE WILL NOW BE SITTING ON THE WINDOW LEDGE.

5. Assist the outside rescuer with placing the victim on the ladder for removal.

• The victims’ coat can get caught on something or, because of rescuer fatigue, the victim may not make the windowsill in one lift. Practice has shown that if the rescuers do not prevent the victim from falling all the way to the floor the rescue will never be accomplished.
  
  

1. Rescuers must recognize that the lift will not be completed in one move.

2. When the rescue team recognizes this fact they must communicate!

3. Both rescuers must drop to one knee placing the inside (wall side) knee on the ground and allow the victim to fall back to their outside knee. This will keep the victim from falling back to the floor and make their next attempt easier.

4. The rescuers now lock hands under the victims’ butt, keeping the outside hand locked on the collar.

5. The ready/ready/go command is given and the lift is completed.

• GO LOW, if the victim gets caught again and the lift cannot be completed:

1. When the realization hits that the lift will not be completed one rescuer must call “GO LOW” R1 then drops down on hands and knees and positions himself under the victims’ back, at the same time R2 moves around to the victims’ head and grasps under the victims’ arms.

2. The low man (R1) pushes up with his legs and arms causing his tank to drive the victim up over the windowsill, R2 the rescuer at the victims’ head lifts up with his arms like a forklift pushing the victim up onto the sill.

3. This operation must happen quickly, the low man must get down low when he makes the move. If this doesn’t happen his bottle will strike the victims’ side when he tries to go under. This is a position of power; the low man must get under quickly and push up using full strength.

• RESCUE HARNESS if the victim is very large or the rescuers are fatigued they may not be able to hold onto the victims’ coat:

1. Remove your personal webbing and stretch it out flat.

2. Place the webbing behind the victims’ legs and slide it to the ground and under the victims’ butt to a position in the lower back.

3. R1 grasps the webbing and wraps it around his inside hand, R2 pulls the webbing tight pulling R1s hand tight to the victims’ rear end, R2 should grab as far under the victim as he can then wrap it tight.

4. The ready/ready/go is given and the lift is performed as before.

• If the two rescuers can not perform the rescue the outside rescuer can enter the building and take a position at the victims’ head, assisting R1 and R2 with the lift.