Rubble Rescue - Firefighters in Action

When the collapse of Fenghua's residential buildings faded out of sight, and when all media began to focus on the loopholes in the supervision of dangerous buildings, we once again shot back to the rescue scene at that time. At this moment, there is a new feeling: If the protective equipment is better and the rescue equipment is complete, then in exchange for this success, both the rescuer and the rescued person may be able to pay less.

Goodbye "hands-on rescue"

"Oh, don't take it hard. It hurts a bit." Over a month since the Fenghua collapsed building, the 19 -year-old little soldier of the Ningbo Fire Fighting Squadron Secret Squadron has so far shook hands with his comrades. His right-handed tiger's mouth was scratched by the scrap market, and he has not recovered.

Time went back to the day of the incident. Around 10 am, Ningbo City Fire Brigade Secret Squadron fire brigade, life detector probe with the ruins of 3 meters from the ground in the vital signs, the specific location of trapped workers was quickly determined, but because the whole building appears comminuted Collapse, large collapse surface, coupled with more surrounding trees, narrow space between houses, large excavation, lifting equipment can not enter the collapsed site. The fire commander had to order: unarmed rescue!

  "I arrived at the rescue scene from around 9 o'clock in the afternoon until 2 o'clock in the afternoon. My gloves have worn three pairs of gloves," said one firefighter. Many more fire fighters simply took off their gloves and "naked hands" carrying a block of reinforced concrete. There are many rescue workers who have been scratched by steel bars, and fighters who fight in the bare hands have blood bubbles on almost everyone's hands.

A small firefighter who continuously participated in rescue operations for eight hours recalled that when he returned to the dorm to prepare for washing, he discovered that the socks and bloody feet were sticking together: "The boots are a bit crappy." He smiled faintly.

In fact, the report on freehand rescue is not new. From the start of the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake Rescue to the present, in the major media reports on the rubble rescue, the word “hands freehand” has appeared most often, and it has also become a symbol of firefighters and dare to bleed and sweat.

It's not just a "hands-free" problem, it's a problem of "trekking." In the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake, because roads were destroyed, rescue vehicles can not travel, had to rescue soldiers to the disaster area on foot. Because of the bulkiness of the boots, some soldiers simply took off their barefoot front lines and finally made their feet bloody. In fact, today's combat boots may not be safe even if they are worn. In 2009 , a media from Zhengzhou reported that a migrant worker temporary housing on Shakou Road in Zhengzhou City caught fire. When a firefighter put out a fire, his left foot was inadvertently stabbed with a nail and his blood flowed to the DC, but he pulled out his nails and put his feet in his clothes. Entangled to continue extinguishing.

It is no wonder that people in the community lament that according to the development of modern science and technology, durable, highly flexible rescue gloves can be produced. Lightweight and highly stab-resistant combat boots can also be produced. Why personal protection measures for fire officers and soldiers ? Can not be further strengthened?

â–² 2012 December 16, Jiangdong District, Ningbo City, Xu Rong, Building 2, three inches collapse occurred.

The picture shows the officers and soldiers of the Ningbo Fire Fighting Detachment on the scene.

What to support the life in the ruins?

"Thank goodness, if it weren't for the fire brigade, I'm afraid I couldn't even live." The girl who was finally rescued by the fire brigade was still lying in the hospital bed. She smiled and told the patients. Unlike a month ago, her left leg was empty. "How open-minded and optimistic the girl is, why did she have an amputee?" The family and friends of the girl came to see her heart bleeding. "If the rescue rate is faster, the girl may be able to keep her left leg." Friends and relatives don't take emotions. They just say it casually. They also know that the fire officers and men have done their best.

According to a firefighter who participated in the on-site rescue, the complex environment led to difficulties in rescue. About 12 o'clock noon on the day of the incident , they used life detectors to detect two people trapped in the ruins 1.5 meters above the ground . "The whole wall fell down, and the manpower couldn't lift it. There were trapped people below and the excavator didn't dare to go on it," he said.

