Wide Area Search (W.A.S.)

Wide Area Search.,

An additional method of searching and locating trapped civilians and/or firefighters.

WAS.  Has several advantages to its method, but has also some disadvantages too it.

Advantages:

• Defined connection from you the searcher to a safe place by using a piece of rope.
• Can cover large areas, that conventional search can not.
• Requires a minimum of 2 searchers, but can be extended to 4 searchers if needed.
• Adaptive to unusual building layouts, and large floor plans.

Disadvantages:

• Weight of search bag and contents.
• Rope management.
• Dexterity of rope while in FULL PPE.
• Rope can slide over victim, causing you a false-positive of an all-clear.
• And the best one yet….  Lack of training!!!!!

Rope System:

• 1 Rope Bag
• 200’ of Rope
• 4 individual rope / webbing bags / 4 carabineers / approx. 20’ long

Placing WAS in service:

• Secure one end of the rope to a substantial object.  Ie. big tree, not the chief’s car!!!

   

• Place a hand-light at your point of entry.  This will allow a visual reference to an egress point.

Officer.

• Determine what type of WAS are you going to use.  L / Y
• Control rope bag, and manage rope system.
• Determines if there is need to expand search area.
• Observes fire conditions, and acts as a safety.
• Communicates with searchers and command.

Firefighter:

• Works under the direction of the Officer.
• Works off main line from 20’ of webbing.

Change of Direction:

• Tie-off should be to a substantial object.
• Inform command of tying off, and inform all search members.
• L pattern.

Posted By: Scott Brown