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Emergency-and-rescue operations
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Active Vocabulary to Text A
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Text A
Phases of Rescue Operations
Civil defense organizations are responsible for conducting emergency-and-rescue operations before, during or after a disaster. The three main missions of the emergency-and-rescue operations are: to ensure the survival of people, reestablish essential services and restore damaged infrastructure. The effectiveness of the emergency-and-rescue operations is determined by the quality of communication, information and coordination.
An emergency-and-rescue operation can be divided into three phases: a disaster alert phase, a relief phase and a recovery phase. The disaster alert phase begins with a public warning of a disaster threat and lasts till the time of organized rescue operations. The relief phase starts immediately after a disaster. This phase covers the period from the beginning of rescue operations till the end of evacuation of the population from the emergency area. During this period exceptional measures are provided to save lives of survivors. The recovery phase includes treatment and rehabilitation of the suffered people, reconstruction of basic community services and restoration of living conditions.
The emergency-and-rescue operations are provided by highly qualified, well-trained and experienced rescuers. Rescuer’s work is extremely dangerous, harmful and responsible. Being always ready to render possible assistance to the affected people, rescuers operate in difficult conditions. When a disaster strikes, rescuers make reconnaissance and identify the scale, type and consequences of the emergency. They determine common factors of class and type of construction collapse, number and probable location of casualties in damaged buildings, as well as the presence of toxic gases, radioactive material, biological agents, etc. Rescuers release injured people from debris, damaged structures or shelters with access problems. After releasing operations rescuers identify necessary first aid to be rendered to the suffered people and then move casualties to hospital.
Questions on Text A
1. What are civil defense organizations responsible for?
2. What are the main missions of rescuer operations?
3. Are rescue operations conducted by highly qualified rescuers?
4. What rescue operations do rescuers carry out when a disaster strikes?
5. How many phases can a rescue operation be divided into?
6. What are the phases of a rescue operation?
7. When does an alert phase begin?
8. What period does a relief phase cover?
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9. What does a recovery phase include?
10. Rescuers’ work is dangerous, isn’t it?
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Text B
Precautionary Measures
The main mission of search-and-rescue teams is to provide relief to suffered population in the event of any emergency situation. These teams carry out a lot of search-and-rescue operations for people’s survival. Their job is always connected with a particular physical strain and a great risk to their lives. Working in difficult conditions rescuers extremely expose themselves to danger. Civil defense leaders must have respect to safety of their people and be responsible for insuring safety standards and practice.
To provide safety of the personnel there are some precautions to be followed and observed in all relief operations. Firstly, all hazardous conditions are to be reported to the team commander who identifies hazards and risks to personnel, oversees the adherence to precautionary measures and recommends protective and preventive actions. Secondly, while operating in the damaged area rescuers are to wear protective suits, helmets and gloves. Each rescuer should have individual support instruments which allow him to support himself for 72 hours, if necessary. Thirdly, rescuers should always be aware of potential hazards at a disaster site. For example, when something is wrong with the heating system, rescuers should expect such hazards as burns, explosions and fire.
Rescuers should think of their personal safety at all times. When searching upper stories of a building, rescuers should not walk across the middle of the floor. Debris must be disturbed as little as possible to avoid further collapse. While working with electricity hazards, rescuers must avoid touching high voltage wires. In breaking contacts of a victim with a live wire rescuers must employ a nonconductor of electricity. Moving in the dark, they should use the back of the hand as a feeler. In case of finding gas, rescuers must not smoke or use naked lights, in order not to initiate an explosion. Using gas masks and ventilating area is necessary because of toxic irritation, which may cause blindness. Rescuers should also know that serious damage to health can result from chemical or domestic fires or through the contact with infectious, toxic, caustic or radioactive substances, etc.
Rescuers should always work in pairs. If an emergency occurs for a rescuer and he becomes sick or injured, it is necessary to provide relief to him and care for or evacuate him. The safety and well-being of rescuers is a great asset to both rescue teams and disaster victims.
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