The on-site commander immediately ordered the supporter to support the collapsed wall on one side to form a triangular space. The firefighters then entered the support area to clean up the gravel and rescue trapped people. Everything is ready, but the tripod of the support cannot be effectively fixed in the heap of stones. The soldiers have to move out again and clean up the gravel in the area where the tripod is placed. “Break the shatters! Move them all together!” Because there is a slope in the corner rack area, it is very difficult to clear the gravel. The detachment decided to break the collapsed wall and beat the wall! One and a half hours later, the fire fighters finally broke the collapsed wall into three large blocks and moved away, which successfully rescued trapped people!

As the surrounding people cheered, the detectors in the hands of the rescuers detected vital signs again. "Accurate positioning! Pay close attention to saving people." Ningbo fire brigade leader issued a dead order!

17:50 pm, the last trapped in the rubble of a 21-year-old girl was rescued. Even she did not think that although she had saved her life, she had to use one foot to complete her life.

“If there is emergency support, if there are better tools for breaking concrete blocks, if there are more advanced and more targeted rescue facilities, it may save a lot of time, this girl may not lose that leg. "Some people sigh at the scene.

This scene also reminds people of the scene of the 5.12 earthquake relief. On the unsupported rubble, the fire brigades took risks and saved people. At some sites where large machinery cannot enter, fire officers and men rely on hammers to strike concrete one by one ...

Some experts pointed out that rubble rescue is a matter of racing against time. Trapped people may lose their lives at any time because of excessive blood loss, hunger, and lack of oxygen. However, if there are no more targeted rescue facilities, reckless rescue for the sake of time may bring them a second injury.

From the successful rescue of the 4.20 Sichuan Lushan earthquake , people saw the dawn of rubble rescue through various modern rescue equipment that could meet the needs of different rubble rescues . Hopefully, this ray of light can quickly shine north and south.

▲ In April 2013 , a city ​​of Renhuan City, Guizhou Province, collapsed while building a fort.

Indispensable "Rubble Five Po"

In the face of multiple disasters such as earthquakes, mudslides, and collapsed houses, the Chinese government has already taken precautions while investing in soldiers and investing heavily in the purchase of advanced rescue equipment and various types of equipment. Such as strong arm broken vehicles, multi-functional obstacle-free fire trucks, high-power lighting cars. In search and rescue equipment, almost all squadrons are equipped with infrared detectors, thermal imaging detectors, there are many places set up search and rescue dogs.

These modern equipment have already made a lot of contributions in the numerous rescues of rubble. However, because the rescue environment is very complicated, they cannot take on all their missions. For example, how can smashed houses collapse? When large-scale mechanical equipment and rescue equipment cannot enter the site, what rescue weapon should we use? In response, Ian Dunbar , a former trainer of the British Fire and Rescue Service , believes that in the collapsed rubble, don't leave 5 kinds of rescue equipment. He calls it "the ruins of the five treasures."

The first treasure: rescue air supply device. Trapped people buried deep in ruins for a long time and lacked oxygen. Rescue air supply equipment can effectively deliver fresh air to the rescue process, allowing trapped personnel to stay awake and earn time for rescue.

â–² rescue air supply device

Second treasure: emergency support . The equipment has the ability to quickly and stably support the collapsed environment in the site and can support the collapsed structure. On the one hand, it can ensure that those trapped in the rescue will not be injured by the second collapse. On the other hand, it can also support the collapsed road. And bridges to ensure the smooth flow of rescue channels.

â–² Emergency support

The third treasure: concrete breaker . General equipment cutting crushing concrete blocks, noise, dust, vibration, slow speed. The equipment is to make up for these deficiencies, not only ensuring the safety of the rescue scene, but also improving the rescue speed.

â–² Crusher

The fourth treasure: the sewing machine . Often in the rubble, lifting pads do not work because there is not enough space between the gaps. Because of its flat head, the seamer can quickly open the concrete block and the entire wall to 5 cm through a small gap, and insert the foundation for the subsequent lifting air cushion .

â–² Slit

Fifth treasure: high pressure air cushion. The cushion is flexible, tough and reliable. In the course of use, without the need of fixed plane support, the use of the expansion of compressed air will push the heavy objects such as boulders at a controlled speed in the preset direction, which will earn valuable time for medical rescue.

The copyright of this article belongs to "Fire Fighting Frontier" and is edited and reorganized by China Rescue Equipment Network.