Collapsed Structure-Medical
Course Descriptions
Collapsed Structure-Medical Response
Course Length: 40 Hours
Description: Provides basic knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage the medical aspects of a collapsed structure response. This is an ideal course for those individuals who are likely to witness a collapsed structure event resulting from an explosion, earthquake or bombing. Experienced Urban Search and Rescue experts present the course. Hands-on skill practice in medical intervention and victim extrication is included. This course is physically demanding and consists of 8-12 hour training days and concludes with a final exercise of a realistic collapsed structure scenario, followed by a critique and debriefing.
Target Audience: Students will include military and civilian medical and non-medical personnel who may be part of a disaster response team or employed by public or private sector healthcare organizations or related emergency services.
Prerequisites: Intended for military medical personnel: physicians, nurses, physician assistants, paramedics, EMT, Corpsmen and First Responder Medical personnel, to include those military personnel assigned far forward or deployed to a combat area where there are likely to be victim management issues resulting from structural collapse. This course provides a comprehensive look at the hazards, techniques and practices associated with a collapsed structure incident.
All soldiers must meet height and weight standards IAW AR 600-9. The physical demands rating is heavy, as students will be required to finds patients in dark, dusty and unstable areas, treat each victim’s wounds and evacuate victims to an appropriate triage area. Students must be able to lift 40 pounds and evacuate victims weighing up to 180 pounds. Any claustrophobic concerns should be addressed prior to attending this course.
Required Equipment: Small note pad, Kevlar helmet, penlight, flashlight, flashlight that fits around Kevlar helmet is preferred, kneepads, elbow pads, safety boots, gloves and protective goggles. Medical personnel should bring personal stethoscope. Uniform is seasonal BDE, appropriate for a field environment. Please notify training site if students are unable to bring the required equipment from home station.