Colleton County

Fire-Rescue

 

 

 

 

Confined Space Rescue


In the picture above, Firefighters prepare to enter a permit required confined space during a training drill.

Assistant Chief David A. Greene (dgreene@colletoncounty.org) - (843) 539-1960 extension 222


Confined Space Rescue

Colleton County Fire-Rescue's TRT is trained and equipped to perform confined space rescue.  A confined space is defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a space:

These spaces may include underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, pits and diked areas, vessels, silos, and other similar areas.  Additionally, a permit required confined space has one or more of the following characteristics:

Utilizing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and supplied air breathing apparatus (SABA) equipment, personnel enter, search for and rescue or recover victims of confined space incidents.  TRT also has access to advanced search tools such as cameras, audio equipment, air monitoring equipment, etc. 

Operations

TRT responds to confined space incidents for the purpose of rescuing or recovering the patient.  A confined space incident is a technical rescue and can be thought of as a high/low angle rescue associated with a hazardous materials incident.  Early notification is the key to a successful rescue.  Too often, would be rescuers without training or the appropriate protective equipment become victims.  If a person enters a confined space and does not exit, you should immediately dial 9-1-1.  The following precautions should be taken. 

Firefighter/EMT-B Matt Parler enters a confined space while Engineer/EMT-I Blaine Harrison conducts initial air monitoring during a training drill at a local industry.

Members of the Tactical Response Team remove a simulated victim from a permit required confined space during a training drill at the water treatment plant.